Unzip Me to defend her title in the Grade 3 Monrovia Handicap at Santa Anita
The 6-year-old mare, Unzip Me, exited early from her 2011 campaign, but with a win none the less, as she capped off her 2011 season with a win in the California Cup Distaff Handicap at about six and a half furlongs at Santa Anita’s turf course on 29 October, 2011.
Trained by Martin F. Jones for Harris Farms, Unzip Me will return in 2012 to kick start her new year campaign with a repeat in the Grade 3, $100,000 Monrovia Stakes at about six and a half furlongs on 2 January, 2012, at Santa Anita’s turf course.
She started her 2011 campaign with a win in the Monrovia Stakes at Santa Anita, where she defeated Broken Dreams in second, and Reba is Tops in third, while she covered the six and a half furlongs in 1 minute and 12.72 seconds.
The California bred daughter of City Zip, out of mare Escape With Me by Arazi, Unzip Me is a versatile mare, who has been effective just about anywhere, but she has been absolutely deadly over the Santa Anita’s hillside turf course and during her time there, she has gone on to down 6 races out of 9.
“She’s become more versatile the older she gets,” Jones said. “She doesn’t need the lead.”
Out of her last three starts at Santa Anita, Unzip Me hasn’t been up to the mark at her favourite venue. She has been defeated twice, coming second in the Grade 3 Las Cienegas Stakes to Separate Forest.
Afterwards, she finished fourth to Broken Dreams in the Grade 3 Senator Ken Maddy and then topped it off with a win in the California Cup Distaff.
All of those three races were run over a distance of six and a half furlongs. “She’s a superior turf sprinter, without a doubt,” said her trainer, Mike Puype. “She didn’t beat a great field last time, but she did it in hand. I think the hill will be fine for her.”
“Finally,” Jones said. “She’s had to tote some pretty hefty weights. I hate to see her always carrying that weight.”
Trainer Jones have said that the mare will run throughout the year in 2012, and she will grab every opportunity to win big in her class as long as she stays good.
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