Unique Bella horse to beat in Clement Hirsch Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – There might not be a horse who enjoys being at Del Mar more than Unique Bella, who resides in an outdoor pen when she’s here instead of being cooped up in a stall. She’ll tolerate having walls around her when at Santa Anita, but since Del Mar allows outdoor pens, which she much prefers, she’s a happier horse camping out at this track.

“Some horses really like it,” Jerry Hollendorfer, who trains Unique Bella, said of her summer lodging. “She’s very happy here at Del Mar.”

Unique Bella will try to keep her legion of fans happy Sunday when she goes for her second straight Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Clement Hirsch Stakes for fillies and mares. Unique Bella was a runaway winner of the Beholder Mile in her last start on June 2 at Santa Anita, and this time has scared away all but a handful of challengers, most of whom are in it in the hope of picking up a Grade 1 placing in this 1 1/16-mile race.

There are higher expectations for Unique Bella. Last year’s champion female sprinter, she is a top candidate for an Eclipse Award this year as champion older female, and she is looking to enhance her résumé before title-deciding races later this year against the likes of Abel Tasman.

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Unique Bella, now age 4, retains her devastating speed, but she’s been far more manageable in the mornings, a testament to the exacting work Hollendorfer, local assistant Dan Ward, and their staff have done with her over the past two years. Unique Bella can still work fast, but if asked to turn it off, she cooperates.

“She’s more mature, more willing to do what we want,” Hollendorfer said. “If we want a fast work, she’ll do it, but if we don’t she’ll slow down.”

Unique Bella landed post 2 in the six-horse field and looks to be the controlling speed. She will be an odds-on favorite for the ninth time in her 12 races. She has won eight times in her 11 prior starts.

Hollendorfer also entered Turkish Tabby, who has finished well back in her only starts in graded company.

“It was free to enter, so we wanted to take a look,” Hollendorfer said.

The Hirsch goes as race 5, right in the middle of a nine-race card that begins at 2 p.m. Pacific. It is also part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series, with the winner earning a berth to the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unique Bella, by Tapit
Last 3 Beyers: 103-91-109

◗ She has won three of her last four starts, her lone loss coming in the Apple Blossom when she did a belly flop leaving the gate.

◗ She carries top weight of 123 pounds, conceding four pounds to her rivals.

◗ Mike Smith has been aboard Unique Bella for all her starts and is back aboard.

Yuvetsi, by Bodemeister
Last 3 Beyers: 90-77-81

◗ She won the restricted Santa Lucia at Santa Anita on June 22 in her last start and now makes her first try in Grade 1 company.

◗ The Santa Lucia marked her only try going two turns on dirt.

“She looks like she’s on an upswing,” said her trainer, John Sadler.

◗ Sadler also entered Shenandoah Queen, returning eight days after a disappointing try on turf here. Earlier this year, she was a distant fourth behind Unique Bella in the Grade 2 Santa Maria.

◗ Sadler is realistic about his goals in this race.

“Just trying to get Grade 1-placed,” he said. “I’d be thrilled to be second.”

La Force, by Power
Last 3 Beyers: 99-89-87

◗ Though no match for Unique Bella in the Beholder Mile, she did finish second while earning a career-best Beyer Speed Figure.

Bernina Star, by Harlan’s Holiday
Last 3 Beyers: 87-88-81

◗ She was second to Yuvetsi in the Santa Lucia last time out, her second start following a layoff of nearly five months.

◗ She has finished in the money in all four of her starts on this main track.