Uni (GB) returned to her winning ways at the right time to take her second Grade 1 First Lady, turning the tables on accomplished stablemate Newspaperofrecord (IRE) at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.
The First Lady is a Win and You're In Challenge Series race for the Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf, meaning Uni will get an automatic berth in the race.
Crystal Lake took the early lead from Newspaperofrecord going into the first turn, with Uni sitting third off the early leaders. Uni and rider Joel Rosario followed Newspaperofrecord when the fellow Chad Brown filly drew alongside Crystal Lake going into the final turn. Uni took a wide route to the outside of her stablemate and shadowed her throughout the stretch, wearing her down in the final strides.
Uni had been the second betting choice at 2-1 behind even money favorite Newspaperofrecord. She paid $6.80 to win. Newspaperofrecord was third, and Beau Recall (IRE) was second.
The final time for the mile was 1:34.90.
Uni is owned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains partners, Bethlehem Stables, and Robert LaPenta. She was bred in Great Britain by Haras D'Etreham. Uni is the daughter of More Than Ready out of Dansili (GB) mare Unaided (GB). She is also a past winner of the G1 Matriarch, the G3 Noble Damsel, and the G2 Sands Point. She came to this race with two other starts this year, finishing off the board both times after winning last year's Breeders' Cup Mile.
See the full chart here.
Quotes from the $350,000 First Lady (G1) Presented by UK HealthCare, courtesy the Keeneland press office
Sol Kumin of Head of Plains Partners (winning co-owner of Uni [GB] via telephone)
“I was so stressed out. If she doesn't run well here, you couldn't run her back in the Breeders' Cup after the year she had. Now you run her back, same track, four weeks and you feel like she might be back. (Trainer) Chad (Brown) said her last two breezes, he felt like she was circling back to the form she had last year so we were hopeful. But until you see it, you just don't know. Just an incredible filly.
“Her last race for us will be the Breeders' Cup (Mile-G1) against the boys and if she is able to do it again, it would be Hall of Fame good.
“I'm just so happy. This year was tough. When you bring these horses back at this age, you sort of question yourself of 'did we do the right thing?'. She seemed like she had been doing well the last couple of months so we felt like we did the right thing. Today obviously you feel like we did right by her. Hopefully she can give us one more big effort. If not, she's given us everything we could have ever asked for.”
Baldo Hernandez (assistant to winning trainer Chad Brown)
“This filly is really nice. Every time we come this way, to Kentucky – she trains really well, and she loves the track (turf course).”
Joel Rosario (winning rider)
“I was close (to the pace). She was comfortable there, a couple of lengths behind Newspaperofrecord (IRE) and the other horse (Crystal Lake) in front of me, She's nice to ride, she's easy. Thanks to Chad Brown and all his people for the opportunity.”
Julien Leparoux (rider of runner-up Beau Recall [IRE])
“She came running at the end and ran a very big race. Just could not catch the winner. A very nice filly won the race.”
Brad Cox (trainer of Beau Recall)
“Breeders' Cup will still be under consideration. We are very pleased with the effort. She is a nice filly and she showed it again today. We have just had a little trouble getting her into the winner's circle for a Grade 1. We definitely will entertain the idea of the Breeders' Cup.”
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