Unbridled Elaine wins first graded stakes

OCEANPORT, N.J. - Unbridled Elaine has been simply dominating since being transferred to the barn of David Vance.

Unbridled Elaine won her first graded stakes, romping to victory in the Grade 2 $250,000 Monmouth Park Breeders' Cup Oaks on Saturday. Unbridled Elaine covered the 1 1/8-mile Oaks distance in 1:51.02. Unrestrained was 3 1/2 lengths back in second. Indy Glory made up ground late for third. Unbridled Elaine paid $3.60 as the 4-5 favorite and topped a $27.60 exacta.

Unbridled Elaine was making her second start for Vance, after being moved from Dallas Stewart's barn. In her first start for Vance, she easily won the Iowa Oaks on July 5. Unbridled Elaine is now 5-1-0 in seven starts, with her only out-of-the money finish a fourth in the Grade 1 Acorn at Belmont.

"I thought she ran a super race," Vance said. "She's got a lot of potential, and she was very impressive today."

Unbridled Elaine broke well under Eibar Coa, rating in fourth off a mild pace set by Quick Blue and Kain's Prize. Nearing the final turn, she made her move past Quick Blue and took the lead turning for home. Astrid seemed ready to rally on the outside of Unbridled Elaine, but flattened out in the stretch, finishing fourth. Unbridled Elaine cruised to the wire in the stretch, never facing a late challenge.

"Coming to the three-eighths pole, I knew I was the winner," said Coa, who was aboard the daughter of Unbridled's Song for the first time.

* Shutup and Dance ($3.60) went wire to wire as the 4-5 favorite, defeating three other rivals in the $75,000 Blue Sparkler Stakes for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Shutup and Dance, trained by Richard Mandella and owned by Diamond A Racing, crossed the wire in 1:10.52 over a fast track.