Uncle Mo Filly Much The Best in Unzip Me

Toupie (3f Uncle Mo x Amertume, by Tapit) made it clear why bettors sent her off at even money odds on Saturday when the filly won the Unzip Me Stakes at Santa Anita.

Racing down the hill in the 6 ½ furlong turf affair, she immediately went to the lead and was held well in hand by Flavien Prat. Left to her own devices early on, she started to face a challenge as the field hit the dirt patch before moving to the main turf course.

It took just a little pressure for Toupie to add in another spurt of speed to run away from the field. Given just a few taps, Toupie won by 1 1/2 lengths for her fourth career victory and third at the stakes level.

“She broke very well and felt all the way in control,” said Prat. “She had never run that far sprinting, but I really felt in control the whole way and she responded really well when it was time to make a move. It’s always special. I was grateful that I got to ride for these owners in France. It is very special when I can win a race for them.”

Trained by Graham Motion, the Wertheimer et Frere homebred has now hit the board in seven of nine starts.

She is out of the Tapit mare Amertume, who herself was Grade III placed. Toupie hails from a top Juddmonte family as a great-granddaughter of the Grade I winning Honest Lady. That mare is the dam of Grade I winner First Defence and stakes winners Honest Mischief, Phantom Rose, and Honest Quality from her eight winners.

Honest Lady hails from another successful broodmare in the bluehen mare Toussaud. Winning a Grade I like her daughter, Toussaud is also the dam of three-time Grade I winner Empire Maker and Grade I winners Chester House and Chiselling in addition to Grade II winner and Grade I-placed Decarchy.

Toupie is one of 12 stakes winners for Uncle Mo, tying him for third among all North American sires with his 24 stakes performers tying him for sixth in that category.