Uni’s victory in Saturday’s $400,000 Sands Point S. (G2) made the 3-year-old filly the 80th lifetime graded stakes winner for More Than Ready. She is also his 10th North American stakes winner this year and pushed his progeny earnings to nearly $5 million
Uni had been knocking on the graded stakes door since coming to the United States from France in the spring. She placed in both the Belmont Oaks (G1) and Lake Placid S. (G2) before Saturday’s breakthrough win.
Held up along the rail behind slow fractions for the first seven furlongs, Irad Ortiz, Jr. swung Uni out to the middle of the track at the top of the stretch, when she showed a tremendous turn of foot to run down a very game La Coronel to win by a neck in 1:48.97 for the 1 1/8-miles.
“The fractions weren’t very strong,” said winning trainer Chad Brown. “I think there was plenty of give [in the ground] and you could see the divots coming up. 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.”
In regards to Uni’s next start, Brown added, “I want to talk to the owners about [the Queen Elizabeth II (G1) Oct. 14 at Keeneland], see how she comes out of the race and go from there. But, it’s possible.”
Uni picked up $240,000 for the win and is now 3-3-2 in nine starts. She is owned by Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners, Robert LaPenta and Bethlehem Stables.
