Unique Bella couldn't undo late what she gave away early.
Tardy at the starting gate, last year's champion female sprinter played catch-up when least expected on Friday at Oaklawn Park. Last of seven early, the 4-year-old rallied to lead into the stretch before coming up short in the Grade 1 $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap.
Making only her second start in almost a year, 5-year-old Unbridled Mo won the Apple Blossom by 2 1/4 lengths over 1-5 favorite Unique Bella in the biggest upset of the 56-day Oaklawn meeting.
Unique Bella, said Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith, "squatted back and totally missed the break. ... It was just unfortunate."
In her first start outside California and on a wet surface, Unique Bella rushed into position and led by one length after six furlongs in 1:11.40. But, as Smith feared, a bill came due for her early antics.
"I wish I could have stayed last. If I could have, I would have," Smith said. "She was very strong and very fresh. After she got left, she just wanted to catch up."
Unbridled Mo, 9-2 second choice and carrying 7 pounds less (116) than the favorite, tracked early leader Farrell and Unique Bella when fourth down the backstretch, moving to second as the field turned for home.
"We got a good break," said winning jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. "I was scared during the first turn when I had to stop her a little bit, but I knew she was coming back. ... At the three-eighths (pole), I was just waiting for the turn for home because I didn't want to move too soon. When I turned for home, I asked her and her class won out."
A daughter of champion Uncle Mo, the Kentucky-bred Apple Blossom winner is the last foal produced by owner Stephen Brunetti's retired racemare Unbridled Waters. A multiple Grade 3 winner before Friday, Unbridled Mo is the second Oaklawn stakes winner from Gulfstream Park's Grade 3 Royal Delta Handicap Feb. 19; Royal Delta winner Martini Glass sat out the Apple Blossom after winning Oaklawn's Grade 2 Azeri March 17.
"This is our first time to Hot Springs and I'm sure we'll be back again," Brunetti said. "We were going back and forth between a couple of different races and Todd (Pletcher, trainer) told us how well she was training and he said, 'Let's take a shot in the Apple Blossom."'
Clocking a mile and sixteenth in 1:43.94, Unbridled Mo paid $11, $2.60 and $2.40. Fuhriously Kissed placed third at 56-1 with Streamline, Tiger Moth, Beach Flower and Farrell completing the order of finish in the 54th Apple Blossom.
Unbridled Mo earned $420,000 for winning a race that, with Unique Bella entered, second money of $140,000 seemed a realistic consolation prize.
"We felt like ... even if she was second or third it would be a positive result," said Pletcher. "Decided to go ahead and take a shot and very happy that we did."
Sports on 04/14/2018