Don Alberto Stable’s 3-year-old Tapit filly Unique Bella, already a four-time graded stakes winner going into the Dec. 26 La Brea Stakes (G1) at Santa Anita, gamely defeated Paradise Woods in the seven-furlong event to become her sire’s 24th Grade 1 winner.
Sent away as the 6-5 favorite, Unique Bella patiently settled off the pace for jockey Mike Smith before powering home in the stretch to score by three-quarters of a length and stop the clock in 1:21.46.
The Jerry Hollendorfer trainee was bred by Brushwood Stable and is out of the Unbridled’s Song mare Unrivaled Belle, winner of the 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1).