First Lady score sets up Uni for Breeders' Cup Mile

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Reigning Eclipse Award champion turf female Uni was winless in 2020 as she came to Keeneland, where she sizzled a mile in a course-record 1:32.87 while winning last year’s Grade 1 First Lady Stakes. Although the time for her one-length victory in Saturday’s renewal was well off her own mark – she finished in 1:34.90 – Uni did put herself back in the win column on a course she adores and is prepared to move ahead to a defense of her win in the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita.

“I was so stressed out,” said Sol Kumin of Head of Plains Partners, who campaigns Uni with Michael Dubb, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables. “If she doesn’t run well here, you couldn’t run her back in the Breeders’ Cup after the year she had. Now you run her back, same track, four weeks, and you feel like she might be back. [Trainer Chad Brown] said her last two breezes, he felt like she was circling back to the form she had last year, so we were hopeful. But until you see it, you just don’t know.”

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Uni earned an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf with her First Lady victory. However, with that race contested at 1 3/16 miles, she is more likely to stay at her preferred distance for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Mile. The following day, Uni will be offered for sale at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky fall selected mixed sale across town.

“Her last race for us will be the Breeders’ Cup against the boys, and if she is able to do it again, it would be Hall of Fame good,” Kumin said. “Hopefully, she can give us one more big effort. If not, she’s given us everything we could have ever asked for.”