Opening Verse, Unbridled Sidney winners employ different styles over new turf course
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A pair of ungraded turf stakes took the momentum of Kentucky Derby week up a few notches when the Opening Verse and Unbridled Sidney were run on an 11-race Thursday card at a crowded Churchill Downs.
The new $10 million turf course was rated firm for both races that shared the “Thurby” spotlight with the Kentucky Juvenile. Cloudy skies and fair conditions prevailed, not counting a brief shower late in the card. A considerable amount of rain was supposed to come down for much of the day Friday, with a minor chance for Saturday.
Ontrack attendance was 47,872.
Opening Verse
Luis Saez sent Gray’s Fable to the early lead in the $157,400 Opening Verse, a one-mile race contested by seven older horses, and the wire came just in time for the 7-year-old gray gelding as he lasted by a head before a late-flying Hidden Stash.
Trained by Roger Attfield, Gray’s Fable finished in 1:36.22 when returning $6.40 as second choice.
Hidden Stash, a 13-1 shot, was another two lengths before Mr Dumas, who enjoyed a nice stalking trip but had no late kick as the 6-5 favorite.
Gray’s Fable, winner of the Grade 3 Appleton in March 2021 at Gulfstream Park, now has won five of 18 races in a stop-and-start career for Attfield, a member of the racing halls of fame in both the U.S. and Canada.
“The strategy was to get on the lead and use my horse’s speed to set the pace,” said Saez.
Unbridled Sidney
An hour or so later, Tobys Heart ($11.20) and Jose Ortiz surged past Change of Control in the final yards of the Unbridled Sidney, a 5 1/2-furlong dash contested by eight fillies and mares.
Trained by Brian Lynch, who co-owns the 4-year-old Jack Milton filly with Terry Hamilton and Gary Barber, Tobys Heart won for the fitth time in 12 starts when rallying from the back of the pack.
“I let her settle and she really gave me everything she had after we turned for home,” said Ortiz. “Brian had her ready. She’s a really nice filly.”
Change of Control took charge leaving the furlong grounds after several others had taken their shot, but she couldn’t contain the outside surge of Tobys Heart. Brooke Marie, the 5-2 favorite, was among those early goers before fading to sixth.
Lynch, 57, will have his first-ever Derby starter Saturday with the speedy Classic Causeway. “Hopefully this is the start of an unforgettable weekend,” he said.