Belmont Park: Unbridled Command gives Dominguez third stakes win of day in Mohawk

ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Tom Bush said he thought he might have made a mistake by not running Unbridled Command in last week’s Jamaica. But that notion was quickly dismissed after his red hot 3-year-old turf specialist turned in a dominating 6 3/4-length victory over Karakorum Legend and a field of seven other New York-breds in Saturday’s $175,000 Mohawk Stakes at Belmont Park.

Unbridled Command, a son of Master Command owned by Lakland Farm, benefitted from a perfect trip under jockey Ramon Dominguez, who registered his third stakes victory on the New York Showcase program. Rating within easy striking distance of the pacesetting Karakorum Legend, Unbridled Command found ample room to slip inside and wrest command from the leader turning for home then quickly drew off to a one-sided triumph. Karakorum Legend held on to finish second, 1 1/2 lengths in front of Barrel of Love.

Lubash, the 9-5 favorite, was fourth followed by Street Game, Strong Impact, Sky Blue Pink, Fox Rules, and Dual Citizen.

The victory was the fourth in a row for Unbridled Command, who stepped out of statebred company to win the Grade 3 Saranac at Saratoga on Sept. 2.

Unbridled Command completed 1 1/16 miles over a yielding course in 1:47.02 and paid $7.30.

“The trip was beautiful and I loved when he moved him up just a couple of spots down the backside when they were going pretty slow,” said Bush. “Ramon said he was really handling the surface. He didn’t have a bobbling step to him and that gave him a lot of confidence too. He’s a horse who continues to move forward and it’s exciting. Visually it was his best race. He’s improved in the morning as well. He’s just a smoother, kinder horse. He’s improved in the morning as well. His breezes have been more professional. He’s coming the right way.”

Bush said Unbridled Command could make his next start in the Grade 1 Hollywood Derby on Nov. 25.

"If he’s healthy and nothing’s amiss we haven’t ruled out running him in the Hollywood Derby,” said Bush.