Unique Bella may miss Santa Margarita Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – A recent bout with a cough may prevent the champion Unique Bella from starting in the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Stakes for fillies and mares at Santa Anita on March 17.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said Friday that Unique Bella has resumed training, but was unsure about immediate race plans for the sensational 4-year-old filly.

“She had a little bit of a cough and we haven’t ruled the race out yet,” Hollendorfer said.

“We have been very conservative. We’re taking things day by day.”

Unique Bella was galloped on Friday morning, Hollendorfer said. She has not had a workout since Feb. 25, when she ran five furlongs in 58.60 seconds.

Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Unique Bella has won 7 of 9 starts and earned $712,400. She is unbeaten in two starts at the current meeting: the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on Dec. 26, and a nine-length win in the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes against older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 10.

The champion female sprinter of 2017, Unique Bella will be a heavy favorite if she starts in the $400,000 Santa Margarita Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. She is by far the most prominent of 11 nominees, though the race could have additional runners at the supplemental entry stage on Wednesday.

Aside from Unique Bella, the candidates include Bishop’s Pond, Eccentric Spinster, Fault, La Force, Majestic Angel, Mistressofthenight, Mopotism, and Turkish Tabby.

Fault won the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf in her California debut Feb. 19. The Santa Margarita Stakes would be her first start in a stakes on dirt.