By Christie DeBernardis
Champion Unique Bella (Tapit) bested MGISW Paradise Woods (Union Rags) by three-quarters of a length the first time they faced each other in the Dec. 26 GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita and the 'TDN Rising Stars' meet again in Arcadia Saturday in the GI Beholder Mile.
Unique Bella dominated the 3-year-old filly division in California last winter, romping in the GII Santa Ynez S., GII Las Virgenes S. and GIII Santa Ysabel S., after which she was sidelined for seven months. Returning a winner in the GIII L.A. Woman S. in October, she finished a disappointing seventh as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint, but rebounded with a win in the La Brea to earn the Eclipse as the top female sprinter of 2017. Kicking off this term with a nine-length demolition of the GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 10, the gray was caught late and forced to settle for second last time in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 13.
Paradise Woods picked up where Unique Bella left off last term with an 11 3/4-length tour de force in the GI Santa Anita Oaks that made her the favorite for the GI Kentucky Oaks. She set the early pace on the First Friday in May, but faded fast to finish 11th to future champion Abel Tasman (Quality Road) beneath the Twin Spires. Given a brief break, she was sixth when making her return in the Aug. 27 GIII Torrey Pines S., but returned to winning ways with a 5 1/4-length triumph in the GI Zenyatta S. Sept. 30 and was third behind champion Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) and Abel Tasman in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 3. The bay followed her runner-up effort in the LA Brea with a fourth in the GII Santa Monica S. Mar. 24.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert sends out last year's Beholder Mile runner-up Vale Dori (Arg) (Asiatic Boy {Arg}), who missed by a neck behind Eclipse winner Stellar Wind (Curlin) last term. Coming up a neck short of Stellar Wind again in the GI Clement L. Hirsch S. at Del Mar July 30, the bay was last seen finishing a lackluster fifth in the GIII Adoration S. here May 6.
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