Bellafina Retired, Will Miss Expected Breeders' Cup Run

Multiple grade 1 winner Bellafina has been retired and will miss an expected start in the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland due to a minor issue, part owner Kaleem Shah said Oct. 28. The Breeders' Cup pre-entries that came out Wednesday noted that Bellafina had been scratched.

"She came up with a little something. We have to be on the side of caution, so we have to withdraw her," Shah said. "It's nothing major, I was told, but it's time for her to be a mama. She'll be bred to Uncle Mo ."

The 4-year-old Quality Road  filly was bred in Kentucky by JSM Equine out of the Malibu Moon  mare Akron Moon. She was purchased by Shah as a juvenile for $800,000 at The Gulfstream Sale, Fasig-Tipton's select 2-year-old sale in Florida, from Wavertree Stables. Sent to trainer Simon Callaghan in Southern California, she won seven graded stakes, including the Del Mar Debutante (G1) and Chandelier (G1) at 2 after breaking her maiden in the Sorrento (G2). She picked up another top-level score at 3 in the Santa Anita Oaks (G1). The Coolmore partners of Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith bought into Bellafina late last year after she finished second, less than a length behind subsequent dual champion Covfefe, in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint at Santa Anita Park.

"She's a very special filly," Shah said. "Obviously along with (Breeders' Cup Classic, G1, winner) Bayern , who's my top racehorse, she has provided me some memorable moments from the Santa Anita Oaks to the top 3-year-old races. It's been a wonderful ride. She's a gorgeous, beautiful, good-looking filly."

In five starts this season, Bellafina won the Desert Stormer Stakes (G3) and was second in the Ballerina (G1) and Great Lady M. (G2) stakes. She last finished sixth in the Sept. 5 Derby City Distaff Stakes Presented by Derby City Gaming (G1) at Churchill Downs. She was retired with a 7-5-1 record in 18 starts with earnings of $1,617,975.

Bellafina worked twice at Keeneland following her last race, most recently at five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 Oct. 24.

Shah also said 3-year-old filly Donna Veloce, who shares the same connections as Bellafina, has also been retired and is likely to be bred to Justify . 

The Uncle Mo—Coin Broker (Montjeu) daughter was another $800,000 Gulfstream sale purchase when consigned by Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds in 2019 before finishing second in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Starlet Stakes (G1) later in the year. This season she won the Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) by 4 1/4 lengths in March before being sidelined by a minor setback. She returned to finish eighth in the Sept. 4 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), which proved to be her last start.

"When she raced in March she had a little issue, and we gave her plenty of time to come back from it," Shah said. "Then after the Oaks she came back with a little something. It's time, I suppose, for her to move on to the next phase of her life."

Donna Veloce was retired with a 2-2-0 record from five starts and earnings of $502,500.