Unique Bella has summer options on both coasts

ARCADIA, Calif. – Unique Bella may be racing in a resort town near you this summer.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer is targeting the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar on July 29 for Unique Bella after the 4-year-old filly’s impressive win in Saturday’s Grade 1 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita.

In the winner’s circle Saturday, Hollendorfer mentioned a race at Saratoga as another possibility this summer. The most prestigious race for older fillies and mares at that meeting is the Grade 1 Personal Ensign Stakes on Aug. 25.

The $300,000 Clement Hirsch at 1 1/16 miles and the $700,000 Personal Ensign at 1 1/8 miles are key preps for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

“I think we want to look at a Del Mar race,” Hollendorfer said on Sunday. “We’d consider other races also.”

The champion female sprinter of 2017, Unique Bella won the $400,000 Beholder Mile by 2 1/4 lengths over 24-1 La Force. Paradise Woods, a two-time Grade 1 winner in 2017, set the pace but was closely followed by Unique Bella, who took the lead with more than a quarter-mile remaining and led by as many as four lengths in the stretch.

The Beholder Mile was Unique Bella’s second Grade 1 win. Last December, Unique Bella won the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old fillies. She has won seven stakes in her career ranging in distances from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles.

“I think Unique Bella could do almost anything,” Hollendorfer said. “I’ve very pleased with the way she ran. I don’t think we could ask much more from her.”

Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Unique Bella, by Tapit, has won 8 of 11 starts and earned $1,092,400.

Plans for La Force and Paradise Woods, who finished third, were in flux as of Sunday.

La Force had her best performance in a graded stakes in the Beholder Mile.

Paradise Woods faded in the final furlong to finish 7 3/4 lengths behind Unique Bella. As of Sunday, trainer Richard Mandella was not keen on facing Unique Bella in the near future.

“That mare is something,” he said of Unique Bella.

Paradise Woods was third in the BC Distaff at Del Mar last November. She has raced only on dirt in her 10-race career and might start on grass this summer, Mandella said.