Forever Unbridled continues to improve

In the Silverbulletday, the first local prep for the Fair Grounds Oaks, Forever Unbridled finished second, eight lengths behind I’m a Chatterbox. In the Rachel Alexandra, Forever Unbridled was third, 2 3/4 lengths behind the winner I’m a Chatterbox and a neck behind the runner-up Lovely Maria.

By the results, Forever Unbridled seems to be improving, and trainer Dallas Stewart sees other indications of her development.

“She’s probably grown two inches since we’ve been here,” Stewart said. “In my opinion, she’s developed very nicely.”

Stewart said Forever Unbridled also has become more tactical in her racing style.

“She’s putting herself in the right position,” he said. “She ran terrific. Those were two nice fillies who beat her.”

Stewart is pointing Forever Unbridled toward the Fair Grounds Oaks on March 28. Last year, her full sister, Unbridled Forever, finished third in that race before finishing third in the Kentucky Oaks. The fillies are by Unbridled’s Song and out of the Lemon Drop Kid mare Lemons Forever, who won the Kentucky Oaks for Stewart in 2006. They have a 2-year-old half-brother by Medaglia d’Oro set to join Stewart’s stable later in the year.

Stewart said he was thinking about working Forever Unbridled this weekend. The workout would be her first since the Rachel Alexandra.

“She doesn’t need a lot of works,” Stewart said, adding that two workouts between the Rachel Alexandra and the Fair Grounds Oaks might be sufficient.

Unbridled Forever is training at WinStar Farm in Kentucky and won’t make it to New Orleans this season, Stewart said. She hasn’t raced since finishing fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

Commanding Curve, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby last year for Stewart, worked a half-mile in 51 seconds Feb. 27 in his third workout at Fair Grounds. He hasn’t raced since finishing ninth in the Travers last year.

“He looks great,” Stewart said, adding that he likely will make his 2015 debut at Churchill Downs.