Rising Stars Loom Large in La Brea

A pair of “TDN Rising Stars,” Unique Bella (Tapit) and Paradise Woods (Union Rags), meet for the first time as they vie for favoritism in the GI La Brea S. at Santa Anita Tuesday. Winner of five straight races by a combined 32 1/4 lengths, Unique Bella was sidelined with sore shins after her victory in the Mar. 4 GII Santa Ysabel S., ruling out a start in the GI Kentucky Oaks, and returned a winner in the GIII L.A. Woman S. Oct. 8 with a 3 1/2-length defeat of Princess Karen (Stay Thirsty). Heavily favored to continue her hot streak in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint Nov. 4, the gray set the early pace and caved about halfway through, fading to a disappointing seventh. Unique Bella has been working well since that head-scratching effort and her Hall of Fame conditioner Jerry Hollendorfer is responsible for two of the last three winners of this test.

Paradise Woods cuts back in trip after finishing a respectable third behind Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) and Abel Tasman (Quality Road) in the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff Nov. 3. Romping winner of the GI Santa Anita Oaks earlier this term, the bay prepped for the World Championships with a front-running, 5 1/4-length score int his venue's 1 1/16-mile GI Zenyatta S. Sept. 30.

Julien Leparoux climbed aboard Miss Sunset (Into Mischief) for the first time when trainer Jeff Bonde shipped her to Keeneland for the GII Raven Run S. Oct. 21, which she won by a half-length. This time it is the French rider who makes the trip across the country to retain the mount on this swift Cal-bred filly, who entered the Raven Run off a pair of state-bred stakes wins at Del Mar in the July 30 Fleet Treat S. and Sept. 4 CERF S.

Bob Baffert can never be overlooked and the Hall of Famer saddles GII Summertime Oaks heroine Faypien (Ghostzapper) in this spot. Runner-up in the GI Test S. at Saratoga in August, the bay completed the exacta behind Princess Karen in the Beverly J. Lewis S. at Los Alamitos last time Sept. 9.