Unzip Me makes it four straight in Las Cienegas

ARCADIA, Calif. - Unzip Me had to convince trainer Marty Jones that she had recovered sufficiently from a win in the Irish O'Brien Stakes last month to be entered in Sunday's $100,000 at Santa Anita.

Jones did not see the right clues until early last week, before entries were taken on Thursday. The public saw Unzip Me's enthusiasm for themselves in the stretch of the Grade 3 Las Cienegas.

Racing on the lead throughout, Unzip Me led by as many as three lengths and won the hillside turf race by 1 1/4 lengths over Czechers.

Unzip Me extended her winning streak to four in the Las Cienegas. The streak began in an allowance race at Hollywood Park in December and included an optional claimer here in January before the Irish O'Brien.

"It was a last minute decision to run her back," Jones said. "The last race took a lot out of here. She didn't act like herself until the last few days before entries."

Ridden by Joe Talamo, Unzip Me ($9.60) set fractions of 22.56 and 45.24 seconds, leading by 1 1/2 lengths over Czechers down the hill. Unzip Me finished about 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:12.80.

Czechers finished three-quarters of a length in front of Gotta Have Her in the field of seven fillies and mares. Gotta Have Her was making her first start since a second in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint last November.

Gotta Have Her, the even-money favorite, bobbled shortly after the start, raced in sixth for the first half-mile and closed ground through the stretch under jockey Tyler Baze.

"She stumbled badly," trainer Jenine Sahadi said. "At least, she's got all four of her shoes. You look at it on paper and you thought there would be some pace. Tyler took it easy with her. He only hit her twice."