Belmont Park: Go Unbridled rallies from last to win Hettinger Stakes

Go Unbridled took advantage of a change of surface and a patient ride from Ramon Dominguez to win Sunday’s $100,000 John Hettinger Stakes at Belmont Park.

Originally carded for the turf, the Hettinger was run on the dirt after New York Racing Association officials deemed the turf too soft to race over, though morning workouts were conducted on it.

Last in the scratched-reduced field of six for the opening three-quarters of a mile, Go Unbridled split horses at the three-eighths pole, tipped four wide turning for home, overtook fellow main-track-only entrant Spa City Princess inside the eighth pole, and edged clear to win by 1 1/2 lengths. Go Unbridled ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.33 over a good main track and returned $7.50 to win.

Spa City Princess finished seven lengths in front of Rogue’s Jewel, who was followed in the order of finish by Mineralogist, Akilina, and the pacesetting Exclusive Scheme, who ran an opening half-mile in 46.82 seconds.

“They went pretty fast in front, and she’ll just keep coming all day,” Dominguez said. “She’s pretty steady in her run, and she never got tired. With a filly like her, it always helps when they go quick, and that was the case today.”

Go Unbridled is a 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled Jet owned by Howard Whitbred and trained by Hall of Famer Allen Jerkens. Go Unbridled was coming off two losses – both by a head – at Saratoga.

“She ran well up at Saratoga her last two races and just missed,” Jerkens said.

Jerkens said Go Unbridled could run in the $100,000 Iroquois Handicap, at seven furlongs, here Oct. 22.