Uni Steals the Show With Late Run in Matriarch
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Sol Kumin leads Uni to the winner's circle after the Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar
With a massive, late run under jockey Joel Rosario that sent her barreling to the wire on the far outside, Uni proved herself to be a true force of nature on the grass and notched her first grade 1 score in the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (G1T) Dec. 2 at Del Mar.
Despite entering Sunday's race undefeated in three starts for 2018, for a moment it seemed Uni's luck had run out.
Settling next to last in the 13-horse field following a clean but slow break from post 12, Uni rated well behind the pace as Fahan Mura took control.
Still ahead by four lengths as they reached the half-mile mark in :46.29, Fahan Mura continued to dominate as they approached the final turn for home, stalked closely by Mission Impassible in second and Uni's Chad Brown-trained stablemate Quidura in third.
In 10th entering the stretch, Rosario called upon Uni and angled his mount five wide in the lane and urged her forward. With a final kick, Uni looked like magic in motion on the racetrack and shot to the front of the pack, passing one rival after another in rapid succession.
Overtaking a weakening Fahan Mura, a game Quidura, and late rallies by Vasilika and Daddy Is a Legend, Uni shot to the wire on the outside and crossed the finish a half-length ahead of Daddy Is a Legend.
"I could tell they were going a little quick up front because my filly has some speed and we were far back," Rosario said. "But she was comfortable, so I was, too. I just wanted to make one move with her. About the three-furlong (pole), I could feel she was good under me. So we went outside and she went on with it. She's a nice one."
Final time for the one-mile test was 1:34.35. Quidura finished third, and Vasilika was a neck back in fourth. Sent off at odds of 5-1, Uni returned $13.20, $6.40, and $5.00.
It was the second grade 1 score of the weekend for Rosario, who took the the Dec. 1 Hollywood Derby (G1T) with Raging Bull for Brown.
"It was not the plan (to be so far back)," said assistant trainer Jose Hernandez. "We told Joel to break with the field and see what happens. (Uni) can come from behind or be up close. I was a little nervous being so far behind, but she was really, really strong in the stretch. It's a really great experience for me, and it's really nice for my boss. It's my first time to (stand in and saddle stakes winners in 11 years working for Brown) at Del Mar, but I've done it in other places. (Brown) is one of the best men I've ever known, and he has very good horses."
Owned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables, the 4-year-old daughter of More Than Ready is unbeaten in four starts this year. Uni entered the race off a 3 3/4-length win in the Sept. 22 Noble Damsel Stakes (G3T) at Belmont. That victory was preceded by a pair of wins in the April 14 Plenty of Grace Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Aug. 4 Fasig-Tipton De La Rose Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.
Bred in Great Britain by Haras d'Etreham, Uni was purchased for $44,436 by The Channel Consignment from her breeder at the 2015 Arqana Deauville August Yearlings Sale. Out of the Dansili mare Unaided, Uni improved her record to 7-3-2 from 14 starts, with earnings of $892,880.