Unbridled Mo scores as heavy favorite in Doubledogdare

Red Oak Stable’s homebred Unbridled Mo staved off a bid from Power of Snunner to win the 23rd running of the $100,000 Hilliard Lyons Doubledogdare (G3) for fillies and mares by three-quarters of a length before a Friday afternoon crowd of 16,664.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by John Velazquez, Unbridled Mo covered the 1 1/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:45.11.

With the victory, Pletcher earned his record-extending 52nd Keeneland stakes victory and third stakes win of the Spring Meet. It also marked his fourth victory in the race, having previously won with Colony Band (2005), Pool Land (2006) and Embur’s Song (2011).

It was the fifth win in the race for Velazquez, who in addition to the four wins for Pletcher won the 2015 renewal on Deceptive Vision.

Dear Elaine set the pace with Unbridled Mo in closest pursuit through fractions of :23.61, :46.77 and 1:11.63. On the far turn, Velazquez moved at the leader and took command only to be quickly pursued by Power of Snunner, who moved in from the back of the pack.

Unbridled Mo never let Power of Snunner get the lead and gradually began to inch away at the wire for her third Grade 3 victory.

The victory was worth $60,000 and increased Unbridled Mo’s earnings to $526,180 with a record of 8-6-0-0. Unbridled Mo is a 4-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Uncle Mo out of the Unbridled mare Unbridled Waters.

Unbridled Mo returned $2.80 and $2.10. Power of Snunner, ridden by Mike Smith, returned $3. There was no show wagering. It was another 7¼ lengths back to Lady Fog Horn in third with Dear Elaine finishing fourth.

Racing continues Saturday with a 10-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m. ET. Highlighting the card is the $250,000 Dixiana Ellkhorn (G2) for 4-year-olds and up going 1½ miles on the turf. The Dixiana Elkhorn will go as the day’s ninth race with a 5:30 p.m. post time.

After today’s fourth race, Keeneland President and CEO Bill Thomason was joined in the Winner’s Circle by members of the riding colony when Keeneland presented a check for $7,735 to the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund. Before the races began, Keeneland hosted a Jockey Autograph Signing with retired jockeys and active riders to raise money for the PDJF.