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Pretty Unusual shocks at 29-1 in El Encino

Pretty Unusual scooted right on past the El Encino pacemaker (Benoit Photos) Madeline Auerbach, Marie Goda and Jack Klugman's PRETTY UNUSUAL (Unusual Heat) sneaked through an opening entering the stretch run and pulled off a 29-1 upset of Sunday's $150,000 El Encino S. (G2) at Santa Anita. With Chantal Sutherland aboard, the Barry Abrams runner shot down the lane to overtake longtime leader Freedom Star (Street Cry [Ire]) and finish up 1 1/16 Pro-Ride miles in 1:43 3/5. The start of the El Encino was delayed after Dave's Revenge (The Cliff's Edge) acted up in the gate. The jockeys dismounted and the whole field was backed out while Dave's Revenge was checked by the track veterinarian and eventually scratched. Pretty Unusual was agitated throughout the whole situation, but calmed down once the actual running got underway. Freedom Star moved up to establish fractions of :23 2/5, :48 2/5, 1:12 3/5 and 1:37 2/5, while Spirit Seeker (Peace Rules), Best Lass (Werblin) and Justwhistledixie (Dixie Union) were keeping close attendance. Stardom Bound (Tapit), the 9-5 favorite off a 50-day break, was running in her customary rear position, and Pretty Unusual was content to settle just behind midpack.

As the field turned for home, Freedom Star kicked it in and drew off a bit from the rest of her rivals. The bay lass appeared well on her way to upsetting the race at 19-1, but Stardom Bound was just gearing up for her run. At the same moment, Pretty Unusual shot through a hole exiting the turn and accelerated to overhaul Freedom Star, crossing under the line 1 1/4 lengths the best.

Pretty Unusual rewarded her faithful, but few, backers with payouts of $61.40, $18.40 and $9 while keying the $131.80 exacta ($1). Stardom Bound managed to get her head in front of Freedom Star on the wire, giving back $4.20 and $3.20, while the pacesetter returned $8.80 to complete the $1,929.60 trifecta ($1). It was another three lengths back to Justwhistledixie, who rounded out the 2-7-13-9 superfecta ($1) that totaled $5,615.40.

A nose was all that separated Justwhistledixie and Spirit Seeker on the line, with Dream Empress (Bernstein), Gumption (More Than Ready), Best Lass and Rose Diamond (Ire) (Daylami [Ire]) following. Will O Way (Broken Vow) took up sharply and hit the rail midway on the second turn, dropping back to last and being eased under the wire by jockey Alonso Quinonez. Eloquently (GB) (Dansili [GB]) and Gilded Gem (Smarty Jones) were both withdrawn.

Pretty Unusual entered the El Encino off a runner-up effort versus allowance/optional claiming rivals just 15 days ago. That start was obviously a tightener, as the four-year-old miss had been on the shelf since finishing eighth in the July 25 Fleet Treat S. at Del Mar. Prior to that, she was a well-beaten 13th and sixth, respectively, in the American Oaks Invitational (G1) and Hollywood Oaks (G2).

Pretty Unusual began her career last February against maiden claimers, taking her first win in her second try and then just missing by a neck against allowance rivals. She was fifth when trying the turf, but returned to the winner's circle when making her stakes bow in the Melair S. on April 25, that one coming prior to the Hollywood Oaks. The El Encino victory boosted her earnings to $249,632 while improving her record to 10-3-2-0.

Bred in California by David Abrams and Auerbach, the bay filly is out of the winning Sci Fi Kin (Siphon [Brz]), who has since produced an unraced three-year-old filly named Jax El and an unnamed yearling colt, both by Unusual Heat.

Pretty Unusual's second dam, Akinemod (Time to Explode), actually captured the 1990 El Encino in an 18-length romp, and also landed that year's La Brea S. (G3).

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