Bellafina Preps for Filly and Mare Sprint
Eclipse Sportswire / Breeders’ Cup Photos ©
Breeders’ Cup Press
Updates from Santa Anita from some of the contenders for the Filly & Mare Sprint from Tuesday.
Come Dancing – Blue Devil Racing Stable’s 5yo Come Dancing jogged a mile under Francisco Tapia Tuesday morning at Santa Anita Park.
The four-time graded-stakes winner has settled in well after shipping from Belmont Park, trainer Carlos Martin said. Martin said the homebred Malibu Moon mare handled her trip to the track well and seemed happy and content as she is prepared for the Filly & Mare Sprint. Come Dancing, the 5-2 second choice in the wagering will be ridden by Javier Castellano from post four in the field of nine.
Martin is a third-generation horseman based in New York. His grandfather, Frank, is in the Hall of Fame and his late father, Jose, had a long, successful career. Jose handled the excellent sprinter Groovy, who was second in the 1987 Sprint. Come Dancing is Martin’s first Breeders’ Cup horse.
“It’s exciting to be here. It’s the pinnacle, to be at the Breeders’ Cup races,” he said. “It’s our World Series of horse racing. It means a lot. Hopefully, not to avenge my father because he won a lot of nice races, but it would be nice to have another Breeders’ Cup win for Martins. My grandfather won the inaugural Juvenile Fillies with Outstandingly by disqualification, so I’d like to make one stick for real.”
Come Dancing won her career debut in November 2016, but was off for a year with an injury. She has had an outstanding season in 2019, winning four of five starts. In her most recent races she easily prevailed in the Ballerina at Saratoga and the Gallant Bloom at Belmont Park.
Covfefe – LNJ Foxwoods’ Covfefe, the 2-1 favorite, arrived at Santa Anita just after noon on a flight from Kentucky. She and her four stablemates settled into barn 59.
Spiced Perfection – Entering the Filly & Mare Sprint as one of the logical players, Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable and Peter Deutsch’s Spiced Perfection continues to impress trainer Peter Miller as she prepares for the 7f affair. She galloped 1m at his San Luis Rey Downs base on Tuesday morning and is scheduled to arrive at Santa Anita Park on Wednesday morning after training.
“She’s training great,” he said. “She has a good post and should be in the top three in the wagering, you would think. She galloped today and looks good.”
The daughter of Smiling Tiger drew post nine of nine and is the third choice on the morning line at odds of 4-1. Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez rides, replacing Javier Castellano who was aboard for her victory last out in the Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland on Oct. 5.
More Breeders’ Cup Updates here.
