By Alan Carasso
LEXINGTON, Ky — Sent out by the many of the same connections that campaigned 2018 winner A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and The Bethlehem Stables' Uni got the set-ups of all set-ups and whooshed away late to win Saturday's GI First Lady S. at Keeneland. In securing a spot in the field for the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, Uni–the 3-1 second choice to her stablemate and 'TDN Rising Star' Rushing Fall (More Than Ready)–stopped the clock in 1:32.87, easily eclipsing the previous track record. Uni would need to be supplemented to the Breeders' Cup.
Void of early speed, as is her custom, Uni dropped back immediately and raced with only a few behind early as Ms Bad Behavior (Blame) set suicidal fractions of :22.71 and :45.40 from Conquest Hardcandy (Candy Ride {Arg}). Still far back, but relatively unhurried rounding the second turn, Uni was angled sharply to the outside and into the clear off the home corner, rushed past Rushing Fall in upper stretch and covered her final two furlongs in :22.68 to win comfortably. Juliet Foxtrot sat a midfield trip saving ground and was steadied around the midway point before staying on into second. California shipper Vasilika had just two beaten at the quarter pole, but kicked home gamely for third.
“It's another addition to her tremendous career as a miler,” said winning jockey Joel Rosario. “She's real solid when she's put at this distance and she's gone to multiple tracks and has shown that kick.”
Uni beat the boys in French listed company in her final appearance for Fabrice Chappet in 2017 and won the GII Sands Point S. after finishing on the board in the GI Belmont Oaks and GII Lake Placid S. She was perfect in four starts last season, including a deep-closing, half-length success in the GI Matriarch S. at Del Mar and was facing the starter for the third time in 2019 Saturday, having won the Perfect Sting S. at Belmont June 29 ahead of a third as the favorite against the males in the GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 13.
Pedigree Notes:
Uni is one of 19 worldwide Grade I/Group 1 winners for the outstanding shuttler More Than Ready and is bred on a cross over Danehill or his stallion sons that has been responsible for the likes of Australian G1SWs Prized Icon (Aus), Sebring (Aus), Perfectly Ready (Aus) and Benicio (Aus). Produced by a half-sister to Italian Group 3 winner Whazzis (GB) (Desert Prince {Ire}), Uni is a half-sister to the 2-year-old colt Bring Him Home (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and a colt foal by Almanzor (Fr).
Saturday, Keeneland
FIRST LADY S.-GI, $400,000, Keeneland, 10-5, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:32.87, fm.
1–UNI (GB), 124, m, 5, by More Than Ready
1st Dam: Unaided (GB), by Dansili (GB)
2nd Dam: Wosaita (GB), by Generous (Ire)
3rd Dam: Eljazzi, by Artaius
(€40,000 Ylg '15 ARAUG). O-M. Dubb, Head of Plains Partners
LLC, R. LaPenta & Bethlehem Stables LLC; B-Haras d'Etreham
(GB); T-Chad C. Brown; J-Joel Rosario. $240,000. Lifetime
Record: SW-Fr, 17-9-3-3, $1,247,880. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Juliet Foxtrot (GB), 124, f, 4, by Dansili (GB)
1st Dam: Kilo Alpha (GB), by King's Best
2nd Dam: Anasazi (Ire), by Sadler's Wells
3rd Dam: Navajo Princess, by Drone
O/B-Juddmonte Farms Ltd (GB); T-Brad H. Cox. $80,000.
3–Vasilika, 124, m, 5, by Skipshot
1st Dam: La Belle Marquet, by Marquetry
2nd Dam: Good for Her, by Topsider
3rd Dam: Please Try Hard, by Nashua
O-All Schlaich Stables LLC, Hollendorfer, LLC, Gatto Racing, LLC
and Todaro, G.; B-Mikhail Yanakov (KY); T-Jerry Hollendorfer.
$40,000.
Margins: 2HF, 1 1/4, 1HF. Odds: 3.00, 8.30, 4.60.
Also Ran: Rushing Fall, Hanalei Moon, Awesometank (GB), Just Wonderful, Mitchell Road, Storm the Hill, Ms Bad Behavior, Indian Blessing (GB), Marina's Legacy, Conquest Hardcandy. Scratched: Simply Breathless (GB). Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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