Eye on the Oaks: Unbridled Forever

Unbridled Forever in the winner's circle after her Silverbulletday Stakes win. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire)

Unbridled’s Song’s legacy remains strong in the wake of his death last year. 

Top performers such as 2013 champion 3-year-old male Will Take Charge serve as reminders of Unbridled’s Song’s influence on the breed. As this year’s 3-year-old crop unveils itself, the gray stallion’s descendants are once again a force, including the fittingly named filly Unbridled Forever.

The pedigrees of classic winners Unbridled and Lemon Drop Kid boast stakes performers at shorter distances in addition to route races. Unbridled won the 1990 Kentucky Derby by 3 ½ lengths, and Lemon Drop Kid was the upset winner in Charismatic’s valiant 1999 Belmont Stakes. One of Unbridled's most famous sons, Unbridled’s Song was a quick-developing horse who had an abundance of speed and the ability to carry it going longer distances. Unbridled’s Song sired various types of stakes performers on different surfaces. 

All the doors are open for Unbridled Forever, whose dam (mother) is 2006 Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever, by Lemon Drop Kid, because her bloodlines present the prospect of performing well in distance races or in sprints. Depending on her conditioning, she could excel at any distance. 

In her three starts, Unbridled Forever has won twice and finished out of the top three on one occasion. From these promising efforts, the Unbridled’s Song filly has earned more than $100,000. 

Being by Unbridled’s Song, who sires precocious runners, it is somewhat surprising that Unbridled Forever made her career debut near the end of October – later than many juveniles. In a one-mile event on the Churchill Downs main track, she finished fifth in the 10-horse field.

A month later, trainer Dallas Stewart sent out the bay filly for her second start. Returning to Churchill Downs, Unbridled Forever cut back to seven furlongs and showed considerable improvement. After racing in fifth after a quick opening quarter-mile in :22.61, Unbridled Forever came up to take the lead four paths wide out of the turn. She crossed the finish line as the certain winner of this race – her nearest rival was beaten by 5 ¼ lengths – and she covered the seven furlongs in 1:21.91.

In late January, she made her 2014 debut in the Silverbulletday Stakes at Louisiana’s Fair Grounds. She went off as the co-favorite with eventual runner-up Divine Beauty, who carried three pounds more. Unbridled Forever was dealt a wide trip but came up from fourth at the 3/16 pole to win by 1 ½ lengths in a time of 1:43.03.