Unique Bella wins debut as 4-year-old

Unique Bella, a budding superstar, and Kanthaka, a possible Kentucky Derby contender, won Grade 2, $200,000 stakes for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The Eclipse Award winner as the nation’s outstanding female sprinter in 2017, Unique Bella made easy work of the 11⁄16-mile Santa Maria Stakes in her first start as a 4-year-old.

The gray filly took a clear lead soon after the start, maintained a 3-length advantage to the second turn, effortlessly surged 8 lengths ahead in midstretch and finished 9 lengths to the good of runner-up Mopotism.

“She’s very talented, that’s for sure,” Hollendorfer said. “I always think that you know right away if they make the transition from 3 to 4. It looks like she’s made the transition. She’s matured a lot. She’s a lot

less anxious about being on the track in the morning. She could be well in hand for Mike ( jockey Smith) if he wants to rate her.”

Unique Bella collected her seventh win in nine starts in a career that was interrupted twice because of sore shins.

“It seems like she’s totally recovered from that, and we hope it will never be an issue again,” Hollendorfer said.

While Unique Bella was the 1-10 favorite, Kanthaka went off at 11-1 in the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes and rallied from next-to-last place to win by 3¼ lengths.

“He got a nice setup on the speed because they went very fast early,” Hollendorfer said. “It looks he might go longer.”

Kanthaka finished fifth in his debut at Del Mar and rallied for a victory by a neck Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.

“My theory is that the horse takes you (to the Kentucky Derby), you don’t take the horse,” Hollendorfer said. “If he continues to improve, anything’s possible.”

Hollendorfer’s top Kentucky Derby candidate, Instilled Regard, runs in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes on Saturday at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, where he won the Lecomte Stakes. Also Saturday, Hollendorfer has California Derby winner Choo Choo in the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields.

Consolida wins California Oaks:

Consolida, making her U.S. debut after winning one of two starts in her native England, closed from last place in a field of 10 and captured the $51,625 California Oaks by 1¼ lengths Saturday at Golden Gate Fields.

“She’s very talented, that’s for sure. I always think that you know right away if they make the transition from 3 to 4. It looks like she’s made the transition.” Jerry Hollendorfer, on Unique Bella