Unique Bella has strong workout in prep for Las Virgenes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
ARCADIA, Calif. – After watching Unique Bella blaze five furlongs in 58.20 seconds Thursday morning, one could conclude that the Santa Anita surface was exceptionally fast or that the 3-year-old filly is exceptionally talented.
“I think it’s both,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said after Unique Bella rolled through another sharp workout in preparation for a showdown with 2016 champion 2-year-old filly Champagne Room in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes on Feb. 5.
Unique Bella, the romping winner of the Grade 2, seven-furlong Santa Ynez, was intended to work alone Thursday morning at 6:45. But she caught company, ran past that workmate late, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 and change.
The one-mile Las Virgenes will be her first route race. “We don’t think she’ll have any trouble getting two turns,” Hollendorfer said.
Unique Bella is by Tapit and was produced by Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Unrivaled Belle. She has won two of three starts and is considered by many as the top 3-year-old filly in California.
Although Unique Bella was nominated to the Triple Crown, Hollendorfer expects her to stay in her division. “I’m not an advocate of running fillies against colts, and my record proves that,” he said. “But sometimes you have to be prepared.”
It Tiz Well, the Hollendorfer-trained filly who finished second, 7 1/2 lengths behind Unique Bella, last out, worked five furlongs Thursday in 59.60 seconds and also will contest the Las Virgenes.
◗ Tapped, the Hollendorfer-trained Tapit filly who won a first-level allowance last out by more than five lengths, will run Feb. 5 at Golden Gate Fields in the $50,000 California Oaks.