NEWS
Unbridled Belle edges stablemate in Beldame
Posted: Sunday, September 30, 2007 6:40 PM
UNBRIDLED BELLE GETS UP AT THE WIRE
Adam Coglianese/NYRA photo
by Jeff Apel
Multiple graded stakes winner Unbridled Belle unleashed a determined stretch drive to overtake stablemate Indian Vale and earned a head win in the $612,000 Beldame Stakes (G1) on Sunday at Belmont Park.
The win earned Unbridled Belle an automatic starting spot in the $2-million Emirates Airline Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on October 27 at Monmouth Park.
Unbridled Belle rallied in the Beldame after being steadied on the turn by jockey Ramon Dominguez.
Positioned in third in early stretch, more than one-length behind runner-up Indian Vale, Unbridled Belle rallied on the outside and posted her second career graded stakes win.
Team Valor Stables’ Unbridled Belle, who like Indian Vale is trained by Todd Pletcher, won the Delaware Park Handicap (G2) on July 15. The Broken Vow filly entered off a runner-up finish in the Personal Ensign Stakes (G1) on August 24 at Saratoga Race Course.
“My only concern was about the three-eighths pole,” Dominguez said. “She was feeling so good, I was worried she would clip heels.
“I was able to get outside and she was able to get her momentum going again. Sometimes, a horse as big as she is will lose its momentum, but she kept going all the way down the stretch.”
Ice Cool Kitty maintained a half-length lead against Indian Vale through a half-mile in :47.48, and led by a head through six furlongs in 1:11.29. Unbridled Belle dropped back to sixth in a field of seven through four furlongs, moved up on the inside on the turn, and awaited running room near the quarter pole.
Angled out in upper stretch, Unbridled Belle dug in with determination, gained command near the finish, and won the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:48.63 on a fast track.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Ginger Punch finished third, 2 1/4 lengths behind multiple Grade 2 winner Indian Vale.
Unbridled Belle earned her fifth win in 13 starts over three seasons and increased her earnings to $1,212,840. Bred in Kentucky by Charger Six Venture, Unbridled Belle is out Little Bold Belle, by Silver Buck.
For an Equibase chart, click here.
Jeff Apel is a Thoroughbred Times assistant daily news editor
