It was a sight to behold. The mighty, silver frame of Unique Bella soaring down the track, pounding rhythmically over the ground with a sublime combination of reigning authority and poetic grace. The intrepid beast was gliding over the surface of Del Mar, working toward her next start in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes, set to be run on September 30. It was a routine five-furlong drill that the leggy daughter of Tapit completed in a final time of 1:01 flat. There was so much hope and potential to be seen when the filly took flight, as the multiple graded stakes winner had a bright future ahead. However, all of the excitement and plans for the future came to an abrupt end after her workout on August 18, when it was discovered that Unique Bella had sustained an injury to her ankle.
Horse racing can be a very fickle sport, always changing from highs to lows. One moment Unique Bella was riding high, beating up on her competition and training for greater heights, and the next moment her brilliant career was cut short, when there was so much more left to do. A chip was discovered in her sesamoid, forcing Don Alberto Stables to make the difficult call and retire her from racing.
The four-year-old filly's career may have come to a sudden and unexpected end, but she has certainly left a legacy on the track that will not be forgotten. Unmatched in 9 of her 12 starts, the indomitable filly only experienced the bitter taste of defeat three times throughout her entire career. She dominated the racetracks of California, showing no mercy as she swiftly turned away foe after foe. No matter the race, distance, or competition, Unique Bella was up for the challenge. Her competitive spirit and passionate desire to win were undeniable, making her a joy to watch and a thrill to follow. Ever consistent in her ability and raw talent, Unique Bella was a horse that you could always count on to show up and run her race.
Conditioned by Jerry Hollendorfer and ridden by Mike Smith, Unique Bella claimed three Grade 1 victories and marched to glory in both sprints and two-turn races throughout her career. She was honored as the Champion Female Sprinter in 2017, and collected a total of $1,272,400 in career earnings.
The striking and vivacious Pennsylvania-bred is out of the Grade 1 winning mare, Unrivaled Belle, who won the Breeders' Cup Distaff in 2010. With Unrivaled Belle as her mother and the infamous Tapit as her father, high expectations understandably surrounded Unique Bella from the very beginning. The phantom-colored filly went through the Keeneland September Yearlings Sale in 2015, commanding the lofty price of $400,000. Looking back, Unique Bella's final price in the sale turned out to be a bargain, as she certainly lived up to the hype of her regal pedigree.
Fast, brave, and beautiful, Unique Bella was everything you wanted in a racehorse. She was as unique as her name implied, forever standing above her competition with an air of superiority that carried her far. There was so much left for Unique Bella to accomplish, and there are so many things about her that we will now never know. However, as disappointing as her retirement is, the story does not end here. Thankfully, Unique Bella will recover from her injury, and will go on to start a new life as a broodmare in Lexington, Kentucky. The racetrack won't be the same without the imposing presence of Unique Bella, but her story will continue through her own offspring, who will one day carry on her legacy on the track.
Thank you to Gary Tasich for the beautiful photos!
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