Unique Bella Towers Over Six Rivals In Apple Blossom

By Margaret Ransom

Champion Unique Bella — in her first start outside of her home state of California — has been installed the favorite for the $700,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (GI) for older fillies and mares today at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Owned by Don Alberto Stable and trained by Hall of Famer Jerry Hollendorfer, Unique Bella earned an Eclipse Award as last year’s top female sprinter and the 4-year-old gray daughter of Tapit will once again be carrying regular jockey Mike Smith, who has already won six Apple Blossoms in his career.

The local weather today in Hot Springs is currently dry, but thunderstorms are expected to roll through the area by post time. The race has been carded as the day’s 10^th with a post time of 5:38 p.m. ET.

Unique Bella, who is coming off a nine-length victory in the Santa Maria Handicap (GII) at Santa Anita park two months ago, was reported to have… (more)