CLEMENT L. HIRSCH

STAKES (GRADE 1)

TOP west coast filly Unique Bella held on late to notch her second straight Grade 1 win in the Grade 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar last Sunday and a berth into the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

After disappointing when second at odds of 1/5 in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom, she had bounced back with an easy win in the Grade 1 Beholder Mile in June at Santa Anita.

At odds of 1/10 on her this return to Del Mar, Unique Bella broke sharply under Mike Smith, who wasted no time putting the speedy filly on the lead.

She showed the way through splits of :23.25 and :46.80. At the top of the far turn, Unique Bella began to cruise away, seemingly before another easy success.

However, La Force was running on and put in a strong straight kick. Things looked tight for Unique Bella passing the half-furlong pole, but she had just enough to stave off La Force by a half-length on the line. The filly lost a front shoe in running.

Dead-heat at Saratoga

IRISH-bred Glorious Empire finished in a dead-heat with Channel Marker in the Grade 2 Bowling Green at Saratoga.

Bred by Patrick Grogran, Glorious Empire led every step of the way in the 11-furlong stakes run over soft turf. Owned by Matt Schera and trained by Chuck Lawrence, the son of Holy Roman Emperor has struggled with bleeding for most of his career but has now his last two.

The Bowling Green was Glorious Empire’s third start for Lawrence, following a sixth in the Henry Clark at Laurel Park in April and the runaway Delaware Park win on June 28th.

World wins

IRISH-bred Elysea’s World collared Dream Awhile in the final strides to win the Grade 3 Matchmaker at Monmouth Park.

Bred by Haras D’Haspel, the daughter of Champs Elysees scored for Sheep Pond Partners and All Pro Racing and trainer Chad Brown.

The five-year-old mare picked up her fifth career win and second graded stakes in 2018.