Bellafina convincing in Del Mar Debutante

With a victory in the $300,000 Del Mar Debutante (G1) and a disappointing effort from Chasing Yesterday in the Spinaway (G1) at Saratoga, Bellafina emerged as the current leader among West Coast-based juvenile fillies on Saturday.

Suggesting as much following a 4 1/4-length score in the August 5 Sorrento (G2) at Del Mar, Bellafina confirmed it in the seven-furlong Debutante by an identical margin under Flavien Prat, albeit in a pedestrian final time of 1:25.51 over a fast track.

Owned by Kaleem Shah and the 2-1 second choice in the field of five, Bellafina paid $6.60. Setting the first quarter fraction of :21.93 was Mother Mother, who held second after being passed by the pace-pressing winner approaching the half-mile marker.

The disappointment of the Debutante was 3-5 favorite Brill, who came under a ride around the far turn but never picked up. She would be beaten for third by Boujie Girl, with Watch Me Burn the trailer.

Second in her five-furlong debut at Los Alamitos July 4, Bellafina added blinkers for the Sorrento and scored impressively at odds of 3-1. Now two-for-three, she's earned $308,000.

"So proud of our filly and the great work put in by everyone at the barn," trainer Simon Callaghan tweeted after the race. "We will probably run next in the Chandelier (G1) at Santa Anita and then on to the Breeders' Cup."

Bred in Kentucky by JSM Equine and an $800,000 Fasig-Tipton March purchase, Bellafina is by Quality Road and out of the stakes-placed Akron Moon, by Malibu Moon. Bellafina is a full sister to the stakes-winning Diamond King, second in last week's Smarty Jones (G3) at Parx.

This female family once produced 1977 champion turf horse Johnny D.