FAIR GROUNDS: CHAMPION ODLER DIRT MARE FOREVER UNBRIDLED RETURNS TO WORK TAB, COULD BE DUBAI BOUND

By Ryan Martin —-

Champion Older Dirt Mare Forever Unbridled Returns To Work Tab, Could Be Dubai Bound
• Beschizza Pulls First Fair Grounds Hat Trick
• Faucheux Hits Friday’s Late Exacta

DEL MAR, CA – NOVEMBER 03: Forever Unbridled #6, ridden by John Velazquez, wins the Longines Breeders’ Cup Distaffon Day 1 of the 2017 Breeders’ Cup World Championships at Del Mar Race Track on November 3, 2017 in Del Mar, California. (Photo by Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire/Breeders Cup)

CHAMPION OLDER DIRT MARE FOREVER UNBRIDLED RETURNS TO WORK TAB, COULD BE DUBAI BOUND

Eclipse Award winner Forever Unbridled recorded her first serious move since being crowned Champion Older Dirt Mare of 2017 on Saturday morning. Owned by Charles Fipke, the 6-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song went a half-mile in :49.40 over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track, which was the 30th fastest of the 103 moves at the half-mile distance. Trainer Dallas Stewart is considering a trip to Meydan Racecourse for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I).

“She worked great,” Stewart said.

Forever Unbridled’s Eclipse Award-winning campaign consisted of three starts, all of which were victories. Prior to her Breeders’ Cup Distaff win, she won the Gr. II Fleur de Lis at Churchill Downs on June 17 and the Gr. I Personal Ensign at Saratoga, where she defeated two-time Eclipse Award winner Songbird.

Other notable moves on Saturday morning include Godolphin LLC’s Cedartown who went five furlongs in 1:00.40 and could race next in either the Gr. III $150,000 Mineshaft Handicap on Feb. 17 or the Gr. III $500,000 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 19, according to trainer Mike Stidham. The trainer also worked promising 3-year-old Supreme Aura over the main track. The Stallionaire Enterprises-owned son of Candy Ride went six furlongs in 1:12.40 and could race next in the Gr. II $400,000 Risen Star on Feb. 17. Staton Flurry’s Mr. Misunderstood went five furlongs in 1:00.60 for trainer Brad Cox in preparation for the Gr. III $150,000 Fair Grounds Handicap on Feb. 17.

BESCHIZZA PULLS FIRST FAIR GROUNDS HAT TRICK

At the beginning of the week, jockey Adam Beschizza was confident that Friday had potential to be a rewarding day for him, and he proved to be correct as he scored his first Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots hat trick on the program.

All three of Beschizza’s victories took place on the Stall-Wilson Turf Course where he won aboard Aktabantay (GB) (Race 2, $6.20), Boyfriend Brian (Ire.) (Race 5, $25.40) and Macho Gabacho (Race 8, $14.60).

“I did think in the morning that I would have a good day,” Beschizza said. “There were a couple of them that I had ridden before that got beat so we came back to the drawing board and doing what we should’ve done.”

A native of Cambridge, England, Beschizza described Friday as a “European day out” since his first two winners started their career across the pond. Aktabantay was a Group III winner in his native England and finished fourth behind Gleneagles (Ire.) in the Group I St. James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot during his 3-year-old campaign. Boyfriend Brian was stakes placed in his native Ireland before coming to the United States.

“Some of them were very competitive back home in England and Ireland in big races and got beat by some special horses,” Beschizza said. “It makes it that much more special when you when on them. Aktabantay was a Group Three winner back home, he ran fourth in a Group One so it’s pleased that he’s sort of turned a corner. Hopefully it boosted his confidence and we can progress on that level.

With Beschizza having started his career overseas, he felt somewhat of a connection to the horses that he rode to victory on Friday.

“You can sort of relate to them,” Beschizza said. “If they come over here and not done much since winning over in England and Ireland, we sort of look back at the form. The racing here is so much different than back home. Those horses are probably accustomed to how they have been ridden and they obviously excel to the way they’ve been ridden back home.”

Beschizza is named on seven horses for Saturday’s card.

“Hopefully (Saturday) can be four,” Beschizza said. “I think I’ve got a few live chances so hopefully we can do something similar.”

Currently, Beschizza is the fourth leading rider at the Fair Grounds with 31 victories this Winter Meet. Ahead of him are Miguel Mena (41), Shaun Bridgmohan (39) and Mitchell Murrill (34).

FAUCHEUX HITS FRIDAY’S LATE EXACTA

Trainer Ron Faucheux wanted a dead heat in the last race at the Fair Grounds on Friday evening, but he got the next best thing when his trainees Elle Les Yu and Rose’s Asset ran one-two to give him the late exacta.

“With all the seconds that I’ve had this meet, I could have used two winners in one race,” Faucheux said.

Guided by Jose Riquelme, Elle Les Yu was confronted by her stable mate who was ridden by Gabriel Saez at the top of the Fair Grounds stretch. Both of Faucheux’s fillies hit the wire together in a photo finish that would eventually go to Elle Les Yu.

The winner paid $21.40, $10.40 and $5.40 while Rose’s Legacy paid $12.20 and $7.20 to place. Had one bet a Ron Faucheux exacta, they would have gotten back $241.80 for a $2 bet.

“Both of them were doing great,” Faucheux. “Both of them had a shot, I thought. With a couple of droppers in here I thought it would be tough to win. Both of the jockeys couldn’t have done better, they were both riding all out. We were very pleased.”

Coincidentally, Faucheux has two entered in Saturday’s last race – Dance Till Two (post three, 4-1) and Jane Ran A Double (post four, 9-2).

Cover Photo: Forever Unbridled; Oaklawn/Coady Photography