Unique Bella becomes second two-time Horse of the Week

HRN Staff
Photo: Eclipse Sportswire

Unique Bella joined some, well, fairly unique company Wednesday when voting ended for HorseRacingNation.com's Horse of the Week.

The champion sprinter who stretched out to win convincingly in Santa Anita Park's Grade 2 Santa Maria Stakes last weekend became HRN's second two-time winner of the award since the program's start in October. The only other? Gun Runner.

Unique Bella earned 47 percent of the vote, beating out Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes winner Flameaway (17 percent), Heart to Heart (12 percent) and World Approval (11 percent), among others.

Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, ridden by Mike Smith and campaigned by Don Alberto Stable, the 4-year-old daughter of Tapit will continue to point to route races this year, with Oaklawn Park's Grade 1 Apple Blossom mentioned as a goal. For her career, Unique Bella is 7-1-0 in nine starts, with her only finish off the board in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.

Look to vote for HRN's Horse of the Week each Monday through Wednesday morning on our home page.

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