Rested Forever Unbridled Makes the Grade in Comely
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Photo:
Chelsea Durand/NYRA
Having repeatedly faced some of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country for the first half of the year, a five-month layoff and an encouraging prep race made all the difference for Charles Fipke's Forever Unbridled, outdueling a very game Carrumba in the stretch to earn her first graded stakes victory in the Grade 3, $300,000 Comely on Saturday at Aqueduct Racetrack.
Breaking from post position 9 as the third wagering choice with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez aboard for the first time, the daughter of Unbridled's Song sat a comfortable fourth behind Temper Mint Patty, who was sent to the lead with post-time favorite Carrumba in close pursuit. Setting fractions of 24.04 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.47 for half, Temper Mint Patty was overtaken at the five-sixteenths pole by Carrumba while Forever Unbridled was guided three-wide in pursuit.
In the upper stretch, Forever Unbridled was set down and engaged Carrumba as the two battled with the former prevailing at the wire to win by a head. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.75.
Breaking from post position 9 as the third wagering choice with Hall of Fame rider John Velazquez aboard for the first time, the daughter of Unbridled's Song sat a comfortable fourth behind Temper Mint Patty, who was sent to the lead with post-time favorite Carrumba in close pursuit. Setting fractions of 24.04 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 49.47 for half, Temper Mint Patty was overtaken at the five-sixteenths pole by Carrumba while Forever Unbridled was guided three-wide in pursuit.
In the upper stretch, Forever Unbridled was set down and engaged Carrumba as the two battled with the former prevailing at the wire to win by a head. She completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.75.
"I knew [Carrumba] is a fighter so I was just waiting for the last second to get on her," said Velazquez. "I waited until the three-sixteenths pole to get on her and she put up a good fight. I just wanted to wait, wait, wait and then surprise her. If I went too quick by her, I knew she would come back and beat me, so I waited a little longer and then surprised her in the end."
Returning $11.40 for a $2 win wager, Forever Unbridled boosted her career earnings to $311,600. Speaking via telephone, trainer Dallas Stewart was encouraged by his filly's performance and her first stakes victory after running in five consecutive graded stakes.
"She has been a solid horse all year; ran second and third to I'm a Chatterbox a few times," said Stewart. "We gave her a break after the [Kentucky] Oaks and she'd been training great. She came up there ready to run. There are a lot of Grade 1's next year and at Saratoga and I think she's capable if we handle it right."
Following Carrumba were Wonder Gal, Stroke Play, Peace and War, Fast Retailing, Temper Mint Patty, Jc's Shooting Star, Pangburn, and Curlish Figure.
Source: NYRA Communications (Najja Thompson)
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