Unbridled Juan's improvement continues with Richard Small win

Trainer Jose Corrales entered Something Awesome and Unbridled Juan in the $100,000 Richard Small Stakes, the headliner on a five-stakes card at Laurel Park on Saturday. But after studying the field, Corrales decided to scratch Something Awesome, who may have gone favored but would have been making his first start since May.

As it turned out, Corrales needed only Unbridled Juan, who paid $10 to win in the nine-horse field.

Unbridled Juan and Something Awesome are owned by the Stronach Stable. Frank and Andy Stronach were instrumental in helping Corrales relocate his stable from Ohio to Maryland in 2011.

Something Awesome was sent to Corrales last fall and has improved markedly, winning the Grade 3 General George and Grade 2 Charles Town Classic. Unbridled Juan, who was 0 for 5 in 2017 before being transferred to Corrales this spring, is following a similar path and has now won three of his last four races, including two stakes.

"I'm just blessed to be part of the group with the Stronachs," Corrales said after Unbridled Juan's win. "This horse is improving."

Dalmore was sent hard to the lead in the 1 1/8-mile Small while Unbridled Juan settled into the second flight under jockey Alex Cintron.

After fractions of 24.41 and 47.70, Unbridled Juan began a steady advance on the far turn. He hooked Dalmore from the outside nearing the stretch following six furlongs in 1:11.92 and took a short lead.

But Dalmore wasn't finished and Unbridled Juan, who has never been known for his winning desire, couldn't put him away. The two battled for the lead before Unbridled Juan got the upper hand late and won by a half-length. The final time was 1:50.56.

"I got him into the race early and he gave me everything he had," Cintron said.

It was 1 1/2 lengths back from Dalmore to third-place Doctor Mounty, who was wide into the stretch and closed late. Zanotti, the 9-5 favorite, raced wide and finished sixth.

Unbridled Juan, a 6-year-old Unbridled's Song gelding, is now 7 for 25 in his career and 3 for 6 since joining Corrales' barn. He scored his first stakes win in the $50,000 Grover Delp Memorial at Delaware Park in October.