Uni overcame a wet track and a wayward start for a first-up victory in the De La Rose Stakes LR at Saratoga on Saturday.
On a card curtailed by torrential rain, the daughter of Vinery champion More Than Ready came from last to nail her stablemate Precieuse over 1600m. “We were able to get her back feeling right again after an illness in May,” trainer Chad Brown revealed. “She had been training well and, man, she ran great today.”
Bred by Haras D’Etreham, Uni has won 5 of her 12 starts for earnings over $602,000. She won the Prix Matchem-LR at Maisons-Laffitte in May 2017 and, after transferring to North America, landed the Sands Point Stakes Gr.2 and Plenty of Grace Stakes LR in New York.
She loomed large for the Gamely Stakes Gr.1 at Santa Anita in May but was sidelined with travel sickness. “The ownership group was patient with her and let me get her right again,” Brown said. “We picked this race out three weeks ago but things didn’t look good at the start.”
Video of the race: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx4k0oEeMe4
Uni (4f More Than Ready – Unaided by Dansili) was bumped coming out of the gate and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. lost an iron momentarily. Settled at the back of the pack, she arrived late to land her fourth black-type victory by a head. Initially sold for €40,000 as an Arqana August yearling, she is closely related to promising English stakes performers James Garfield and Nate the Great.
Part-owner Sol Kumin said there were a number of options ahead starting with the Ballston Spa Stakes Gr.2 at Saratoga on August 25. He connections also have several alternative targets at the Breeders’ Cup in November.
2018 VINERY STALLION ROSTER
MORE THAN READY: $66,000
ALL TOO HARD: $33,000
STAR TURN: $22,000
HEADWATER: $16,500
PRESS STATEMENT: $16,500
CASINO PRINCE: $9,900
PLUCK: $6,600
* All service fees (inc GST)
