Forever Unbridled drills for Dubai World Cup

NEW ORLEANS – The champion older dirt female of 2017, Forever Unbridled, turned in a major workout Friday at Fair Grounds as she prepares for the Dubai World Cup on March 31.

Working solo through dense fog just after 6 a.m., Forever Unbridled was timed in 1:12.40 for six furlongs by trainer Dallas Stewart. He had the 6-year-old mare going out seven furlongs in 1:25 and a mile in 1:40.20.

“She worked real good,” said Stewart. “Went her last half in 47 and 2.”

Forever Unbridled made three starts in 2017 and won all of them, beating the champion Songbird in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga and Abel Tasman in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Charles Fipke bred and owns Forever Unbridled, a daughter of Unbridled’s Song and Lemons Forever, who won the Kentucky Oaks for Stewart.

Forever Unbridled briefly was considered for the Pegasus World Cup on Jan. 27 and worked here Dec. 12. And though Stewart backed off working the mare after she was withdrawn from Pegasus consideration, Forever Unbridled continued galloping right along. Now that the Dubai World Cup has emerged as a target, Forever Unbridled has gotten on a regular work schedule, and this was her third breeze in February.

“We’re on target for Dubai,” Stewart said. “I’ve never run a horse there, but I’ve been asking a lot of questions, talking to different trainers that’ve been there about the layout and everything.”

Shipping plans call for Forever Unbridled to fly to Florida on March 19 and on to Dubai the following day, Stewart said.

Forever Unbridled will be the ninth female to start in the World Cup and will be only the second American-based filly or mare to travel for the race. Royal Delta finished 10th in 2012 and ninth in 2013 while racing over a synthetic surface she couldn’t handle. The Japanese mare To the Victory finished second to Captain Steve in the 2001 World Cup at Nad al Sheba, the only filly or mare to finish better than eighth in the race.