DEL MAR, , United States: Forever Unbridled won the 1 1/8-mile, $2 million Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Friday, highlight of the opening day of the $28 million Breeders’ Cup Slate at Del Mar Racetrack.
Trained by Dallas Stewart and ridden by John Velazquez, Forever Unbridled surged to the lead on the outside as they turned for home then held off a charging Abel Tasman to win by half a length.
Paradise Woods was third, three lengths back.
Elate, sent off as the 2-1 favorite, finished fourth.
“The whole key was I wanted to save ground on the first turn and I was able to do that,” Velazquez said. “I got her in a comfortable position where I thought she was going well.
“At the three-eighths pole I followed Jose Ortiz’s horse (Elate) and all of a sudden she stopped and I had to go a little sooner than I wanted to. I got to the lead a little too soon for me, but it was perfect.”
Baffert said his Kentucky Oaks winner Abel Tasman “showed up” but “just got beat by a really good filly today.”
“It was a great performance by her going against older horses and it was a great performance by the winner,” Baffert said. “She really ran her heart out and just came up a touch short.”
Stewart captured his second Breeders’ Cup win. He won the same race with Unbridled Elaine in 2001.
Stellar Wind, the 5-year-old mare aiming to end her outstanding career with a Distaff win that had eluded her in two prior tries, recovered from a wobble at the start but was trapped in traffic and ultimately finished last in the eight-horse field.
“We were in a good spot, but today just wasn’t her day,” jockey Victor Espinoza said of Stellar Wind, who had notched three Grade One victories in three previous starts this year.
The setback left trainer John Sadler in search of a first Breeders’ Cup win in 40 starts.
The Distaff capped the four-race opening day of action in the $28 million Breeders’ Cup.
Saturday’s nine-race slate concludes with the $6 million Classic.
Forever Unbridled wins Breeders’ Cup Distaff
Forever Unbridled wins Breeders’ Cup Distaff
