Owner Kaleem Shah, right, guides Bellafina and jockey Flavien Prat into the winner’s circle after their victory in the Grade I, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks, Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Santa Anita Park, Arcadia CA.© BENOIT PHOTO
Victor Espinoza was happy to pick up the mount on 3-5 favorite Bellafina in Saturday’s Grade I La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita Park, but understandably disappointed she finished second to 11-1 shot Hard Not to Love, who rallied from ninth and last at the half-mile marker to win by 2 ¼ lengths.
“The race didn’t set up as good for her as we would have liked,” Espinoza said Sunday morning. “She was pressured by Baffert’s filly (Mother Mother), but she still ran very well.”
It was the first time a jockey other than Flavien Prat had ridden Bellafina in her 13 career starts, so trainer Simon Callaghan had reason to offer Espinoza some pre-race prose.
“He said try to break out the gate clear and see how the race sets up,” Espinoza said. “It was good but we never had a chance to relax on the lead (with rapid fractions of 21.70, 44.41 and 1:09.31. The final time for seven furlongs was 1:22.17).
“That made it hard for her, but she ran an awesome race.”
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