Decision coming soon on Forever Unbridled's future

Forever Unbridled is likely to be feted this week with an Eclipse Award as champion older female of 2017, but even as that takes place the course of her career is uncertain.

Forever Unbridled worked Dec. 11 at Fair Grounds while she was still under consideration for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, but once the plug was pulled on those plans, trainer Dallas Stewart took the mare off a work pattern, though she is still galloping and “looks great,” Stewart said.

Forever Unbridled is a 6-year-old now, and owner-breeder Charles Fipke and Stewart have to decide whether to campaign her in 2018 or send Forever Unbridled off to become a broodmare. Fipke and Stewart run Seeking the Soul in the Pegasus this weekend, after which there could be more clarity on the mare’s future.

“We’ll all be in Florida this weekend and sit down and talk things over,” Stewart said.

◗ Fair Grounds has struggled to put together appealing cards lately, but Thursday’s nine-race program is a good one. The feature is race 2, a second-level turf-sprint allowance also open to $40,000 claimers, and there are three maiden special weight races, two for 3-year-olds and one for older horses, on the back end of the card.

◗ On the weekend work tab: Valadorna (next start Houston Ladies Classic) went a half-mile Sunday in 48 seconds, the fastest of 81 such works. Also on Sunday, Monomoy Girl (Rachel Alexandra Stakes) went a half in 48.40, and Arklow (undecided) a half in 48.80. On Saturday, Finley’sluckycharm (undecided) zipped a half in 48.40, and Mr. Misunderstood (Fair Grounds Handicap) went a half in 50.