Princess Karen hopes to upset Unique Bella in L.A. Woman Stakes
Jeff Bonde understandably has misgivings about taking on Unique Bella in Sunday’s Grade III L.A. Woman Stakes, but what’s a trainer to do?
“Our filly’s training great, but we’ve got a very formidable opponent,” Bonde said.
Bonde sends out Princess Karen, winner of the restricted Beverly Lewis at Los Alamitos on Sept. 9. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Stay Thirsty was beaten 12 ¼ lengths by Unique Bella in the Grade III Santa Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita last January.
“Unique Bella,” Bonde said, “is what you call a luxury bus.”
Winner of four of her five career starts, the last four in a row by a combined margin of nearly 29 lengths, Unique Bella makes her first start in the 6 ½ furlong race for fillies and mares three and older after recovering from shin issues following her victory in the Santa Ysabel Stakes last March 4.
The L.A. Woman, race five of nine: Sturdy One, Norberto Arroyo Jr., 20-1; Cuddle Alert, Edwin Maldonado, 15-1; Bad Ju Ju, Drayden Van Dyke, 6-1; Princess Karen, Kent Desormeaux, 8-1; Unique Bella, Mike Smith, 1-5; Dis Smart Cat, Gary Stevens, 20-1; and Lunar Empress, Flavien Part, 15-1.
Source: Santa Anita Park