Uni's last-gasp Matriarch win caps brilliant weekend for Brown and Rosario

Uni proved herself to be a true force of nature on the grass when coming with a late run under jockey Joel Rosario to notch her first Grade 1 victory in the $300,000 Matriarch Stakes at Del Mar on Sunday.

Despite entering the race undefeated in three starts for 2018, for a moment it seemed Uni's luck had run out.

Settling next to last in the 13-horse field following a clean but slow break from post 12, Uni was well behind the pace as Fahan Mura took control.

Still ahead by four lengths as they reached the half-mile mark, Fahan Mura continued to dominate as they approached the final turn for home, stalked closely by Mission Impassible in second and Uni's Chad Brown-trained stablemate Quidura in third.

In tenth entering the stretch, Rosario called upon Uni and angled his mount five wide in the lane and urged her forward. With a final kick, Uni looked like magic in motion on the racetrack and shot to the front of the pack, passing one rival after another in rapid succession.

Overtaking a weakening Fahan Mura, a game Quidura, and late rallies by Vasilika and Daddy Is A Legend, Uni shot to the wire on the outside and crossed the finish half a length ahead of Daddy Is A Legend.

"I could tell they were going a little quick up front because my filly has some speed and we were far back," Rosario said. "But she was comfortable, so I was, too. I just wanted to make one move with her. About the three-furlong pole, I could feel she was good under me. So we went outside and she went on with it. She's a nice one."

The final time for the mile test was 1m 34.35s with Quidura third and Vasilika a neck back in fourth.

It was the second Grade 1 score of the weekend for Rosario, who took Saturday's Hollywood Derby with Raging Bull for Brown. The trainer also won the Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct on the same day with the Jose Ortiz-ridden Patternrecognition.

"It was not the plan [to be so far back]," said assistant trainer Jose Hernandez. "We told Joel to break with the field and see what happens. Uni can come from behind or be up close. I was a little nervous being so far behind, but she was really, really strong in the stretch.

"It's a really great experience for me and it's really nice for my boss. It's my first time to [stand in and saddle stakes winners in 11 years working for Brown] at Del Mar, but I've done it in other places. He's one of the best men I've ever known and he has very good horses."

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com