Sam Houston: Ambition Unbridled hard to catch

Catch her if you can. Ambition Unbridled is the sheer speed of the $40,000 Citgo, a five-furlong turf race for fillies and mares that will be run Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

A 4-year-old daughter of Unbridled's Song, Ambition Unbridled will be a solid favorite in the race on the heels of her front-running win in the $100,000 Leggio Memorial Handicap at Fair Grounds in her last start Jan. 15. She upset the 5 1/2-furlong turf race at 21-1, leading the field through an opening quarter in 21.80 seconds before going on to win by a half-length for trainer Gammy Vazquez.

It was just one of many displays of raw speed from Ambition Unbridled, who in October won the $55,000 P.G. Johnson, a five-furlong turf race at The Meadowlands, in 56.60 seconds. Overall, she has won 3 of 5 turf starts, all in sprints. Ambition Unbridled races for Michael Gill, the nation's leading owner, who has won with 4 of his first 9 starters this meet at Sam Houston.

Jeremy Beasley will ship in from Fair Grounds to ride.

Eight fillies and mares will start in the Citgo, including Ladoma, who has won 2 of her last 3 starts. Ladoma invades from Fair Grounds, where she won an entry-level allowance and a two-other-than allowance on turf before finishing second by a neck on Feb. 6 in her last start. She, too, has speed, and draws well to the outside of Ambition Unbridled. Bobby Walker Jr. has the mount for trainer Rebecca Maker.

Also in the race is Hadenough, who has won 13 of 33 turf starts for trainer Tommie Morgan. Hadenough can close and will benefit if a duel develops between some of her rivals. Hadenough will be ridden by Weldon Cloninger.