Fair Grounds: Unbridled Forever outduels Divine Beauty in Silverbulletday

NEW ORLEANS – Like mother, like daughter. That's what trainer Dallas Stewart wouldn't mind seeing from Unbridled Forever.

An Unbridled's Song filly out of Lemons Forever, who won the Kentucky Oaks for Stewart in 2006, Unbridled Forever became a stakes winner Saturday. She powered past Divine Beauty to score a 1 1/2-length victory in the $125,000 Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds. Express Model finished third, another 2 1/4 lengths back, in a field of five 3-year-old fillies.

"She's the kindest, the nicest horse I've ever been around in my life,'' Stewart said of Unbridled Forever, who is owned by Charles Fipke. "She's got the talent.''

Unbridled Forever settled outside of rivals in fourth place on the first turn as Divine Beauty set the pace. She ran the first quarter-mile in 23.75 seconds, the half in 47.87, and six furlongs in 1:12.82. Unbridled Forever kicked into high gear on the final turn and confronted Divine Beauty heading into the stretch. Both fillies dug in, but Unbridled Forever took the lead before reaching midstretch and surged clear. She paid $4 and covered the mile and 70 yards in 1:43.03.

Stewart said he might not run Unbridled Forever in the Rachel Alexandra, the final stakes prep for the Fair Grounds Oaks. "I might just wait for the Fair Grounds Oaks,'' he said.

Albarado said: "She is a phenomenal filly. She's got a lot of buttons to her.

Unbridled Forever, who has won two of three starts, was racing around two turns for the first time.

"I tell you what, her mama beat me in the Kentucky Oaks,'' said Albarado, who rode Ermine in the Oaks won by Lemons Forever. "Her mama was phenomenal.''