Unbridled Weather in optimal spot to regain winning form
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ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Unbridled Weather continues on the comeback trail in Monday’s fifth race at Woodbine and could break through in the six-furlong main turf sprint for nonwinners-of-two allowance types and $50,000 3-year-olds.
Victorious in the 2024 Frost King Stakes for Ontario-sired juveniles, Unbridled Weather had been idle for a year when fifth in a five-furlong inner turf dash at this level July 19. The huge bay is coming off a fading fifth going a mile on the inner course in another allowance Aug. 15.
Trainer Angus Buntain said Unbridled Weather needed lots of time to get over a nagging injury and might be ready to pop on a course over which he ran second twice at 2, including in the Bull Page Stakes.
“I really like him in this race,” Buntain said. “It’s very well suited for him. He loves the one turn on the outer [course]. We’re expecting a big effort third start off the layoff. He’s a big, strong horse, and we’ve taken our time with him. He’s going great. He’s in real good form.”
Pier 1 Stables bought Unbridled Weather on a whim for $9,000 at the 2023 Canadian Premier Yearling Sale.
“The owner saw him walk into the ring, liked the look of him, and bought him,” Buntain recalled. “We never looked at the horse or talked about him. He came into my barn the next spring. He’s been a very pleasant surprise.”
Keveh Nicholls retains the mount on Unbridled Weather, who breezed a half-mile in 47.60 seconds over the turf training course Aug. 30.
Trainer Mark Casse sends out You Mule and Bootsontheground in the six-horse field.
You Mule has made all three of his starts on the grass in Florida, earning his diploma at first asking in a 7 1/2-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park in June of 2025. He was placed third by disqualification in a subsequent allowance at Tampa Bay Downs in February and hasn’t started since a sixth-place finish in a one-mile Gulfstream allowance March 12.
Bootsontheground tracked a slow pace en route to a victory over Ontario-sired and $40,000 maidens on the Tapeta here Aug. 9. He posted mixed results in two maiden special weight events on the Gulfstream grass last winter.
Extraordinary One brings improving five-furlong inner turf form to his first try on Woodbine’s main course, ending up third most recently after getting bumped at the break.
Big Time Boss has been freshened since a 56-length loss here June 14 on the Tapeta, over which he’s made all five of his starts. The son of 14 percent turf sprint sire Street Boss is out of a turf winner who produced Dolce Fortuna, recently a leading second in the restricted Zadracarta Stakes on the inner turf.
Mor Joe’s Spirit wired maiden special rivals off a long layoff second time out on the Tapeta Aug. 23. The son of 9 percent turf sprint sire Mor Spirit is out of a grass winner who dropped two turf winners.
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