Unique Bella points to Santa Margarita Invitational

ARCADIA, Calif. – Unique Bella, the leading older female in California, will not face males in the near future.

Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer said on Wednesday that he plans to point Unique Bella to the Grade 1 Santa Margarita Invitational for fillies and mares at 1 1/8 miles on March 17 and is not considering running her in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap against males at 1 1/4 miles on March 10.

“The Big Cap does not fit in our plans,” he said. “I think everyone is on the same page on staying with fillies and mares.”

Owned by Don Alberto Stable, Unique Bella, the champion female sprinter of 2017, is unbeaten in two starts at the Santa Anita meeting – the Grade 1 La Brea Stakes on Dec. 26 and the Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes last Saturday.

Nine likely for Buena Vista

Madame Stripes, the winner of the Grade 3 Megahertz Stakes at a mile on turf Jan. 15, is one of nine probable starters for the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The $200,000 Buena Vista Stakes will be run at a mile on turf for fillies and mares. Madame Stripes, owned by Gainesway Stable and trained by Neil Drysdale, will have familiar rivals in Insta Erma and Thundering Sky, who were second and third in the Megahertz.

Other expected runners are Fault, Juno, Madam Dancealot, Pricedtoperfection, Sassy Littla Lila, and Sweet Charity.