Unbridled Mo faces only four in Doubledogdare Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – In a little more than 20 years of training on his own, Todd Pletcher already has surpassed some of the monumental career feats compiled by his former boss and mentor, D. Wayne Lukas.

Aside from being the all-time leader in purse earnings in North American racing history with more than $335 million, Pletcher became the winningest stakes trainer at Keeneland when Sweet Loretta captured the Grade 3 Beaumont Stakes on April 9. That gave Pletcher his 51st Keeneland stakes win, one more than Lukas.

On Friday, Pletcher could increase that margin when sending out Unbridled Mo in the Grade 3, $100,000 Doubledogdare Stakes, the first of just three stakes remaining at this 15-day meet.

Unbridled Mo, with John Velazquez to ride, was assigned the outside post in a field of just five fillies and mares in the 23rd running of the 1 1/16-mile Doubledogdare, which anchors a terrific card as the ninth of 10 races. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern, with the feature going at 5:30.

Unbridled Mo was a 2 3/4-length winner of the Grade 3 Houston Ladies Classic in January at Sam Houston and was supposed to run next on March 18 in the Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park before a foot abscess forced her to miss some training.

“That put us back a couple of weeks,” said Pletcher. “This was an alternative spot, and we felt like it was a good spot.”

Indeed, it should be, as Unbridled Mo probably will be an odds-on favorite. Bred and owned by the Red Oak Stable of John Brunetti, the 4-year-old filly has won five of seven career starts while accounting for three stakes.

The chief threats to Unbridled Mo appear to be Power of Snunner (post 1, Mike Smith), a Pennsylvania-bred 7-year-old mare, and Lady Fog Horn (post 2, Albin Jimenez), an Indiana-bred 5-year-old mare whose $776,273 bankroll is tops in the field.

Dear Elaine (post 3, Julien Leparoux) and Twirl Girl (post 4, Javier Castellano) round out the small cast.

The Doubledogdare, named for the Claiborne Farm star filly of the 1950s, is followed on the stakes schedule by twin turf marathons: the Grade 2 Elkhorn on Saturday and the Grade 3 Bewitch on April 28, closing day.

Only one claiming race is on the Friday card, with four allowances (races 2, 3, 4, and 8) preceding the Doubledogdare.

KEY CONTENDERS

Unbridled Mo, by Uncle Mo
Last 3 Beyers: 93-73-90

◗ Kentucky-bred filly really came to hand last summer at Monmouth Park by winning three straight, including the Grade 3 Monmouth Oaks, before being sent west to knock out the Remington Oaks and Houston Ladies Classic.

Power of Snunner, by Power by Far
Last 3 Beyers: 81-89-76

◗ One of two starters in here for trainer Joe Sharp (with Twirl Girl), she has been the epitome of a hard-knocking mare throughout her career by finishing in the money in a remarkable 23 of 26 starts.

Lady Fog Horn, by Zavata
Last 3 Beyers: 82-83-83

◗ This winner of 13 of 23 starts ended an outstanding 2016 campaign by taking the Grade 2 Falls City for trainer Tony Granitz and now wheels back just 12 days after finishing second here in an allowance in which Dear Elaine was third.