Churchill Downs Barn Notes: Breeders’ Cup Distaff Champ Forever Unbridled Returns to Training

By Darren Rogers —-

BREEDERS’ CUP DISTAFF CHAMP FOREVER UNBRIDLED RETURNS TO TRAINING AT CHURCHILL DOWNS

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017) – Charles Fipke’s Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaff (Grade I) hero Forever Unbridled returned to training Saturday morning at Churchill Downs, her first time since arriving back from Del Mar.
“She looks great,” trainer Dallas Stewart said. “I’m just blessed to have a horse like this in my care. As of right now the plan is to point her towards the (Jan. 27) Pegasus (GI). I think you can take on the world with her, that’s how good she is. Mr. Fipke has really laid out a nice plan for her moving forward if she stays healthy.”
A 5-year-old homebred out of Fipke’s Kentucky Oaks (GI) winner Lemons Forever, Forever Unbridled is perfect from just three starts in 2017.
“She came into the (June 17) Fleur de Lis and was probably short in her training,” Stewart said. “She certainly showed she was ready, though. She trains hard every single day and doesn’t have a day where she gets lazy. She ended up running a knockout race in the (Aug. 26) Personal Ensign which was special to get a win at Saratoga. She’s just so consistent at what she does.”
Forever Unbridled now boasts a record of 17-8-3-4—$3,186,880 following her half-length Distaff triumph. The mare is expected to remain with Stewart’s Churchill Downs’ string before shipping to Fair Grounds at the end of November.

BRISSET HOPES FOR FIRST STAKES VICTORY WITH UNDEFEATED JUVENILE QUIP – Former Bill Mott assistant trainer Rodolphe Brisset has been training horses on his own for less than seven months but is already targeting his first graded stakes victory in the Nov. 25 Kentucky Jockey Club (Grade II) at Churchill Downs with undefeated juvenile Quip.
“It’s a very special spot to be in,” Brisset said. “Quip has proven to us how talented he is in just two starts to begin his career. We’re getting him ready at Keeneland for the Kentucky Jockey Club.”
Quip, a 2-year-old colt by Distorted Humor owned in partnership by WinStar Farm, China Horse Club International and SF Racing, broke his maiden at first asking on Sept. 23 at Churchill Downs under jockey Florent Geroux. Quip returned in a first-level allowance on Oct. 19 at Keeneland with an eye-catching 6 ½-length victory.
“He’s still a little bit quirky with things,” Brisset said. “We breezed him five furlongs (Nov. 9) in 1:00.20 and we let him stretch his legs a little more. I’ll probably end up shipping him to Churchill next week to school him in the paddock before the Jockey Club. I don’t think he’s a bad-acting horse by any means but I just want to make sure he’s okay with his surroundings.”
A former jockey in France, Brisset, 34, moved to the United States in 2005 and worked for trainer Patrick Biancone. In 2007, Brisset joined Hall of Fame trainer Mott’s stable as an exercise rider and was promoted to assistant trainer three months later. Through Nov. 10, Brisset has recorded six victories through 54 starts.
The 1 1/16-mile $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club is part of the “Road to the Kentucky Derby” and will award points to the top four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale. Good Magic is the current point’s leader on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with 24 points following his maiden-breaking score in the $2 million Sentient Jet Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (GI) on Nov. 4. Full leaderboard: https://www.kentuckyderby.com/horses

FREE ONLINE BRISNET PAST PERFORMANCES FOR CHURCHILL DOWNS; NEW BRISNET BETTING GUIDE DEBUTS ON-TRACK – Throughout Churchill Downs’ 21-day Fall Meet, Brisnet.com is offering horseplayers complimentary past performances for each day’s races at the Louisville, Ky. racetrack. To download the free Churchill Downs past performances online, guests can visit https://www.brisnet.com/product/past-performances/FPP.
Additionally, Brisnet.com has introduced an excellent new product for on-track guests at Churchill Downs. The Brisnet.com Betting Guide features informative Brisnet.com Premium Plus Past Performances for four-to-eight different racetracks around the country in a bound book with high-quality paper. The book will retail for only $5, which means the new product will be significantly cheaper for Churchill Downs’ guests compared to previously-offered past performance products. It also will have better quality and more targeted content for horseplayers.
The new Brisnet.com Betting Guide is available at program stands and other distribution locations throughout Churchill Downs.

ROMANS VS. MOTT – Dale Romans, a 51-year-old native of South Louisville, began Saturday just one win away from surpassing Hall of Famer Bill Mott as the all-time leading trainer in races won at Churchill Downs – a record that 64-year-old Mott has held for 31 years. Mott and Romans are tied with 702 wins at Churchill Downs.
• Romans Entries: Coach Rocks (Saturday Race 7); Dance Rhythms (Sunday, Race 5); and Storm Runner (Sunday, Race 6).
• Mott Entries: Love Mo (Saturday, Race 7); Honey Don’t (Sunday, Race 6); and English Dancer (Sunday, Race 9).

MILESTONE WATCH – Along with the heated-battle between Dale Romans and Bill Mott for the all-time leading trainer honors at Churchill Downs, trainer Greg Foley (399) is one win away from 400 career victories beneath the historic Twin Spires while trainer Ian Wilkes is targeting 200 career victories at Churchill Downs (195 wins).

DOWN THE STRETCH – Churchill Downs’ popular “Who’s the Champ?” Handicapping Contest will return Sunday. Interested participants can enter for $35 ($30 for TSC Elite members) for a chance to win the $1,000 cash voucher first prize by placing mythical $2 win and place bets on Races 3-8. Second place receives a $500 voucher and third place is worth a $200 voucher. Registration will take place Sunday between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on the Clubhouse second floor at the top of the Gate 17 escalators. … The final Senior Day of the Fall Meet will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Churchill Downs is offering a special $24 package for seniors age 60 and up on Millionaires Row 4 that includes admission, a racing program, a reserved seat and lunch. Call (502) 636-4400 for reservations and more information or visit ChurchillDowns.com/Tickets. … Reserved seating for Thanksgiving Day is going fast. Thanksgiving Day at Churchill Downs has been a Louisville tradition since 1969. More than 7,000 turkey dinners with all the trimmings – the largest number anywhere in the region – will be served on Thursday, Nov. 23, and fans will enjoy 12 races beginning early at 11:30 a.m. Dining packages start at $70 ($27 for children age 2-12) which includes admission, a racing program, reserved seat and a scrumptious Thanksgiving feast. … The delicious “Stakes and Eggs” brunch special returns every Sunday during the Fall Meet in the Stakes Room. The special $45 package for adults and $22 package for children includes a seat in the Stakes Room on the fourth floor of the Clubhouse and all-you-can-eat access to the brunch menu. … The 50/50 charitable gaming raffle is back for the Fall Meet. Proceeds from the raffle will go towards charitable organizations that benefit from the Churchill Downs Incorporated Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that helps support the critical work of nonprofits in our industry, make a difference in important public health programs and provide meaningful opportunities in art and education. Visit www.derbygives.com to purchase tickets and for more information.

Cover Photo: Forever Unbridled; Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders’ Cup