Unique Bella breezes five furlongs in Clement Hirsch prep

ARCADIA, Calif. - The champion Unique Bella, who is likely to start in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar next month, was among several notable workouts at Santa Anita over the weekend.

Unique Bella won the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on June 2 in her last start. On Saturday she breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80. In the last five weeks, Unique Bella has been given a breezing designation in three of her four workouts instead of the more strenuous description of handily.

The $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes will be run at 1 1/16 miles for fillies and mares on July 29. The champion female sprinter of 2017, Unique Bella has won two of three starts this year for Don Alberto Stable and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. She won the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes in February and was second in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park in April.

In other works Saturday, Accelerate, the winner of the Grade 1 Gold Cup at Santa Anita on May 26, worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds. Trained by John Sadler, Accelerate is scheduled to start in the Grade 2 San Diego Handicap at 1 1/16 miles at Del Mar on July 21 in a race that could include City of Light, who was third in the Gold Cup at Santa Anita.

City of Light, who worked a half-mile in 48.60 seconds Saturday, beat Accelerate in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap in Arkansas on April 14. Trainer Michael McCarthy emphasized Sunday that no race has been selected for City of Light.

“All options are open,” he said.

Hoppertunity, the 7-year-old multiple stakes winner, worked five furlongs in 1:01.40 on Sunday. Trained by Bob Baffert, Hoppertunity won the Grade 2 Brooklyn Invitational at Belmont Park on June 9 and is expected to return there for the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on July 7.

Ransom the Moon, the winner of the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Sakes at Del Mar last July, worked a half-mile in 48.20 seconds for a scheduled start in this year’s Bing Crosby Stakes at six furlongs on July 28. Trained by Phil D’Amato, Ransom the Moon was fifth in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap at a mile at Belmont Park on June 9.