No immediate plans for Apple Blossom winner Unbridled Mo

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Unbridled Mo came out of her victory in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in top shape and was walking the shed row Saturday morning at the D. Wayne Lukas barn, where Todd Pletcher’s horses have been housed for the Racing Festival of the South.

Byron Hughes, Pletcher’s New York assistant, made his first trip to Oaklawn this week to supervise Unbridled Mo, Arkansas Derby entrant Magnum Moon, and Oaklawn Handicap entrant Hedge Fund. He confirmed that Unbridled Mo came out of Friday’s race well and said all three horses would ship back to Palm Beach Downs in Florida on Sunday.

The Apple Blossom was the fourth graded win for Unbridled Mo, a 5-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo who races for the Red Oak Stable of the Brunetti family. Unbridled Mo had previously won three Grade 3 stakes, the Doubledogdare at Keeneland and the Sam Houston Ladies Classic last year and the Monmouth Oaks in 2016.

All four of her graded victories have come at 1 1/16 miles around two turns. She has won seven of nine career starts and $960,880.

Pletcher said he would speak with Richard Sacco, the racing manager for Red Oak, to come up with a schedule of races for Unbridled Mo.

“She’s a very consistent mare and truly a two-turn horse,” Pletcher said. “I would love to keep fresh for the summer. We’ll kind of let her guide us from here.”

Unique Bella, the 1-5 favorite in the Apple Blossom, had a nightmarish trip after missing the break and spotting her six rivals several lengths. She rushed up wide into contention and took the lead midway on the backstretch.

In the stretch, Unique Bella held everyone near her at bay except Unbridled Mo, who used a wide move to sweep to the lead from well out on the track.

Unbridled Mo defeated Unique Bella by 2 1/4 lengths. It was 2 1/2 lengths farther back to Fuhriously Kissed in third.

Jockey Mike Smith said Unique Bella was unprepared for the start of the Apple Blossom.

“She was sitting down, squatting in the gate. We were trying to get her to stand up, and the next thing I know, the gates opened,” Smith said. “She completely missed the start.”

Smith did his best to rate Unique Bella, but once she got her feet under her, she took off.

“After she got left, she just wanted to catch up,” he said. “She was very strong and very fresh. I couldn’t do anything about it.”

Jerry Hollendorfer stabled Unique Bella with Oaklawn trainer Tom Swearingen. Hollendorfer could not be reached for comment Saturday, but Swearingen said Unique Bella cooled out well and came out of the race none the worse for wear. She was resting comfortably in her stall Saturday morning.

Unique Bella will be flown back to California in the next few days along with the other California horses who shipped to Oaklawn this week.

Fuhriously Kissed rallied to finish third by a neck over Streamline for owner Ron Paolucci and trainer Anthony Quartarolo. She was ridden by C.J. McMahon.

Paolucci claimed Fuhriously Kissed for $62,500 on March 15 at Gulfstream Park. She earned $70,000 in the Apple Blossom and is now Grade 1-placed.

“It was very exciting,” Paolucci said. “C.J. said she just exploded when he got her off the rail. She’s a nice mare.”

Fuhriously Kissed will be shipped to Quartarolo’s stable at Churchill Downs and could make her next start in the Grade 1 La Troienne on the Kentucky Oaks card. Like the Apple Blossom, the La Troienne is a 1 1/16-mile race.

Fuhriously Kissed has a 4-2-1-1 record over off tracks. Paolucci said he wouldn’t mind a little rain for the La Troienne.

Streamline moved up outside Unique Bella in upper stretch and for a moment looked as if she was going to pass her. But the Illinois-bred 6-year-old flattened out and was beaten five lengths by Unbridled Mo.

Trainer Brian Williamson said Streamline’s legs were “cold and tight” Saturday morning and that she had eaten well.

“She gave us a thrill,” Williamson said. “She tried real hard.”

Williamson said Streamline would ship to Churchill Downs in the coming days and would be considered for the La Troienne.

“We’ll see how she trains,” he said.