Unbridled Juan headed to Belmont Park

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unbridled Juan, who was considered a major contender for the $1 million Queen’s Plate, will join trainer Brian Lynch’s string at Belmont Park in the coming days.

Unbridled Juan was heavily favored in a first-level optional-claiming event over 1 1/16 miles in his first start on Polytrack here May 10, but he wound up third behind Queen’s Plate nominees Field of Courage and Breaking Lucky and earned a 73 Beyer Speed Figure.

Lynch said he’d like to get Unbridled Juan back on the dirt at Belmont Park instead of running on Polytrack in the $150,000 Plate Trial Stakes. Unbridled Juan also could skip the Queen’s Plate with stablemate Shaman Ghost being pointed to that spot.

“His sheet numbers suggest he’s a lot better horse on the dirt,” Lynch said. “Rather than take a risk and possibly injure him, it’s better to get him back on a surface where he’s more comfortable.”

Lynch said he did not have a next spot picked out for Unbridled Juan, who is still eligible for his first-level allowance condition. Unbridled Juan could return to Canada for the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes on dirt at Fort Erie on July 28, the second jewel of the Canadian Triple Crown.

“We’re just going to get him settled back in [at Belmont] and look for an ‘a other than’ and get him going in the direction of the Prince of Wales,” he said.