Forever Unbridled pointing to Apple Blossom

Trainer Dallas Stewart said he plans to train Forever Unbridled straight into the April 15 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park after the improving 4-year-old filly won her second straight Grade 3 race in the $400,000 Houston Ladies Classic last Saturday night at Sam Houston.

Rallying into a modest pace, Forever Unbridled finished with good energy to overtake eventual third-place finisher Cassatt while posting a 1 3/4-length score over runner-up Cali Star. She earned a 93 Beyer Speed Figure, but Stewart believes Forever Unbridled still is scratching the surface of her ability.

“She’s a fighter,” he said. “I just think there’s a lot more in the tank. I think there’s a lot we haven’t seen yet.”

Forever Unbridled got a summer rest after a poor race in the Kentucky Oaks and has won two straight route stakes after a sprint comeback race at Keeneland. The start last Saturday was her first since winning the Comely Stakes on Nov. 28.

“It was 60 days from the last one and 70 to the next one,” Stewart said. “The time is no problem for her. She keeps herself fit.”

Stewart also said he plans to give Tom’s Ready his first timed workout either Friday or Saturday since the colt finished second in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 16. Tom’s Ready is on track to race again Feb. 20 in the Risen Star Stakes, where he’ll face Lecomte winner Mo Tom.