Unique Bella fires bullet for Apple Blossom Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. – Unique Bella is ready to take her act on the road.

Nearly a year after sore shins prevented her from running in the Kentucky Oaks, Unique Bella finally will make her first start outside California when she heads to Oaklawn Park to run in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom on Friday.

Unique Bella will be trying to annex her second Grade 1 race. She won the Grade 1 La Brea at Santa Anita on Dec. 26 to secure the title as champion female sprinter of 2017.

Unique Bella – a winner of seven of her nine starts – will be an overwhelming favorite in the Apple Blossom, and she signaled her readiness with another dazzling workout on Sunday morning at Santa Anita when she went a half-mile in 46.80 seconds under exercise rider Edgar Rodriguez. The time, over a fast main track that was quite dull – except for her – was the fastest of 63 at the distance on Sunday, was more than a full second faster than the next-fastest time, and was the only work of 164 at Santa Anita on Sunday that was designated as “breezing.”

“Nice breeze,” said trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. “She went out nice.”

Hollendorfer will be at Oaklawn to saddle Unique Bella in the Apple Blossom. She is set to fly to Arkansas early Wednesday morning. Hollendorfer said being able to ship a horse directly into Hot Springs makes going to Oaklawn attractive.

“The logistics of going to Arkansas are good,” he said. “You can get a direct flight.”