March 28, 2024

Uni captures Sands Point

Uni wins the Sands Point Stakes (G3) at Belmont Park with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard on Saturday, September 16, 2017 (c) NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography

Uni just got up to post a neck victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Sands Point Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard after fanning six wide in the lane.

La Coronel tried to lead all the way home, setting the pace through splits of :25.67, :49.99, 1:13.12 and 1:36.92 while chased by Fault and Empressof the Nile to her outside. Meanwhile, Uni settled into a ground-saving trip on the inside just behind La Coronel.

The top three pulled away a bit down the backstretch, and Uni suddenly found herself in midpack as Defiant Honor and Inflexibility ranged up to make their moves on the outside. La Coronel and Empressof the Nile battled it out while running in tandem around the turn, but the rest of the field had caught up by that point.

Just as La Coronel managed to shake loose from Empressof the Nile, Ortiz angled Uni off the rail rounding the bend and sent her six wide. Uni charged fast down the center of the track to collar La Coronel, finishing 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.97 over the firm inner turf.

Campaigned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners LLC, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables LLC, Uni paid $4.70 as the 6-5 favorite. La Coronel held second by 1 1/4 lengths over Fault, who re-rallied on the inside to stick her neck in front of Inflexibility on the wire. Fifty Five followed in fifth while Vue Fantastique, Empressof the Nile and Defiant Honor completed the order of finish.

Uni earned her first U.S. win in this spot for trainer Chad Brown after beginning her career in France. The More Than Ready sophomore broke her maiden in her second try at Deauville on January 6, then finished third in the Prix de la Californie and sixth in the Prix Vanteaux (Fr-G3).

She rounded out her time overseas with a win in the Prix Matchem on May 11 and made her U.S. bow a third-place run in the Belmont Oaks Invitational (G1) on July 8 at Belmont Park. Uni followed that with a close second in the Lake Placid Stakes (G2) at Saratoga last out on August 19, and now boasts an 8-3-2-2, $456,872 lifetime record.

Brown indicated the chestnut filly could show up next in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) going nine furlongs on October 14 at Keeneland.

Bred in Great Britain by Haras d’Etreham, Uni is out of the Dansili mare Unaided, who is a half-sister to Italian Group 3 winner Whazzis. This female family also includes multiple Irish highweight and Group 1 winner Chinese White as well as 1990 French Oaks (Fr-G1) heroine Rafha.

SANDS POINT QUOTES

Chad Brown, trainer Uni, winner

“The fractions weren’t very strong. I think there was plenty of give and you could see the divots coming up. It was hard to gauge how slow the turf course is, as well. We were tucked in good there in the first turn. I thought she had a really good trip, maybe got held up a touch there and had to wait to make a run until she found some room but, man, this horse has some kick. She just keeps improving.

“This is her best race to date and she’s an exciting horse for the future. We really like her.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., jockey Uni, winner

“She’s been trying hard every time. The first time I rode her here (in the Belmont Oaks [G1]), she didn’t break good and was four back, but she’s still been making runs. They key for me today was to try and break good. The last time, there was no pace and she broke slow too. But today she broke good and she put me in a good spot, and that was the key.”