Unbridled Mo upsets Unique Bella in Apple Blossom Handicap
Unique Bella, making her first career start outside of California, missed the break Friday and tired late in the Grade 1, $400,000 Apple Blossom Handicap won by Unbridled Mo.
The champion sprinter lived up to her billing by jumping from last out of the gate to first entering the far turn. But the exertion of regaining ground took something out of the 4-year-old Tapit filly.
Unbridled Mo went by near the top of the lane, scoring for the combination of jockey Ricardo Santana and trainer Todd Pletcher at Oaklawn Park.
"I got a little worried in the first turn when I had to check up a little bit," said Santana, who earlier this week notched his 1,000th career victory. "...At the 3/8 (pole) I asked a little bit and got a lot of horse. I just waited to turn for home. I didn't want to move too soon."
Unique Bella held on for second in the field of seven, while longshot Fuhriously Kissed ran on for third over a track rated “good” and sealed before showers arrived to Hot Springs, Ark.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, who had West Coast jockey Mike Smith in to ride, Unique Bella appeared to stumble at the break. She was positioned wide, but out of any kickback, while picking up positions as multiple stakes winner Farrell set the early fractions.
“She’s squatted in the gate," Smith said. "I was trying to stand her up. The next thing I knew they opened the gates and she squatted back. She totally missed the break. I wish I could have stayed last. If I could have, I would have. She was very strong and very fresh. After she got left, she just wanted to catch up. I could have thrown her down, but I never had to do that and I wasn’t about to start. It was just unfortunate.”
A homebred, 5-year-old Unbridled Mo has won seven of 10 starts, with her other previous graded stakes win coming last April in Keeneland's Grade 3 Doubledogdare.