Regarding horse racing, it is said, the great ones have seen the track.
Though unfamiliar to Oaklawn Park or life outside the Pacific Time Zone, Unique Bella holds a distinct class edge today in the Grade $1 $750,000 Apple Blossom Handicap for older fillies and mares.
Last year's champion female sprinter, the daughter of supersire Tapit began her 4-year-old season with a show of force, winning the Grade 2 Santa Maria by nine lengths Feb. 10 at Santa Anita. A Grade 1 winner against fellow 3-year-olds in December, Unique Bella returns to racing's front ranks in the Apple Blossom after missing a March 17 Grade 1 race in California because of a cough and other concerns.
Wet weather, which Unique Bella dodged in California, may greet her in Arkansas. Heavy thunderstorms are forecast at or near the scheduled post time of 5:39 p.m. One day earlier and the Apple Blossom would have been raced over a fast track and under sunny skies. What's the old saying about Arkansas weather? Stick around a few minutes, and it's sure to change.
"Well, everybody has to deal with it," said Jerry Hollendorfer, Hall of Fame trainer of Unique Bella. "If the weather's bad, then we'll try to deal with it."
Unique Bella arrived in Hot Springs on Wednesday for her first start outside California and possibly over a wet track. Regardless of the racing surface, she will be the 21st champion to compete in the 54-year history of the Apple Blossom either during or following a championship season, according to Oaklawn's media-relations department.
"Actually, this was in the mix, anyway," said Hollendorfer, referring to the Apple Blossom. "It didn't hurt to skip" the second California race.
Track announcer Michael Wrona described Unique Bella as "1,200 pounds of horse power" in the Santa Maria, with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith "sitting as quiet as a church mouse." Smith's post-race comments were equally emphatic.
"I really don't think we've seen how good she can be," Smith said. "I've surely seen how easily she's doing things right now, which I think is extremely impressive. I truly believe we haven't gotten to the bottom of it. There could be even more to her."
Unique Bella is 2-5 program favorite for the Apple Blossom, which drew early-season Oaklawn stakes winners Farrell and Streamline but not last-out Grade 2 Azeri winner Martini Glass. Breaking from post five, Unique Bella carries 123 pounds over a mile and sixteenth, trying to give Hollendorfer his fifth major Oaklawn stakes victory.
"What's happened in the past doesn't count," said the Hall of Fame conditioner of Fantasy winners Lite Light and future champion Blind Luck, Azeri winner Hystericalady and Honeybee winner It Tiz Well.
The top shipper other than Unique Bella is the Todd Pletcher-trained Unbridled Mo, making her local debut after placing fourth in a Grade 3 race in February at Gulfstream Park. A victory by Tiger Moth, Fuhriously Kissed or Beach Flower would rock the toteboard.
Sports on 04/13/2018