Bellafina backs up her figure in Del Mar Debutante win

Bellafina, who sported the 2-year-old crop's second-highest Beyer Speed Figure entering Saturday, proved that was no fluke as she took down two of the most promising fillies on the West Coast in the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Debutante.

A last-out winner of the Grade 2 Sorrento Stakes, the Simon Callaghan-trained daughter of Quality Road looked much the best in a field that contained both Mother Mother from the Bob Baffert barn and Jerry Hollendorfer-trained Brill.

“No special instructions going in," said winning jockey Flavien Prat. "She was more aggressive today.  I think that race the other day (when she broke her maiden August 5 here going six furlongs) got her in that mode. She was on it. Then when she made the lead, she just dropped the bit; she backed off. Can she go farther?  Well, I guess we’ll see.”

The trio ran 1-2-3 up the back stretch before Bellafina poked a head in front entering the turn. It was over from there as she drew away from Mother Mother. Brill did not fire, beaten for third by longshot Boujie Girl. Watch Me Burn was last in the field of five.

Bellafina, who runs in the red, white and blue colors of owner Kaleem Shah, finished seven furlongs in 1:25.51, slowing down a bit before the wire of the one-turn feature.

“She broke sharp, she was into the bit today and she was always in good position," Callaghan said. "The race went pretty much as we thought it might and it was a really good performance. It was nice to see her really show her class at the end. I said to Kaleem that she’s the best filly I’ve trained.

"She’s pretty special and I think she’s going to keep getting better.”

Only Trophy Chaser, assigned a 96 Beyer for his maiden-breaking score at Gulfstream Park, owned a higher number than Bellafina's 94 for the Sorrento coming into a weekend of top races for juveniles.

The Debutante serves as a steppingstone to the Grade 1 Chandelier later this month at Santa Anita Park.