Churchill Downs Stakes Advance: Morticia Takes on Nine Foes in Unbridled Sidney

By Darren Rogers —-

Morticia; Keeneland Photo

MORTICIA TAKES ON NINE FOES IN UNBRIDLED SIDNEY;
MILLIONAIRE OM RETURNS IN OPENING VERSE

LOUISVILLE, KY (Saturday, April 27, 2019) – G. Watts Humphrey Jr.’s Morticia, winner of the Giant’s Causeway two weeks ago at Keeneland, headlines a field of 10 fillies and mares for Thursday’s ninth running of the $125,000 Unbridled Sidney going 5 ½ furlongs on the Matt Winn Turf Course.

The Unbridled Sidney and the 13th running of the Opening Verse Overnight Stakes highlight an 11-race Thurby program that begins at 12:45 p.m. (all times Eastern).

Trained by co-breeder Rusty Arnold, Morticia just missed in last year’s renewal of the Unbridled Sidney, finishing second a head behind Triple Chelsea A seven-time stakes winner, Morticia will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. and break from post position seven.

The Unbridled Sidney will go as Thursday’s 10th race with a 5:45 p.m. post time.

The field of the Unbridled Sidney, with riders and weights from the rail out, is: Painting Corners (Luis Saez, 123 pounds), Surrender Now (Drayden Van Dyke, 121), Ms Meshak (Adam Beschizza, 121), A Little Bit Me (John Velazquez, 121), Luvin Bullies (Chris Landeros, 121), Lady Suebee (Joel Rosario, 121), Morticia (Ortiz Jr., 123), Ruby Notion (Florent Geroux, 121), Excessivespending (Julien Leparoux, 123) and Spy Ring (IRE) (Tyler Baze, 121).

In the Opening Verse, Sareen Family Trust’s millionaire Om headlines a field of 10 and four also-eligibles entered for the one-mile grass test.

The Opening Verse will go as the afternoon’s eighth race with a 4:37 p.m. post time.

Trained by Peter Miller, Om will be making his first start since last August. Now 7, Om has won four graded stakes and placed in 11 other graded events. Julien Leparoux will have the mount and break from post position nine.

The field for the Opening Verse, with riders and weights from the inside, is: Hembree (Jose Ortiz, 122 pounds), Hot Springs (Luis Saez, 122), Monarchs Glen (GB) (Joel Rosario, 122), First Premio (Hernandez Jr., 122), Uno Mas Modelo (Adam Beschizza, 122), Siem Riep (James Graham 122), Ballagh Rocks (Ortiz Jr., 122), Kencumin (FR) (Florent Geroux, 122), Om (Julien Leparoux, 122) and Profiteer (John Velazquez, 122). Also-Eligible: All Right (Beschizza, 122), Parlor (Flavien Prat, 122), Sabador (FR) (Graham, 122) and Hollywood Hideaway (Tyler Baze, 122).