Multiple Grade 1 winner Bellafina, stablemate Donna Veloce retired

Multiple Grade 1 winner Bellafina and graded-stakes winning stablemate Donna Veloce, who was second in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, have been retired. 

Bellafina had been pre-entered for next week's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, but was subsequently scratched due to what trainer Simon Callaghan termed a 'minor issue.' Most recently, the 4-year-old daughter of Quality Road finished sixth in the Sept. 5 Derby City Distaff (G2) at Churchill Downs. Second in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, she retires with a record of 18: 7-5-1 and earnings of $1,617,975 for owners Kaleem Shah and the team from Coolmore. Daily Racing Form first reported the news.

Donna Veloce, who shares the same ownership group as Bellafina, was last seen running eighth in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4 after a nearly six-month layoff. Shah told Thoroughbred Daily News Donna Veloce emerged from the race with a 'small injury' and will be bred next year to Triple Crown winner Justify. The 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo retires with a record of 5: 2-1-1 and earnings of $502,500. 

Bellafina and Donna Veloce each commanded $800,000 at auction as 2-year-olds.