Dunbar Road could face older in next start

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Dunbar Road came out of her victory in Saturday’s Grade 1 Alabama in good order, and while trainer Chad Brown said the Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita is a likely year-end goal, how he gets the 3-year-old filly there is undetermined.

“We never really planned beyond the Alabama,” Brown, who trains Dunbar Road for owner Peter Brant, said Sunday morning.

The next major race restricted to 3-year-old fillies is the Grade 1, $1 million Cotillion at Parx on Sept. 21. Brown has Guarana earmarked for that race as he has the two top route 3-year-old fillies in his barn. Guarana has won the Acorn and Coaching Club American Oaks – both Grade 1 events – while Dunbar Road added the Grade 1 Alabama to her Grade 2 Mother Goose score in June.

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Dunbar Road will likely have to face older females in her next start in a race like the Grade 2 Beldame going 1 1/8 miles on Sept. 28 at Belmont or the Grade 1, $500,000 Spinster at Keeneland on Oct. 6.

Dunbar Road overcame sloppy conditions and a wide trip to win the Alabama by 2 3/4 lengths over an extremely sloppy track. She was assigned a career-best 94 Beyer Speed Figure.

Trainer George Weaver said Alabama runner-up Point of Honor also is doing fine after the Alabama. Weaver said while he would nominate Point of Honor to the Cotillion, but believes it’s “a little quick back.”