Unique Bella, 2017 champion female sprinter, retires from racing

DEL MAR, Calif. - Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017 and one of the most popular horses in training, was retired on Saturday after emerging from a workout at Del Mar with a sesamoid injury, according to her owner and trainer, the Don Alberto Stable and Jerry Hollendorfer.

The injury is not considered severe, but the timing will prevent Unique Bella from a start in the major stakes of the autumn, notably the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

“She looks stable and comfortable, which is the most important part,” said Fabricio Buffolo, executive director of Don Alberto. “She has been retired. It’s in her best interest.

“Unfortunately, it happens. She won’t be able to finish her year. The important part is she’s well and she can have her next career.”

In a statement released by Buffolo, Carlos Heller, the owner of Don Alberto Stable, praised Unique Bella’s career, which included nine wins in 12 starts and earnings of $1,272,400. She will be shipped to Don Alberto’s farm in Lexington, Ky., where she will be based as a broodmare.

“Unique Bella has a very special place in our hearts and has brought so much joy to myself, my mother Liliana and the whole Don Alberto family,” Heller said in the statement.

“She blessed us with our first Grade 1 win in the U.S. and we will be forever grateful for her and her time on the track. We are disappointed to announce her retirement; however, her health and well-being come first for us.”

Unique Bella breezed five furlongs in 1:01 on Saturday. The injury was detected after she returned to the stable, Hollendorfer said.

“She worked real easy this morning,” Hollendorfer said. “They gave her a breezing. When she got back to the barn, she was slightly off.

“We took X-rays and found a small chip, enough to keep her from racing.”

Hollendorfer said Unique Bella is unlikely to require surgery, since she will no longer race. She will be based with Hollendorfer in coming weeks.

“She’s comfortable and relaxed,” he said. “It’s not like it’s a super-bad fracture. It’s just a small chip.”

A 4-year-old who was purchased for $400,000 at the 2015 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Unique Bella won eight stakes, the most recent of which was the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares at Del Mar on July 29.

She was outstanding in each of her three seasons of racing.

In her second start, and final race as a 2-year-old, Unique Bella won a maiden race at 6 1/2 furlongs by 10 1/4 lengths at Del Mar in November 2016, the first of five consecutive wins. Unique Bella won three stakes at Santa Anita in early 2017, but was taken out of training in late March 2017 with a shin injury.

Unique Bella did not race in the spring and summer of 2017 and won her comeback in the Grade 3 L.A. Woman Stakes at Santa Anita last October. By Tapit, Unique Bella was seventh as the even-money favorite in the BC Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar last November. Unique Bella rebounded to win the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita last December, which clinched her championship.

This year, Unique Bella won 3 of 4 starts. She won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes at Santa Anita in February but missed an expected start in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational at Santa Anita in March because of an illness.

Unique Bella was second in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in mid-April after a troubled start, the last loss of her career. She won the Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita on June 2 and the Clement Hirsch in what turned out to be her final start.

- additional reporting by Jay Privman