By Joe Bianca
The Santa Anita racing office was likely anticipating a short field, maybe five or six horses, for Saturday's GI Santa Margarita S. No one could have been eager to run against champion and 'TDN Rising Star' Unique Bella (Tapit) fresh off of easily the fastest race of her career thus far. But when the she came down with a cough last week, her connections decided not to chance anything and to instead point for the GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 13. Left in her wake is a competitive field of 10 fillies and mares, all of whom will be trying to take advantage of the division leader's absence and earn their first Grade I triumph in the nine-furlong test.
Owning much more top-level experience than her foes, the slight morning-line favorite is Mopotism (Uncle Mo). The bay filly was third, beaten only 2 1/2 lengths by Unique Bella in the GI La Brea S. here Dec. 26 and broke through with her first graded score in the GII La Canada S. Jan. 13 before finding the Don Alberto gray too tough in the GII Santa Maria S. Feb. 10.
Fault (Blame), a former $50,000 claim, will try dirt for the first time in a dozen starts while coming off of a career high on the grass. Bought into by Little Red Feather Racing after running fourth in the Pago Hop S. Dec. 30 at Fair Grounds, the $120,000 Keeneland September grad was transferred from Michelle Lovell to the Phil D'Amato barn and responded with a 12-1 upset of the GII Buena Vista S. on the local lawn Feb. 17.
Mended (Broken Vow), who reeled off 10 straight victories after being claimed for $12,500 last January, had her win streak snapped in heartbreaking fashion when just getting nipped a head by Mopotism in the La Canada. The 5-year-old, usually a slow worker in the morning, tuned up for this with a bullet five furlongs in 1:00 flat (1/44) at her Golden Gate Fields base Mar. 11.
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