How Unusual notches upset in Red Carpet Handicap

DEL MAR, Calif. – Mike Pender started in on the fixings early Thursday as his filly How Unusual, whom he trains and co-owns, rallied from well back to score a nearly 10-1 upset in the Grade 3, $102,415 Red Carpet Handicap for older female grass runners at Del Mar.

How Unusual ($21.80) lagged back in 11th place in the 12-horse field for more than half of the 1 3/8-mile grass race, but she unleashed a strong closing kick under Corey Nakatani to get up in time to beat 2-1 favorite Responsibleforlove by a half-length.

Laseen, who was stuck in traffic much of the final three furlongs, got clear late and finished well for third, a half-length behind Responsibleforlove, then came, in order, La Manta Gris, Evo Campo, Kiss Me Now, Earring, Dynamic Mizzes K, Victress, Birdie Gold, Domestic Vintage, and Do the Dance, who was eased out of the race nearing the far turn but galloped back to be unsaddled under her own power.

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How Unusual, a daughter of Unusual Heat, completed 11 furlongs on firm turf in 2:14.92. This was her second straight win, having captured a second-level allowance at Santa Anita on Oct. 13 going 1 1/8 miles.

“She’s like a good basketball or football player who elevates herself to the competition,” Pender said. “She kind of measures it.”

Nakatani said that starting from the outside post 12 in a three-turn race dictated he sit and make one run.

“I wanted to settle her and get into a nice, comfortable rhythm,” Nakatani said. “I thought she’d get the distance.”

How Unusual, 4, was given a freshening earlier this year and has turned in five good efforts since her return. She was second and third in a pair of allowance races, and third in the Solana Beach for California-breds, before her last two wins.

Pender owns How Unusual along with Bob Fetkin, Hunter Sill, and Chris St. Hilaire. Pender said How Unusual is the first horse Sill has owned.

The Red Carpet win, the first stakes win for How Unusual, was her fifth in 19 lifetime starts. The $60,000 winner’s share brought her career earnings to $302,367.