Unique Bella with devastating ease in the Las Virgenes

Complete and total superiority. It’s not often you see a recent Eclipse Award winner making her first start of the year as a decided underdog, but that’s how much respect bettors had in Unique Bella going into this afternoon’s Grade 2 Las Virgenes. Their faith was backed up, and then some, by an absolutely breathtaking performance that carried the gray filly to a 8 ¾-length romp.

I’d like to tell you that what we saw today is something unlike anything witnessed in recent years, but of course, it is not. Eerily similar to the way her older stablemate, Songbird, was winning races last year, Unique Bella looks to the world to be the second filly of extraordinary ability to grace the barn of Jerry Hollendorfer in as many years. While Bob Baffert had his back-to-back boys in American Pharoah and Arrogate, Hollendorfer has cornered the market in sensational young fillies. It’s an embarrassment of riches for both fine horsemen.

With the buzz surrounding Unique Bella practically bursting at the seams after her dominating run in the Santa Ynez last month, the daughter of Tapit was sent off at 1-10 in the field of four. Meanwhile, Champagne Room, making her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, went off at 9-2.

Ridden by Hall of Fame rider, Mike Smith, as she has been in each of her races, the big favorite broke smoothly from the gate and headed into the first turn in a nice stalking position behind Mopotism and Champagne Room. The three fillies remained in that order into the backstretch through an opening first quarter of :22.82. That order suddenly changed mid-way through the backstretch, as Smith was dragged to the lead by his talented mount.

Hitting the half in :45.62, Champagne Room and Mopotism were scrambling for answers by the sudden thrust of the Hollendorfer filly. It was just like the move she made in the Santa Ynez, and once again, it proved way too much for her competition.

The other two worked hard to try to stay in touch, but Unique Bella was just cruising on the lead, while lengthening her advantage with each stride. Smith had little other work to do, but to stay on, as the pair cantered to the Santa Anita finish line in complete control. Like most special horses, Unique Bella has an effortless and long stride that breaks the heart of her competition.

“The way she settled, I could have taken her even farther back,” marveled the winning rider. “At some point you have to let them be who they are; let them do what they’re good at. I just let her do what she wanted to do and she picked it up and was well within herself. It was an amazing race."

The only suspense, as far as the order of finish, was which filly would play bridesmaid to Unique Bella. That honor went to Mopotism, who outgamed Champagne Room to the wire to finish second by 1 ¼-lenghts. Miss Southern Miss, making her first start since winning a turf stakes back in October, trailed throughout. The final time for the flat mile over the fast main track at Santa Anita was a very solid 1:35.66.

“She’s very talented. She created that move down the backside until about the quarter pole and she was well within herself from that point on,” added Smith. “Honestly, even then and I didn’t want her to, but she switched to her right lead and it took her there."

Out of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff winning Unbridled’s Song mare, Unrivaled Belle, Unique Bella was bred in Pennsylvania, and was purchased out of the Keeneland September sale for $400,000 by the Don Alberto Stable. With today’s easy victory, she raised her lifetime record to 4-3-1-0, while pushing her earnings to a rapidly improving total of $282,400. The win today was her third in a row after finishing second in her career debut way back in June.

Sent off as an overwhelming favorite today in the small field, Unique Bella returned $2.20 and $2.10, with no show betting. The $2 exacta, over Mopotism, was good for $7.40, while the 4-1-2 trifecta, with the 2016 Juvenile Filly Champion in third, paid $14.00.

With the disdainful ease in which she handled some good fillies today at Santa Anita, Jerry Hollendorfer was immediately asked about the possibility of his new star being pointed to the Kentucky Derby and the Triple Crown to face males. Much as he did last year, Hollendorfer downplayed the idea.

“I really like to concentrate on the filly races,” said Hollendorfer. “If an opportunity came to do something else we’d probably have to consider that, but I’d like to keep her against the fillies if I can. I’d like to keep her in California (for the Grade I, $400,000 Santa Anita Oaks at 1 1/16 miles on April 8), just like I did with Songbird last year. There’s enough money to run out here and run against the girls, not the boys. I think we’ll try and run here and if we’d be fortunate enough, we’d point to the (Kentucky) Oaks."