Fair Grounds Barn Notes: Friday, February 23

By Ryan Martin —-

Forever Unbridled ‘Stronger Than Last Week’ In Seven Furlong Breeze
• Missive Makes Turf Debut In Saturday’s Fifth Race
• Graded Stakes Winner Arklow Returns Off Six Month Layoff
• Local High School Event Poised To Create New Fans

Forever Unbridled trainer Dallas Stewart; Photo provided by Fair Grounds

FOREVER UNBRIDLED ‘STRONGER THAN LAST WEEK’ IN SEVEN FURLONG BREEZE

All month long, trainer Dallas Stewart has been working on getting Champion Older Dirt Mare Forever Unbridled geared up for an international journey to Meydan Racecourse for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Mar. 24. On Friday morning, she continued such preparations with a seven-furlong work in 1:2680 over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots main track.

Owned by Charles Fipke, the 6-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song worked under exercise rider Emerson Chavez and produced eighth-mile fractions of 13.40, 25.80 and 1:13.80 before galloping out one mile in 1:39.60.

Stewart believes that the work stronger than last week’s six-furlong drill in 1:12.40 who stated that Friday morning’s move was her most serious one moving forward to the Dubai World Cup.

“Time wise it was perfect,” Stewart said of the workout. “I thought it was a good one last week but this one was even better. We just feel like we’re on with her. We feel like we’ve done a lot of work with her. A lot of things are adding up with her right now. We got three or four breezes left, but this one was the hard one. She followed up last week’s hard breeze with an even better one, so we liked how this played out.”

Forever Unbridled put together a short 5-year-old campaign consisting of three starts, but nonetheless one worthy of Eclipse Award honors. Her trio of outings were all wins which took place in the Gr. II Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs on Jun. 17, the Gr. I Personal Ensign Handicap at Saratoga on Aug. 26 where she defeated two-time Champion Songbird, and the Gr. I Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Del Mar on Nov. 4.

No filly or mare has competed in the Dubai World Cup since Royal Delta made appearances in the event in 2012-13. The best finish of a female in the Dubai World Cup came when Japanese champion filly To The Victory finished second behind Captain Steve in 2001.

“We’re not taking anything for granted,” Stewart said. “It’s a long trip over there, it’s a hard race to win. Given said that, she’s very good horse. She’s an accomplished horse that’s won over eight different racetracks so when you add a lot of those things up, you got to feel good about her.”

MISSIVE MAKES TURF DEBUT IN SATURDAY’S FIFTH RACE

Trainer Mike Stidham was always confident that Missive would be a solid grass runner, but has raced exclusively on the main track in her four career starts. This Saturday, she will make her turf debut in the fifth race, where she will face allowance company over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course.

Owned by Pin Oak Stud, the 3-year-old daughter of Alternation has finished on the board in her quartet of outings. Last out, she finished third behind Stronger Than Ever and two-time graded stakes winner Wonder Gadot in the Silverbulletday Stakes in January. She broke her maiden over the local going in November.

“Although she’s stakes placed, her dirt numbers haven’t been astounding so we’ve always had grass in the back of our mind,” Stidham said. “She started running well on the dirt so we figured that we would just see how she progresses. She ran a good race last time out to be third in a stake. This was the obvious spot to run her in the a other than and hope that she moves up on the grass.”

Missive is out of Bedanken, a five-time graded stakes winner who won on both surfaces. Joe Bravo has the mount about Missive, who breaks from post nine at 7-2 odds.

GRADED STAKES WINNER ARKLOW RETURNS OFF SIX-MONTH LAYOFF

Donegal Racing’s graded stakes winner Arklow will make his 4-year-old debut following a long layoff on Saturday afternoon.

The son of Arch competed in two local preps on Churchill Downs’ Road To The Kentucky Derby last year while still a maiden, when finishing a respective fourth and eighth in the Gr. III Lecomte and Gr. II Risen Star Stakes. Trainer Brad Cox transferred Arklow over to the grass in April where he broke his maiden at Keeneland. Next out, he was an upset winner of the Gr. II American Turf Stakes at Churchill Downs on the May 6 Kentucky Derby undercard. He has not run since finishing seventh in Saratoga’s Gr. II National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes on Aug. 4.

“He’s doing well,” Cox said. “If he were to run well and come out of it in good order we would look at the (Gr. II $300,000) Muniz Memorial (on Mar. 24). That’s the most realistic option.”

Listed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, Arklow breaks from the rail under jockey Florent Geroux.

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL EVENT POISED TO CREATE NEW FANS

Starlight Racing at the Fair Grounds is all about enjoying a night at the races in a heightened social atmosphere. On Friday night, an approximate group of 200 will do just that during Newman School’s Green & White Club Night at the Races.

“The idea behind this was two-fold,” said event organizer Greg Bensel, who has a child at Newman and also runs the Benson’s Horse Racing Operations – GMB Racing. “We are here to introduce new fans to the game with a fun night at the Fair Grounds and to raise money for Newman Athletics.”

Prominent Fair Grounds horsemen Al Stall Jr. and Tom Amoss are both Newman graduates, and the jockey on their respective horses in races seven (Half Sugar, post four, 3-1) and nine (Expedition, post 1A, 9-5) will be wearing specially designed Newman silks (image attached). Longtime trainer and New Orleans native Merrill Scherer will also participate in race three (Jerry N Bo, post four, 12-1).

The silks will be auctioned off with proceeds to benefit Newman School. Founded in 1903 by Isidore Newman, the day school is located in the heart of Uptown, New Orleans. Famous alumni include former and current NFL stars Peyton and Eli Manning, both of whom played quarterback during their tenure.

The sold out Green and White Club event will be held in the Black and Gold Room at the Fair Grounds. Clocker and morning line odds maker Mike Diliberto will emcee the event and offer handicapping advice to attendees.

“I have been involved in horse racing for a number of years and I am a big proponent of promoting the game at all levels and this is a great opportunity to introduce the game to new fans,” Bensel said. “Jason Boulet (Senior Director of Racing) and Doug Shipley (President and General Manager) at the Fair Grounds have been great to work with and have been open to all of our ideas. We are hopeful that horse racing gains some new fans tonight.”