Unique Bella will skip Starlet to await Santa Ynez

ARCADIA, Calif.- Unique Bella, a sharp maiden race winner at Del Mar on Nov. 26, breezed a half-mile mile in 46.60 seconds at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The easy workout did little to sway trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s plans. He said Unique Bella will make her next start in the $200,000 Santa Ynez Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Jan. 8 and not Saturday’s $300,000 Starlet Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Los Alamitos.

“It’s tempting, but it’s not the right thing to do,” Hollendorfer said of the Starlet. “I don’t want to run her back that quick. I’m waiting until Jan. 8. We have long-term plans for this filly.”

Hollendorfer considers Unique Bella to be a candidate for the leading races for 3-year-old fillies in 2017. By Tapit, Unique Bella was second in her debut at Santa Anita in June and did not race again until Nov. 26. Sent off at 3-5, Unique Bella led throughout a six-furlong maiden race, winning by 10 1/4 lengths. Unique Bella is owned by Don Alberto Stable.