Coglianese / NYRA Photo Photo

Uni returns to action in Perfect Sting

by Ryan Martin

Grade 1 winner Uni, who has not raced since an off-the-pace victory in December's Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar, will make her 2019 debut in Saturday's $100,000 Perfect Sting, a one-turn mile on the Widener turf at Belmont Park.

Owned by Michael Dubb in partnership with Head of Plains Partners, Bethlehem Stables and Robert LaPenta, the British-bred daughter of More Than Ready enters the event for fillies and mares 4-years-old and upwards from a string of four victories, all at one mile on turf.

Uni also began last year's campaign off a six-month layoff when taking the Plenty of Grace last April at Aqueduct. She went on to win her subsequent three starts, which took place in the Fasig-Tipton De La Rose at Saratoga and the Grade 3 Noble Damsel at Belmont before shipping to California to win the Grade 1 Matriarch, where she came from 19 lengths off the pace to win by a half-length while recording a career best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Uni has put together a strong series of eight works this year, the last of which was a five-furlong move over the inner turf at Belmont Park on Sunday, which she completed in 1:02 flat.

Uni has won seven of 14 starts in her racing career, which began in France for trainer Fabrice Chappet before moving to the United States. She has never finished worse than fourth in her eight North American starts.

"She's pretty versatile and she knows how to win," Dubb said. "Last year, she gave us a limited but successful campaign and we're looking for her to come rolling."

Dubb said the Grade 2, $400,000 Woodford Reserve Ballston Spa on August 24 at Saratoga could be a target race following the Perfect Sting.

"The Ballston Spa would be our goal after this race and then we'll go from there," Dubb said. "I'm not sure what options we have as far as the Breeders' Cup is concerned since the Filly and Mare Turf is going longer, so we may go for the Matriarch again."

Breaking from post 3, Uni will be guided by Joel Rosario, who piloted the 5-year-old mare in her last two starts.

Bellavais, who made her 5-year-old debut a winning one when taking the Grade 3 Marshua's River on January 12 at Gulfstream Park, is seeking her second graded stakes win this year. Last out, the chestnut daughter of Tapit was fourth in the Grade 1 Longines Just a Game behind Rushing Fall.

Bellavais began her career with veteran conditioner Jimmy Toner but was transferred to Todd Pletcher's barn after being purchased for $485,000 from the 2018 Keeneland January Sale. She made a winning debut for Pletcher after being on the shelf for nearly 12 months when she won an allowance race over the Widener turf last October.

Bellavais is out of the graded stakes winning Ghostzapper broodmare La Cloche, whose dam Memories of Silver was a two-time Grade 1 winning millionaire.

Bellavais will receive the riding services of jockey Manny Franco and will break from post 4.

Godolphin's well-bred Too Charming will attempt to make amends after two off-the-board efforts against stakes company when breaking from post 5 under jockey Eric Cancel.

The homebred daughter of Bernardini, out of two-time Grade 1 winner Tout Charmant, was a distant 11th in the Powder Break on April 27 at Gulfstream Park. In December, she sprung a 10-1 upset in the Tropical Park Oaks at the South Florida oval defeating her graded stakes winning stable mate Andina Del Sur. She also lit up the tote board in her prior effort when defeating allowance company over the turf at Aqueduct at odds of 22-1.

"It was quite pleasantly surprising to see her do so well when she won the allowance last fall and the Tropical Park Oaks," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "The last couple of races didn't go her way, but we're hoping to get her back in winning form. She likes to be out there on her own. Hopefully she gets the same scenario on Saturday. She's pretty honest when she's on the front end."

Completing the field are Mrs. Ramona G [post 1, Jose Ortiz] and Binti Al Nar [post 2, Irad Ortiz, Jr.].

The Perfect Sting is named after of Stronach Stables' three-time Grade 1 winner, whose string of five victories in 2000, including the Grade 1 Breeder's Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs, earned her the honors of Champion Grass Mare that year.

First post on Saturday's nine-race card is 1:30 p.m. with the Perfect Sting slated as Race 7.