Fair Grounds: Unbridled Forever keeps eyes on Oaks

NEW ORLEANS – Unbridled Forever probably would have been favored had she lined up in the starting gate for the Rachel Alexandra Stakes here Saturday, but when the Rachel Alexandra was run, Unbridled Forever was to be chilling in her stall.

The Rachel Alexandra is a Grade 3 with a $200,000 purse, and trainer Dallas Stewart has his eyes on bigger prizes – the Kentucky Oaks and points beyond – with Unbridled Forever. That’s why Stewart, before Unbridled Forever had even cooled out after her sharp victory in the Jan. 18 Silverbulletday Stakes, was talking about passing the Rachel Alexandra and awaiting the March 29 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Unbridled Forever had her first work since the Silverbulletday when she breezed a half-mile in 50.20 seconds Feb. 15. Stewart planned to work her again Saturday, and said Unbridled Forever would likely have five post-Silverbulletday works leading up to the Fair Grounds Oaks.

“She’s been galloping all along,” Stewart said. “She’s an easy horse to get ready because you can do anything you want with her. She’ll work a half in 50 and she’ll work five-eighths in a minute.”

Unbridled Forever, by Unbridled’s Song and out of the Stewart-trained Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever, finished fifth in her career debut in October at Churchill, but Stewart’s horses rarely win at first asking, and Unbridled Forever won her maiden second out by more than five lengths in a one-turn mile Nov. 30 at Churchill. The Silverbulletday was her first stakes start and first race around two turns, and she comfortably handled the good filly Divine Beauty by 1 1/2 lengths.

The 96 Beyer Speed Figure produced by Unbridled Forever’s maiden win was the second highest figure for a 2-year-old filly of 2013, topped only by Sweet Reason’s 98. The 93 Beyer that came out of the Silverbulletday is the second-highest figure by a 3-year-old filly in 2014, surpassed only by Gracer’s 96 and tied with Fiftyshadesofgold’s figure from the Two Altazano Stakes last weekend at Sam Houston. Fiftyshadesofgold, trained by Bret Calhoun, is back galloping at Fair Grounds and also is being pointed to the local Oaks.