Unchained Melody has the speed in Ogden Phipps Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Unchained Melody will likely be a bit of a longshot in Saturday’s Grade 1, $750,000 Ogden Phipps Stakes at Belmont Park, but she has one thing none of her expected five rivals possess – speed.

Unchained Melody won last year’s Grade 2 Mother Goose – like the Phipps, a one-turn, 1 1/16-mile race – in gate-to-wire fashion. She will likely try to employ the same tactics in the Phipps.

“I don’t think there’s much speed in the race, she should place herself pretty forwardly,” said trainer Brian Lynch, who will have Joel Rosario to ride.

Entries for the Phipps were to be taken and post positions assigned Tuesday. The field went under renovation after key players Fault and Salty were defections due to injury.

Ivy Bell, cross-entered in Friday’s Bed o’ Roses, is expected to re-enter and run in the Phipps. Unbridled Mo, like Ivy Bell trained by Todd Pletcher, also is running in the Phipps.

Abel Tasman, last year’s champion 3-year-old filly; Pacific Wind, winner of the Grade 2 Ruffian; and Berned, winner of the Serena’s Song at Monmouth, also are expected to run. American Gal, a two-time Grade 1 winner at seven furlongs, is expected to enter the Phipps, but she is more likely to run in Friday’s Bed o’ Roses, for which she also has been entered.

Unchained Melody has raced only twice since she won the Mother Goose. She was pulled up and vanned off midway during the running of the Alabama last August at Saratoga. She was subsequently given the remainder of the year off.

Unchained Melody made her 4-year-old debut in the Ruffian at Belmont and chased the pace for six furlongs before ultimately finishing last of five.

“I think she might have needed her last race a lot more than I thought she did,” Lynch said. “She’s a very big filly; obviously didn’t have her tight enough, but she’s really trained on good. I thought her last work here the other day was a very, very good work.”

On Saturday, Unchained Melody worked a sharp half-mile in 47.44 seconds over the main track.