Unbridled Forever Returns in Shine Again

Charles Fipke's multiple graded stakes-placed homebred Unbridled Forever will run for the first time in nine months in Wednesday's $100,000 Shine Again at seven furlongs on the main track.

Restricted to fillies and mares 4-and-up who have not won a graded stakes in 2015, the Shine Again attracted a field of 11 older horses, nine of them stakes winners including Stonetastic, who captured the six-furlong, Grade 2 Prioress last summer at Saratoga, and Grade 3 winner Sugar Shock.

Unbridled Forever has been off since facing older horses for the first time in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Distaff October 31, finishing fifth by six lengths at odds of 51-1 behind champion Untapable.

"We're excited about getting her back. Hopefully it's a good spot," trainer Dallas Stewart said. "She's trained very well. We just gave her a break and tried to get some weight on her, and she came back great."

Last year, Unbridled Forever had one win from eight starts, all in stakes, the last seven of them graded. She opened 2014 with a victory the Silverbulletday at Fair Grounds, then was third in the Kentucky Oaks and Ashland and second in the Coaching Club American Oaks, all Grade 1 events, the latter at Saratoga.

"We wanted to get her started. We felt like she could start back in an ungraded stake and that would be good for her," Stewart said. "Hopefully it's not too tough and we can see how fit she is."

Unbridled Forever has not run as short as seven furlongs since breaking her maiden at the distance in November 2013.

"We've got to get her started somewhere. I think she's much stronger. She's always trained well and she's honest. She's a nice filly," Stewart said. "She loves the game. She loves being at the track and she's a wonderful horse to train."

Hall of Famer John Velazquez, aboard in the Breeders' Cup, gets the call from post 9 at 115 pounds as the 5-1 fifth choice on the morning line.

The 5-2 program favorite and 123-pound co-highweight is Stoneway Farm's Stonetastic. The 4-year-old filly is also making her seasonal debut, last seen finishing seventh in the Grade 1 La Brea December 26 at Santa Anita after running fourth in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint. She breaks from post three under regular rider Paco Lopez.

Also in the field are stakes winners Storied Lady, Sweet Basil, Flattering Bea,Expression, You Bought Her and Taketheodds, as well as Bird Maker and Wavell Avenue.

Source: NYRA Communications