Bellafina blitzes to win Santa Anita Oaks over Baffert duo

Bellafina, her training and racing schedule interrupted by turbulent times for Southern California racing, showed up no worse for the wear on Saturday.

Given an outside — but clean — trip, the Quality Road filly reasserted herself as the West Coast’s best shot in the Kentucky Oaks by cruising to victory in the Grade 1, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks.

The final time was 1:45.47 for 1 1/16 miles under jockey Flavien Prat, who guided the Simon Callaghan trainee three-wide through the turn past the Bob Baffert duo of Flor de La Mar and Chasing Yesterday.

"We'd planned to keep her outside, as we weren't sure what Bob's two were going to do," Callaghan said. "We just wanted to keep her out of trouble, keep a smooth run, and Flavien did a great job."

Bellafina cruised in the lane to her third career Grade 1 victory and fifth graded stakes score in all. She has lost just twice, on debut last July 4 and in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies when in reproductive heat.

Bellafina will go into the May 3 Kentucky Oaks with victories in the Santa Ynez (G2) and Las Virgenes (G2) as well this season, upping her winning distances from seven furlongs to a mile to Saturday’s 8 1/2 furlongs.

Flor de La Mar ran second, Chasing Yesterday third and Slewgoodtobetrue, who dropped out of contention early, fourth.

The longest shot on the morning line, Stirred, scratched.

Running for Kaleem Shah, Bellafina surpassed $1 million in earnings with the victory.