Classy Bellafina Takes On Talented Baffert Pair As Eight Distaffers Go Six Furlongs In Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Desert Stormer

By Mike Willman —-

Bellafina; Benoit Photos

ARCADIA, Calif. (May 14, 2020)—Although well beaten on April 25, three-time Grade I winner Bellafina heads a group of eight fillies and mares going six furlongs in Sunday’s Grade III, $100,000 Desert Stormer Stakes at Santa Anita.

Fourth, beaten 10 lengths after breaking slowly as the 7-5 favorite in an ungraded six furlong stakes at Oaklawn Park, trainer Simon Callaghan’s Bellafina, a winner of the Grade I Del Mar Debutante and Grade I Chandelier Stakes at two and of last year’s Grade I Santa Anita Oaks, will be reunited with Flavien Prat, who last rode her to a close second place finish three starts back in the Grade I Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Bob Baffert will be playing a solid two-card hand in the Desert Stormer, as he’ll send out stakes winning Mother Mother and talented comebacker Fighting Mad.

BELLAFINA

Owner: Kaleem Shah, Inc., Mrs. John Magnier & Derrick Smith

Trainer: Simon Callaghan

Away slowly and sixth early in a field of eight in her most recent start April 25 at Oaklawn, Bellafina’s last win came seven starts back in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks on April 6, 2019. Second as the 3-5 favorite in the Grade I La Brea Stakes two starts back on Dec. 26, Bellafina, a 4-year-old filly by Quality Road, has been favored in 10 out of her 14 starts, winning six of them and amassing earnings of $1,452,975. With four wins and two seconds from six starts at Santa Anita, Bellafina will hope to break sharply and run well over a course she adores.

MOTHER MOTHER

Owner: Gainesway Stable, Old Bones Racing Stable, LLC, Barry Lipman & Mark Mathiesen

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Most recently second going seven furlongs in the Grade II Santa Monica Stakes on Feb. 15, she was a handy 1 ¼ length winner of the ungraded Kalookan Queen Stakes two starts back on Jan. 12 at odds of 2-5. A first out, 6 ½ length winner of her only start going six furlongs in July, 2018 at Del Mar, Mother Mother has sprinted in nine out of her 11 career starts, with two of her three wins coming around one turn. A three-time Grade I stakes placed 4-year-old filly by Pioneerof the Nile, Mother Mother will be seeking her first graded stakes win on Sunday and will be ridden for the first time by Mike Smith.

FIGHTING MAD

Owner: Gary & Mary West

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Although she’ll be cast as “The other Baffert,” Fighting Mad looms a very dangerous commodity off the bench. Idle since a stirring eight length, gate to wire triumph in the Grade III Torrey Pines Stakes going one mile at Del Mar Aug. 17, Fighting Mad was a gutty nose winner of her 5 ½ furlong debut in August, 2018 and she followed that up with a solid one length allowance win off a nine month absence in taking a six furlong allowance at Churchill Downs on April 30, 2019. Now faced with a similar nine month layoff, this 4-year-old filly by New Year’s Day has trained well for her comeback and will get the services of Drayden Van Dyke.

THE GRADE III DESERT STORMER STAKES WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER

Race 8 of 10 Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT

Fighting Mad—Drayden Van Dyke—126
First Star—Jose Valdivia, Jr.–122
Mother Mother—Mike Smith—124
Amuse—Jorge Velez–122
Bellafina—Flavien Prat—126
Artistic Diva—Victor Espinoza—124
Tomlin—Abel Cedillo—124
Hang a Star—Umberto Rispoli—122

First post time for a 10-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m. With no public admitted, wagering is available through 1stBet.com and at XpressBet.com. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com or call (626) 574-RACE.

ABOUT THE STRONACH GROUP

The Stronach Group is a world-class technology, entertainment and real estate development company with Thoroughbred racing and pari-mutuel wagering at the core. The company’s consumer facing brand 1/ST (pronounced “First”) powers The Stronach Group’s forward-thinking 1/ST Racing, 1/ST Technology, 1/ST Live and 1/ST Properties businesses, while advocating for and driving the 1/ST Horse Care mission. 1/ST represents The Stronach Group’s continued movement toward redefining Thoroughbred racing and the ecosystem that drives it. 1/ST Racing drives the best-in-class horse racing operations at the company’s premier racetracks and training centers including: Santa Anita Park, Golden Gate Fields and San Luis Rey (California); Gulfstream Park – home of the Pegasus World Cup Championship Invitational Series, and Gulfstream Park West (Florida); and Laurel Park, Pimlico Race Course – home of the legendary Preakness Stakes, Rosecroft Raceway and Bowie Training Center (Maryland). 1/ST Technology is horse racing’s largest racing and gaming technology company offering world-class products via its AmTote, Xpressbet, 1/ST BET, XB SELECT, XB NET, PariMAX, Betmix, Monarch and XBTV brands. 1/ST Live blends the worlds of sports, entertainment and hospitality by delivering uniquely curated events such as InfieldFest and Pegasus LIV Stretch Village. 1/ST Properties is responsible for the development of the company’s live, work and play communities surrounding its racing venues including, The Village at Gulfstream Park (Florida) and Paddock Pointe (Maryland). As the advocate for critical industry reforms and by making meaningful investments into aftercare programs for retired horses and jockeys, 1/ST Horse Care represents The Stronach Group’s commitment to achieving the highest level of horse and rider care and safety standards in Thoroughbred racing on and off the track. For more information please visit www.1st.com.