Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint: Unique Bella can consolidate favoritism in L.A. Woman

All eyes will be on Unique Bella when the top prospect for the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint makes her eagerly awaited return to action Sunday in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman at Santa Anita.

Depending on how it’s done, a victory by Unique Bella in the 6 1/2-furlong L.A. Woman could make her one of the heavier favorites on the two-day BC program at Del Mar. Unraced since early March after trainer Jerry Hollendorfer stopped on her because of a minor shin injury, the gray Tapit filly has recorded a series of bullet works and will resume her brilliant career as part of what is expected to be a short field in the L.A. Woman.

The opposition is expected to include her former stablemate Constellation, who will be making her first start after being transferred by owner LNJ Foxwoods into the care of Bob Baffert. The 4-year-old filly has finished second in each of her four starts this year and also is a hopeful for the Filly and Mare Sprint.

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Baffert has two other possibilities for the Filly and Mare Sprint in Vale Dori and Faypien, but he has not committed either to the race. Vale Dori, with an outstanding 2017 record of 4 wins and 2 seconds from 6 starts, has not raced since July 30 and as of Tuesday had not breezed since Sept. 20.

Meanwhile, at Keeneland the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America will be run Saturday in helping to close out the final round of Filly and Mare Sprint preps. Finley’sluckycharm, a winner in 8 of 11 career starts, figures as a solid favorite in the six-furlong race also expected to get Bendable, Ivy Bell, and Vertical Oak.

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Also at Keeneland, Bar of Gold was among those expected Sunday for the Grade 1 Spinster at 1 1/8 miles, but that won’t preclude trainer John Kimmel from considering a turn-back afterward for the highly versatile New York-bred mare. Bar of Gold is poised to become a millionaire in the Spinster, entering with earnings of $998,500.

In Florida, Curlin’s Approval was an easy winner last Sunday of a $50,000 Gulfstream Park stakes that trainer Happy Alter is hoping will be a sufficient tightener for the Breeders’ Cup. Alter lamented beforehand that the hurricane last month forced him to miss significant training time with Curlin’s Approval.

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From Canada, trainer Josie Carroll said Ami’s Mesa was scheduled to breeze Thursday over the dirt training track at Woodbine to help her and owner-breeder Ivan Dalos determine the filly’s BC status. Ami’s Mesa is a winner in 6 of 9 career starts but has never raced on dirt.

In New York, By the Moon had her first workout Friday since winning the Grade 1 Ballerina, going a half-mile in 49 seconds over the Belmont training track. Also working over the past week for the Filly and Mare Sprint were Finest City, Paulassilverlining, and Skye Diamonds.