Unique Bella goes two turns in Las Virgenes Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Unique Bella has only herself to blame for the burden she has carried since last summer, long before her career debut. She was a conversation topic, with fast morning workouts and a lofty reputation, before she had a single start.

“She’s done that to herself in the a.m.,” jockey Mike Smith said. “She’s so athletic. It’s like watching a great, young athlete. Some of them just move better than a normal kid.”

Unique Bella is not great yet, and she still must run two turns against top company. She will do just that in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita, a one-mile race that includes Champagne Room, the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies winner and champion filly making her first start of the season.

Nonetheless, the Las Virgenes could be a runaway if Smith and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer are correct in their belief that two turns will be Unique Bella’s preference, though her career began at five furlongs. “We just ran her [in June] because she’s so fast,” Smith said. “We needed to do something with her.”

Unique Bella, with a series of flashy works, broke slowly and lost her summer debut as the 3-10 favorite. She did not race for five months afterward, while Hollendorfer nursed her back from tender shins.

Since returning, the gray daughter of Tapit has started twice – a maiden romp by more than 10 lengths and a Grade 2 sprint she crushed by more than seven. She will strut her stuff going two turns Sunday.

“I think this is what she’s wanted to do all along,” Smith said. “She’s certainly bred to go a distance. Just let her use her big stride, her fast, cruising speed to her advantage.

“When you let her get into that rhythm, her ears go forward, she gets happy and starts throwing numbers at you. It’s not 24 and 48, it’s 22 and 46.”

It was even faster in sprints, and Smith is right about her pedigree – the longer, the better. Sired by Tapit, Unique Bella’s dam is 2010 BC Distaff winner Unrivaled Belle.

Yet while Unique Bella is the fastest in the field, the Las Virgenes presents challenges beyond simply running away from the field. For the first time, Unique Bella will load in front of the grandstand, with a short run to the clubhouse turn.

Furthermore, Unique Bella is no gentle kitten inside the gate. “If she has any knock against her, it’s probably standing in there just a little bit eager,” Smith said. “She doesn’t like being told to stand still; she wants to do something.”

Hollendorfer has schooled her in the gate, and Unique Bella is gradually learning to settle. “She’s gotten better and better each start,” Smith said. “In the paddock, too. She was much better last out.”

Only one of the five Las Virgenes entrants is a champion. Champagne Room was considered for a Gulfstream Park sprint stakes as a comeback, but trainer Peter Eurton opted to stay home and get a race under her belt.

“For us, the biggest thing is to get this race behind us. [Next] could either be here or the Ashland,” Eurton said. “There are other spots in between.”

Champagne Room faces an historical hurdle. Over the past 24 years, she is the first Eclipse Award-winning filly whose career-high Beyer Speed Figure is less than 80; her top is 78. Like any top trainer, Eurton is aware of the figures.

“I look at them, use them as a tool,” Eurton said while deflecting her 78 Beyer in the Breeders’ Cup. “It’s important, but I think she had a lot more left. Granted, she didn’t show it, but she didn’t need to.”

Champagne Room can be aggressive in races and workouts; her final breeze last Sunday was perfect.

Mopotism, Misstressofthenight, and the turf stakes winner Miss Southern Miss also entered the Las Virgenes, race 6 on an eight-race Super Bowl Sunday card that starts at 11 a.m. Pacific.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unique Bella, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 88-87-73

◗ The likely pacesetter, Unique Bella looked super in her final workout Wednesday, 47 seconds breezing under Smith.

Champagne Room, by Broken Vow
Last 3 Beyers: 78-72-76

◗ Mario Gutierrez rides the filly, who was considered for a turf race last year and could end up switching surfaces later this season.

Miss Southern Miss, by More Than Ready
Last 3 Beyers: 75-63-75

◗ She was a late defection from the BC Juvenile Fillies Turf due to a tender shin. She has worked fast for her comeback.

Mopotism, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 75-77-68

◗ Her maiden win last out was better than it looks. She was confidently ridden; the runner-up returned to win a maiden race.

◗ Progeny of Uncle Mo have won 27 percent of their starts following a maiden win (22 for 79).