Unhindered tries turf on short rest in Natalma allowance prep

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Stakes winner Unhindered will take her talents to the turf in Friday’s second race at Woodbine, a seven-furlong allowance that serves as a prep for next month’s Grade 2 Natalma Stakes.

Unhindered established herself as the early leader of the local 2-year-old filly division by capturing her first two starts on the front end, including the five-furlong My Dear Stakes. After an awkward break in the Aug. 9 Ontario Debutante, she made an early four-wide move from the back of the pack to take the lead exiting the turn before tiring late to finish fourth in the six-furlong stakes.

Trainer Ralph Biamonte said he has reservations about returning on short rest with Unhindered, who is by the accomplished turf sire Stormy Atlantic but out of a poor turf producer.

“We don’t like the idea of coming back too quick,” Biamonte said. “But being by Stormy Atlantic, we wanted to take a chance to see if she’ll like the grass and to see if she’ll go the seven-eighths. Hopefully, she will, but it’s a tough task.”

The Natalma prep is carded as the second race on a good nine-race card that also features a second-level optional claimer on grass (race 8).

KEY CONTENDERS

Unhindered (Last 3 Beyers: 62-69-57)

◗ According to Trakus, she ran 40 feet farther than the promising winner Dixie Twist in the Debutante and was beaten just over a length.

◗ Biamonte, one of Woodbine’s most successful trainers of 2-year-olds, is 1 for 5 with babies going from synthetic to turf during the last five years, with a return on investment of $2.80, according to DRF Formulator.

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Internal Bourbon (Last Beyer: 59)

◗ She is the lone entrant with any racing experience on turf, a closing third in a slow-paced maiden special weight race. The daughter of freshman sire and Queen’s Plate winner Not Bourbon is the first foal from Grade 1 Del Mar Oaks winner Internallyflawless.

◗ Her esteemed trainer, Roger Attfield, won last year’s Natalma with Llanarmon.

Don’t Leave Me (Last Beyer: 48)

◗ She narrowly won her debut on Polytrack over Reserved, who came back to romp in a maiden special weight race on grass.

◗ The daughter of the superb grass sire Lemon Drop Kid is out of a Grade 1 winner who was unplaced in one turf start and has yet to produce a turf winner.

Scindia (Last 3 Beyers: 63-57-63)

◗ After a pair of seconds, the swift homebred graduated third time out in a five-furlong maiden special weight race. She doesn’t possess much turf breeding and will be hard pressed to stay the trip if Unhindered reverts to a speed style.