Unique Bella wins Clement L. Hirsch, collects another Grade 1

Unique Bella, just seventh in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Del Mar, rebounded Sunday in her return to the seaside oval.

The gray filly won the Grade 1, $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch under a confident ride by Mike Smith, who sat chilly on Unique Bella even as La Force closed quickly in the lane, narrowing a four-length advantage to a half at the finish.

“She ran OK," Smith said. "This wasn’t her best race, but it was OK. She blew a shoe coming away from there and she was a little uncomfortable. When she heard that other mare coming, she surged again. This wasn’t her best, but it was good enough.”

A daughter of Tapit trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, she’s now a three-time Grade 1 winner and took back-to-back top level scores going back to the June 2 Beholder Mile at Santa Anita Park.

Sunday’s victory also served as a “Win and You’re In” race toward the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Churchill Downs.

Behind La Force, the Germand-bred, Bernina Star was third in the Hirsch’s field of five.

Off at 1/9, Unique Bella galloped to 1 1/16 miles in a final time of 1:44.40 and led at every point of call, with fractions of 23.25, 46.80 and 1:11.56.

It looked to be another dominant performance until deep stretch, when Paddy Gallagher-trained La Force continued her rally from a distant fourth up the back stretch. Smith, however, never went to the whip on Unique Bella, who cruised past the wire under wraps to improve her record to 9-2-0 in 12 starts for Don Alberto Stable.

“We take every race seriously and we took this one seriously," Hollendorfer said. "She won, and we’re happy with the way she did it. Until they hit the wire, you’re always concerned if they’ll get there. She’s been off awhile and we wanted to get a win so we could plan her next race, which either will be back east or here. We’re not sure yet.”