Unique Bella, Paradise Woods target Beholder Mile

ARCADIA, Calif. – The champion Unique Bella and the multiple Grade 1 winner Paradise Woods are on schedule for their second meeting in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile on June 2, their trainers said Thursday.

Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017, was second after a slow start in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 13. Unique Bella was considered for the Grade 1 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park on June 9, but is unlikely to be sent out of state.

“I think we’re looking toward running here,” trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said.

Paradise Woods won the Grade 1 Santa Anita Oaks and Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes here last year, but is winless in her last three starts, including a third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar last November and a second to Unique Bella in the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes here last December.

In her lone start this year, Paradise Woods faded in the final furlong to finish fourth in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes at seven furlongs March 24. Paradise Woods has been working quickly, including six furlongs in 1:12.20 on Tuesday.

“She’s ready to go,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Selcourt, the winner of the Santa Monica Stakes, is another contender for the $400,000 Beholder Mile.

Itsinthepost works five furlongs

Itsinthepost, who won three Grade 2 stakes on turf earlier this year, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita on Thursday for an expected start in the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on turf on May 26.

Trained by Jeff Mullins, Itsinthepost was third in the Grade 2 Elkhorn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Keeneland on April 21, a race he won in 2017.