Ambassador Luna upsets Unbridled Sidney Stakes
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Early-morning rain forced the Unbridled Sidney off the turf Wednesday at Churchill Downs. The move was understandable, given the degree of saturation to the turf course and track management’s reluctance to inflict any damage to it ahead of numerous major grass races on tap for Kentucky Derby and Oaks days.
Following six scratches, Break Even was supposed to win as the 3-10 favorite against the other four fillies who stayed in. Break Even, a Klein family homebred, appeared to hold a huge edge in form, having won five stakes last year, all but one over dirt.
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Instead, it was a different 4-year-old filly, Ambassador Luna, who won the $150,000 Unbridled Sidney, edging away from Tomlin in the final furlong to prevail at a $17 mutuel under Julien Leparoux. Meanwhile, Break Even, who bobbled at the break with Shaun Bridgmohan aboard before making a short-lived lead, bled from her nostrils and was eased in the stretch.
The Voodoomon Racing of Florida attorney Vanessa Nye is the owner and Jimmy Gulick is the trainer of Ambassador Luna, a Florida-bred whose 11 prior starts had all come over turf. The daughter of Brethren finished 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Tomlin in 1:03.56.
“There was a bit of a question as to how she’d handle the dirt,” said Gulick, who, like Nye, traveled from Florida for the race. “We’re very happy. It looks like we’ll have a few more options with her now.”
Richard Klein said Break Even bled to a significant degree and is now retired. She finishes with a 7-for-11 record after winning the first six starts of her career.
“We’ve never had one to start off with six in a row,” said Klein. “She’s been good to us. She’s going home.”
Turf racing also was in question for Thursday at Churchill given the forecast of more overnight rain, but dry conditions are expected to prevail for both Kentucky Oaks Day on Friday and Kentucky Derby Day on Saturday.