Don Alberto’s talented 4-year-old Tapit filly Unique Bella, the Eclipse champion female sprinter of 2017, added another top-level victory to her résumé June 2 at Santa Anita Park when she defeated fellow Grade 1 winners Paradise Woods and Vale Dori in the Beholder Mile (G1).
After breaking well under regular rider Mike Smith, Unique Bella dueled with Paradise Woods through fast early fractions of 22.51 and 44.96 before clearing that rival and opening as many as four lengths in the stretch. Unique Bella held a comfortable 2¼-length margin over late-closing La Force; it was another 5½ lengths back to Paradise Woods in third and 4½ more to fourth-place finisher Vale Dori.
Unique Bella’s final time of 1:35.60 was good for a 103 Beyer Speed Figure.
Trained by Jerry Hollendorfer, Unique Bella annexed her seventh graded stakes in the Beholder Mile. The winner’s purse took her career earnings over $1 million.
Unique Bella was bred in Kentucky by Brushwood Stable out of Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) winner Unrivaled Belle. The gray was a $400,000 investment by Don Alberto at the 2015 Keeneland September yearling sale.