Unbridled Forever rallies to win Ballerina

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Dallas Stewart came to Saratoga with the idea of eventually stretching Unbridled Forever back out around two turns to take another shot at the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, a race in which she finished fifth a year ago.

Stewart and Unbridled Forever will indeed be returning to the Breeders’ Cup this fall, but it appears that the Filly and Mare Sprint will be their objective – a change in plans that came about when Unbridled Forever earned a guaranteed spot in the Filly and Mare Sprint with a last-to-first, one-length victory over Kiss to Remember in Saturday’s Grade 1 Ballerina at Saratoga.

Unbridled Forever sat on the sidelines after finishing six lengths behind Untapable in the 2014 BC Distaff until finally launching her 4-year-old campaign with a game neck victory in the seven-furlong Shine Again Stakes here earlier in the meet. As a result, Stewart decided to keep the homebred daughter of Unbridled’s Song at seven furlongs for the Ballerina.

The Ballerina lost one of its major players and the horse who was almost certain to set the pace when La Verdad was scratched earlier in the day by trainer Linda Rice. That left the lead up for grabs, with Sarah Sis and Room for Me taking the early initiative while jockey John Velazquez was content to place Unbridled Forever, as expected, at the rear of the seven-horse field.

Unbridled Forever saved ground while still last nearing the quarter pole, angled off the rail to commence her bid into the stretch, joined the leaders while lugging in briefly near midstretch, then continued strongly to win going away.

Kiss to Remember bobbled at the start, split rivals while rallying through the stretch, but proved no match for the winner, with jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. having his whip knocked from his hands by the rider of Room for Me near the sixteenth pole.

Room for Me gradually weakened to finish third. She was followed by Sarah Sis, Street Story, 7-5 favorite Dame Dorothy, and Merry Meadow.
Unbridled Forever, who is owned by her breeder, Charles Fipke, completed seven furlongs in 1:22.54 and paid $8.20. The victory gave Stewart his first Grade 1 win at Saratoga.

“It probably would have made it a little bit livelier pace for us if La Verdad had run,” said Stewart. “But Unbridled Forever ran great. She’s won on a lot of different racetracks. She’s danced a lot of dances. She’s a great horse. She’s a fighter. I knew she would finish it off; you just never know if you’ll get there in this game.”

Stewart gave every indication immediately after the Ballerina that Unbridled Forever will stay around one turn, at least for the near future.
“Can’t knock success,” he said with a laugh. “Originally, we were going to stretch her out. We’ll have to talk about that. Win and You’re In, and we’re in. It’s hard to change it now.”