Plan B lands Toupie in Unzip Me Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is something for everyone Saturday in the first stakes of the Santa Anita fall meet – shippers, comebackers, and a route-to-sprint local favorite in the $100,000 Unzip Me for 3-year-old sprint fillies on turf.

Stakes winners, including Toupie from the East Coast, comebacker Dreamfyre from Northern California, and Zona Verde based in Southern California top the Unzip Me, a hillside race that is the opening leg of a $1 all-stakes pick five (15 percent takeout) and $2 pick six (23.68 percent).

The Unzip Me, race 5, drew 14 entrants, including two also-eligibles, which is where Toupie found herself three weeks ago at Kentucky Downs. Graham Motion trains Toupie, who did not draw in from the also-eligible list for the Grade 2, $2 million Music City Stakes on Sept. 7.

“It’s been a little frustrating,” Motion said. “We waited for the race at Kentucky Downs, which a couple of the better fillies didn’t get in because of [race conditions]. This was Plan B, but I like the plan. There aren’t that many opportunities left for 3-year-old fillies sprinting on the grass.”

Toupie, a stakes winner at 2, returned this spring as an improved filly. She scored a decisive win in a $100,000 stakes at Laurel Park, followed by a forgivable fourth at Saratoga. Toupie broke from the rail in a race that set up all wrong.

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“Being in one hole didn’t help, she was kind of committed” to produce speed, Motion noted. Toupie dueled, dropped back, re-engaged, and tired. She is not likely to be trip-compromised in the Unzip Me. Toupie, 3 for 8, figures for a pressing trip from post 11 under Flavien Prat.

Dreamfyre, however, is stuck on the rail for her first start since she led to deep stretch in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf in November. She finished ninth. Dreamfyre, 3 for 4, won three stakes last year, including the Grade 3 Sorrento on dirt at Del Mar and Grade 3 Surfer Girl on turf at Santa Anita.

It took trainer O.J. Jauregui 11 months to get Dreamfyre back.

“I had a foot issue three times on the same foot,” he said. “I thought I had the issue resolved, and it came back again. I just stopped on her.”

Hector Berrios regains the mount on Dreamfyre.

“It looks like I have her ready,” Jauregui said before acknowledging her built-in alibi. “It is her first race back,” he cautioned.

Zona Verde is the “now” filly off two turf routes in summer at Del Mar – a third last out in the Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks after finishing second in the Grade 2 San Clemente. The Unzip Me was not on her initial itinerary.

“Our original plan was to wait for the Autumn Miss,” trainer Phil D’Amato said, referring to the Grade 3 turf sprint on Oct. 27. “But she trained so sharp post-Del Mar Oaks we thought this was a good spot to keep her going.”

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Juan Hernandez breezed Zona Verde in a bullet 46.40 seconds last weekend and rides the 2-for-13 filly, who is expected to vie for favoritism with Toupie. Favorites have won the Unzip Me four of the past five years.

Others in the field include stakes winners Visually, Roberta’s Love, Antifona, Omaha Girl, and Golden Canary.

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