Unzip Me auditions for stakes

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Two races in nine months is far fewer than trainer Marty Jones expected from Unzip Me in the first year of her career.

"It was not by design," he said.

Unzip Me won her debut at Del Mar last summer and was second in an allowance race at Hollywood Park on May 13. Her third start will come in Friday's seventh race at Hollywood Park and could lead to a stakes appearance at Del Mar this summer.

Owned by a partnership that includes breeders John Harris and Don Valpredo, Unzip Me starts in a six-furlong allowance race for statebred females. By City Zip, Unzip Me is a closer who should have a pace to pursue in a field of eight.

"That's the way she wanted to run," Jones said. "I don't think we're going to mess with it."

In her debut, Unzip Me closed from eighth to win by a neck. In the Mayo13 race, she closed from seventh to miss by a half-length despite a wide trip on the turn.

"I thought she ran well," Jones said. "The pace was a little slow and she lost some ground. She's come back really good."

Jones and the owners had hoped to campaign Unzip Me last fall, but it was not possible.

"She got a little stiff in her hind end and we gave her some time off," Jones said.

If Unzip Me runs well on Friday evening, she could start in the $100,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at Del Mar July 25.

The presence of speedy fillies such as Dancing Erin, Grey Lassie, and Running After Boys should ensure a quick pace and help closers such as Wide Eyed View and Suziqcutie. Freebiehadthemoves and Golden Rocketship are also entered.

Friday's race will be the California debut of Wide Eyed View, who was third in the Princess of Palms Handicap over six furlongs at Turf Paradise in April. Trained by Danny Hunsaker, Wide Eyed View has won 3 of 6 starts, all at Turf Paradise.

Suziqcutie, who has won 1 victory in 13 starts for breeder Michael Cooper and trainer Doug O'Neill, is winless in her last eight starts. A 4-year-old, Suziqcutie was third behind Unzip Me on May 13 after racing in traffic through the stretch.

"She was unlucky not be unsaddled in the winner's circle," O'Neill said.