Unwritten Rule finally gets chance on turf in Roar Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla.– The first time Unwritten Rule shipped to Gulfstream Park was earlier this spring to run in the Texas Glitter Stakes, but when rain forced the race to be switched from turf to Tapeta trainer Tom Proctor opted to scratch his lightly raced but promising 3-year-old sprinter.

Proctor is hopeful Mother Nature will be a little more cooperative on Sunday, when Unwritten Rule returns locally to face six rivals in the $100,000 Roar Stakes. The Roar, like the Texas Glitter, is scheduled to be run at five furlongs on the turf.

After missing the opportunity to try stakes competition for the first time in the Texas Glitter, Proctor entered Unwritten Rule back on the dirt under high-priced optional-claiming and allowance conditions on April 11 at Tampa Bay Downs. His frustrations continued when Unwritten Rule crossed the finish line first but was disqualified and placed second for interfering with runner-up Mr. Hooligan after the start.

“I guess if I had the other horse, I’d have felt he [Unwritten Rule] should have come down too,” Proctor said when asked what he thought about the stewards’ decision that day.

Unwritten Rule has been beaten to the wire just once in three career outings, having finished second to Fulmine in an allowance/optional-claiming race at Tampa on Feb. 27. Fulmine flattered the effort by returning to win the Hutcheson Stakes here in his next start.

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In his most recent try, Unwritten Rule showed the ability to rate and rally from off the pace. He came from near the rear of the field leaving the backstretch and overcame a wide trip to readily run by and draw off from the early leaders through the final furlong.

Proctor feels Unwritten Rule should have no problem adjusting to the turf.

“It all depends on how the race sets up, but it’s five-eighths of a mile so sometimes that can be hard to predict. But we’ve worked him on the turf and I believe switching him to the grass is only going to move him up,” Proctor said.

Shipmate, who won the Texas Glitter in Unwritten Rule’s absence, will return locally off a 10th-place finish in the Palisades Stakes at Keeneland on April 19. He’ll square off once again with familiar rival Monster, who finished a disappointing fifth after setting the early pace in the Texas Glitter and fifth again but nearly four lengths in front of Shipmate, when the pair met for a second time in the Palisades.

That pair should assure a lively pace scenario in the Roar along with General Bradley, who led at every call to win his maiden on turf in his second career start. Hawk, Zevi’s Zone, and Best Minet Yet complete the field.

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