Unzip Me guts out Wishing Well victory

Unzip Me won the mad dash for the Wishing Well wire (Benoit Photos)

by Jennifer Caldwell

Unzip Me switched leads a few times in the lane
of Sunday’s $86,600

Wishing Well Stakes at Santa Anita, but never gave up in gutting out
a half-length victory under jockey Rafael Bejarano.

Campaigned by Harris Farms, Don Valpredo, Per Antonsen and Marty
Jones, the six-year-old mare inched closer to the million mark with the
winner’s share, having now banked $959,228 in lifetime earnings. She
also provided a thrill for co-owner and trainer Jones, who said it was
special to win this race since his father, retired horseman Gary Jones,
trained Wishing Well, for whom the race is named.

“I think the pace was a little quicker than it looked (like it would
be) on paper,” Jones remarked. “I think Raf (Rafael Bejarano) did a good
job in trying to get her settle off those horses a little bit. She’s
just all heart. She’s a special horse.

Bejarano has been aboard for Unzip Me’s last 11 starts and 13 of her overall 25 races (Benoit Photos)

Unzip Me was wide throughout the run on the firm downhill turf as Catchy Tune
posted fractions of :21 4/5 and :43 4/5. The City Zip mare came out even more
while crossing the dirt into the stretch, but dug in to grab command and hold
off the onrush of rivals while completing the about 6 1/2-furlong contest in
1:11.94, just .81 seconds off the track record set in 2004.

“I should have been on the lead,” Bejarano said. “I didn’t try to use too
much horse this time. I knew the three was going to put on pressure. My filly
broke really sharp from the gate and I saw the three rush a little bit so I
decided to take her back and wait a little bit. She showed me a big kick in the
stretch.”

Sent off the 3-5 favorite against her seven rivals, Unzip Me paid $3.40,
$2.40 and $2.20. Two necks separated the next three, with Teroda holding Remit
to third and Givine finishing in fourth. Catchy Tune, Fifth Commandment, Elle
Special and Win for M’Lou completed the order under the wire after Dontbeshy
I’ll buy was withdrawn.

“Perfect trip. That’s a tough horse (Unzip Me) to beat. I tried my best to
beat her. She’s always there,” said Joel Rosario, who was aboard Teroda. “I
thought my horse ran a very good race, we were just second best today.”