Son of Unique Bella Blitzes Foes at Los Alamitos

This column highlights the performances of maidens who have made no more than five starts and who either sold for more than $500,000 at public auction, have siblings that are grade/group winners, or have dams that are grade/group winners. BloodHorse research shows maiden winners, in particular, who meet these criteria are more likely to go on to be graded stakes winners.

Los Alamitos Race Course

Unique Bella was one of those rare individuals who captivated the imagination from the moment she stepped on the track. The silvery giant of racemare conquered field after field with her blazing front-running speed and at the time of her retirement in 2018 she had collected two Eclipse Awards in her cabinet.

The three-time grade 1 winner joined owner Don Alberto's broodmare band at the operation's farm in Lexington following an ankle injury sustained in a morning workout. Unique Bella's sudden retirement, though a blast to her connections at the time as the mare had just secured back-to-back grade 1 victories in the Beholder Mile Stakes (G1) and Clement L. Hirsch Stakes (G1), didn't hinder the daughter of Tapit  from being voted the champion older dirt female of 2018. The distinction came one year after Unique Bella had been awarded the title of champion female sprinter.

Royally-bred Unique Bella, herself a daughter of  2010 Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic (G1) heroine Unrivaled Belle, has produced four foals since retiring to the breeding shed. Ultra Power, a 2-year-old son of Curlin , is her second foal and her first to make it to the races.

Ultra Power, campaigned by Don Alberto, has recorded breezes with trainer Bob Baffert since April and has slowly but surely breezed his way into fitness. He made his anticipated debut the last weekend of August at Del Mar, where the colt chased early fractions set by his promising Tim Yakteen trainee Rothschild before tiring late to finish last of six.

Returning to the starting gate in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Los Alamitos Race Course Sept. 24, Ultra Power was more than ready in his second go around. Stalking the pace early, the colt inhaled his rivals at the top of the lane and bounded clear to a four-length victory. Following sharp opening fractions of :21.91 and :44.63, the colt stopped the timer in 1:22.74 for the seven furlongs on a fast main track, his ashen gray tail flowing behind him in a performance worthy of his star dam.