Uni Seeks Third Consecutive Win in Noble Damsel

Unbeaten in two starts this year, Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables' Uni will try to make it 3-for-3 when she takes on a field of five older fillies and mares Sept. 22 in the $200,000 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T) going one mile at Belmont Park. 

The 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready  began her career in France before shipping to the U.S. midway through her 3-year-old campaign when she finished third in the Belmont Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and progressed from there. The filly ran second in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2T) next out and followed that effort with a win in the Sands Point Stakes (G2T). She finished fourth in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes presented by Lane's End (G1T) to close the season.  

Uni's victories this year in the Plenty of Grace Stakes and Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes have come over the Noble Damsel distance. The Chad Brown trainee will break from post 2 with Joel Rosario in the irons. 

Joining her in the field will be stablemate Dream Awhile, who will be making her first trip around the Belmont inner turf. Since arriving from France last year, Dream Awhile has hit the board in all six of her North American starts and picked up her first grade 3 score along the way. 

Competing exclusively in graded company since kicking off her 4-year-old campaign, the War Front  filly secured her first graded victory in the June 30 Eatontown Stakes (G3T) at Monmouth Park. She was edged at the wire last out in the July 29 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes (G3T). Dream Awhile has been training steadily at Belmont, breezing six times over the dirt since Aug. 11. The filly last worked Sept 15, going four furlongs in :49.24.

The highweight in Saturday's race, Dream Awhile will partner with jockey Javier Castellano. 

Another European set to contend the Noble Damsel is Lael Stables' Hawksmoor. The Irish-bred daughter of Azamour last visited the winner's circle in June 2017 when she ran gate-to-wire in the New York Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2T) on the Belmont inner turf. 

Hawksmoor also began her career across the pond, where she started nine times and won the 888sport Prestige Stakes (G3) at 2 and the German One Thousand Guineas (G2) at 3. 

Rounding out the field are Lift Up and Thundering Sky. Graham Motion trainee Mythical Mission is also possible but is cross-entered in the All Along Stakes at Laurel Park.