Unbridled Danz scores her third consecutive victory
photo by Ellis Park Photos
Stakes News
Unbridled Danz Remains Unbeaten In Audubon Oaks
Unbridled Danz with Jesus Castanon aboard, broke quickly and set a moderate pace to lead throughout en route to a 1 ½-length victory in Saturday’s $75,000 Audubon Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on the turf at Ellis Park.
Unbridled Danz remained unbeaten capturing her third career victory and paid $5.80, $3.40 and $3 as the favorite in a field of 12. Royal Bean, ridden by Eddie Martin, Jr., returned $3.80 and $3.80. Mrs. Debbie M was third under Calvin Borel and paid $10.40.
Unbridled Danz, a 3-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song, owned by Stan Fulton, covered the mile and a sixteenth on “firm” turf in 1:41.24. She earned $46,000 to more than double her career earnings to $77,200.
Trained by Becky Maker, Unbridled Danz was able to get a clear lead inside in moderate fractions of 24.12 for the opening quarter mile, 48.38 for the half-mile, 1:11.72 for three-quarters of a mile and 1:35.29 for the mile. Unbridled Danz had widened her lead to two lengths in the stretch and easily withstood a challenge from morning line favorite Royal Bean under a steady urging.
“She was a little bit green coming down the lane, but it didn’t seem to matter,” said Maker. “She’s still learning. She does everything so effortlessly and she’s so professional. She pops out of the gate. He (rider Castanon) asked her to hold back a little bit, and she comes back for him. Nobody wanted the lead, so he took it.”
Even with the impressive victory, Maker said the young filly is still improving.
“I love the filly and I’ve liked her from day one. There’s just no telling how good she is. She’s definitely one of the best horses I’ve had in my barn. We’ll see how far her talent develops, but I have very high hopes for her.”
Maker said she plans to run Unbridled Danz next in the $200,000 Grade III Pucker Up Stakes at her home track, Arlington Park, on Sept. 17
Siberian Amur, Khayelitsha, Jules Best, Brag (IRE), Yes Beth, She’s That Cat, Cleft, Carmandia and Flexible Princess completed the order of finish.
Post-Race Quotes
JESUS CASTANON, jockey aboardUNBRIDLED DANZ
“The way it looked in the program, it seemed like there was a little more speed in the race, but I let my filly break out of the gate by herself and she took me out on the lead all alone. I was able to saddle the pace down a little bit, but she gave me a heck of a good kick though. There’s no telling how good she’s going to be. She could be anything. She can have a heck of a good future.”