Forever Unbridled vs. Sophomores in Beldame

Chuck Fipke's classy homebred 4-year-old filly Forever Unbridled (Unbridled's Song) won't have to deal with the older heavy hitters she's faced in her last two outings, but will take on a pair of Grade I-winning sophomores in Belmont's GI Beldame S. Saturday. The well-bred bay secured her first victory at the highest level when besting a field that included off-form champion Untapable (Tapit) in Oaklawn's GI Apple Blossom H. Apr. 15. Completely buried when the real running began in this venue's GI Ogden Phipps S. June 11, she flew home late to finish second behind 'TDN Rising Star' Cavorting (Bernardini) before finishing a close third behind that foe and the accomplished Curalina (Curlin) in the Spa's GI Personal Ensign S. Aug. 27. “She's been doing great since Saratoga,” trainer Dallas Stewart told the NYRA press office. “The biggest concern is the weather, so we have to think that out. The thinking in running her here is that it would set her up great for the Breeders' Cup.” Off the Tracks (Curlin) broke out in front-running fashion when she annexed the GI Mother Goose S. here going a sixteenth shorter in July. She cut back for Saratoga's GI Test S. Aug. 6, and found herself in an extremely heated speed duel, ultimately settling for third as 55-1 shot Paola Queen (Flatter) picked up the pieces late. Fourth from off a pace that held together in the GII Prioress S. at six Saratoga panels Sept. 4, Off the Tracks might appreciate a bit more ground to work with and could find herself having an easy time up front. Paola Queen was second–on spot better than Off the Tracks–in the GII Gulfstream Oaks in April, but failed to make her mark on the GI Kentucky Oaks May 6. She set the pace before fading to fifth in the one-mile GI Acorn S. here June 11 (Off the Tracks was second), and has been off since her shocker in the Test. She bypassed last week's GI Cotillion S. at Parx, dominated by superstar Songbird (Medaglia d'Oro), for this spot. Going for Broke (Blame) was a distant second to Songbird in the GI Alabama S. upstate Aug. 20.