Unique Bella Puts on a Show in Beholder Mile

[Wandering Eyes]

Champion UNIQUE BELLA (f, 4, Tapit–Unrivaled Belle, by Unbridled’s Song) put on the show her fans were hoping for, battling MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags) early and blowing her away late for a dominant victory in the GI Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Saturday. Away alertly from her outside draw in this six-horse affair, the 1-2 favorite allowed her chief rival to dictate terms, but remained glued to her through her sharp early fractions of :22.51 and :44.96. Bored with sitting second, the massive gray filly took command entering the far turn under a motionless Mike Smith and the race was over from there. Unique Bella instantly powered clear of Paradise Woods and stormed home to the easiest of wins. La Force (Ger) (Power {GB}) came running late to close the gap to two lengths on the line and Paradise Woods faded to third. The final time was 1:35.60. Ruling the West Coast 3-year-old filly last winter with decisive scores in the GII Santa Ynez S., GII Las Virgenes S. and GIII Santa Ysabel S., Unique Bella was forced to miss the GI Kentucky Oaks due to sore shins and resurfaced with a facile victory in the GIII LA Woman S. in October. Seventh as the heavy favorite in the GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Sprint, the “TDN Rising Star” made amends with a 3/4-length decision over fellow “Rising Star” Paradise Woods in the GI La Brea S. in Arcadia Dec. 26, which earned her the Eclipse as the year’s top female sprinter. Kicking off this term with a nine-length romp in the GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 10, the $400,000 KEESEP buy was caught late and forced to settle for second after bobbling at the break of Oaklawn’s GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 13. Lifetime Record: 11-8-2-0.

O-Don Alberto Stable; B-Brushwood Stable (PA); T-Jerry Hollendorfer.

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