Unbridled Belle in a romp

Using the front-running tactics that brought her victory in the 2008 Obeah Stakes, Unbridled Belle went right to the front again Saturday at Delaware Park, cruising to an 11-length win while defending her crown in the Grade 3, for fillies and mares.

The Obeah serves as the prep for the meet's highlight, the Grade 2, $1 million Delaware Handicap on July 19. Trainer Todd Pletcher said after Saturday's race Unbridled Belle will be pointed to the Del Cap. She won the 2007 Del Cap and was a beaten favorite in last year's renewal.

On Saturday, jockey Richard Migliore wasted no time in getting Unbridled Belle to the lead, and she went head and head with All Night Labor through a first quarter-mile in 23.73 seconds. Down the backstretch, she opened her lead to 2 1/2 lengths and completed a half-mile in 47.39.

Unbridled Belle increased her advantage to 5 1/2 lengths by the top of the stretch and then steadily drew away to the wire, covering the 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy, sealed track in 1:50.79. She returned $6.20 as the second choice in a field of seven.

Runner-up Morena, a Peruvian import making her first start in the United States for trainer Michael Matz, chased Unbridled Belle after moving to second at the top of the stretch.

Skylighter, the 9-5 favorite, stalked the pace but had no rally, finishing third.

All Smiles was pulled up before the finish, unseating her rider, Justin Shepherd.

Unbridled Belle boosted her bankroll to $1,595,662 from a career record of 20-7-3-3. She has won 5 of 7 starts at Delaware.

A 6-year-old Broken Vow mare, owned by Team Valor International, Unbridled Belle has been covered twice by A.P. Indy this spring. Her connections plan to allow her to race, even if she is in foal, through the summer.

* Bon Jovi Girl ($5.40) turned the tables on Payton d'Oro in the $125,700 Susan's Girl Stakes, getting revenge for a 1 1/4-length defeat in last month's Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico.

Bon Jovi Girl, ridden by Jose Caraballo and trained by Tim Ritchey, was wide for much of the trip but pulled ahead of Payton d'Oro on the far turn before easing away to a eight-length victory. She covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.27.

The Susan's Girl was a prep for the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks on July 18.