Barn Notes: Friday, March 2

 

•              Forever Unbridled Continues Dubai World Cup Preparations

•              Devine Mischief Impresses Sharp

•              Margolis Makes Plans For Top Horses

 

CHAMPION FOREVER UNBRIDLED CONTINUES DUBAI WORLD CUP PREPARATIONS

Last week, Champion Older Dirt Mare Forever Unbridled put in her most serious work for a start in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) on Mar. 31, but on Friday morning trainer Dallas Stewart was looking for just a basic work out of the 6-year-old daughter of Unbridled’s Song which is exactly what he got.

Forever Unbridled hit the main track around 6:00 a.m. and logged a five-furlong work over the Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in 1:01.40, the ninth fastest of 36 recorded works at the distance.

“She was even the whole way, galloped out well,” Stewart said. “It was a basic breeze for her. She needed a good rhythm and she needs to train. It was a good work, she came back good and didn’t struggle through any part of it.”

Stewart went on to say that Forever Unbridled is scheduled to ship out on Monday, Mar. 19.

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 dual 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.

Also bound for Dubai, Live Oak Plantation’s Holding Gold worked a half-mile in :48.20 over the Fair Grounds main track. Trained by Mark Casse, the three-time stakes winning son of Lonhro (Aus.) is scheduled to race in the $1 million Al Quoz Sprint (UAE-I). Last time out, Holding Gold won the Colonel Power Overnight Stakes over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course on Feb. 17.

 

DEVINE MISCHIEF IMPRESSES SHARP

Breeze Easy LLC’s Devine Mischief made a big turnaround in her second career start on Thursday afternoon when breaking her maiden by 6 ½ lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight event over the main track.

Trained by Joe Sharp, the 3-year-old full sister to 2014 Gr. II Louisiana Derby winner Vicar’s In Trouble was a troubled fourth in her career debut, which took place on Feb. 8.

“Honestly in (jockey) Chris (Emigh’s) defense, the one hole is tough for a first timer starter so it was more of the post than it was the trip,” Sharp said. “She definitely got an education with that and it was nice to see her have more of a target. She got a clean trip. Based off this race, I think that she’ll definitely stretch out.”

She was guided by jockey Adam Beschizza on Thursday afternoon.

Sharp went on to say that Devine Mischief would likely stretch out in her next career start

“I’ll have to speak to the owners, but I wouldn’t hesitate to stretch her out off of that effort,” Sharp said.

Earlier in the meet Sharp and owner Breeze Easy LLC teamed up with impressive maiden winner Smart Response, who broke her maiden over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course on Feb. 9.

 

MARGOLIS MAKES PLANS FOR TOP HORSES

Trainer Steve Margolis has begun to map out plans for several of the top contenders in his barn.

Two-time winner over the Stall-Wilson Turf Course Kabella, who worked a half-mile in :47.80 on Thursday morning, remains on target for next Saturday’s $50,000 Allen LaCombe Overnight Stakes.

“She worked great (Thursday),” Margolis said. “She’s ready to go. We’re going to enter her for Saturday.”

Following two unsuccessful attempts on Churchill Downs’ Road To The Kentucky Derby, Craig Aguilar’s Ebben will likely drop to allowance company for his next start.  The son of Trappe Shot finished sixth in both the Gr. III Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 13 and the Gr. II Risen Star Stakes on Feb. 17.

“Ebben came out of the Risen Star well, we kind of backed off him a little bit,” Margolis said.

“We’re going to work him next week and shoot for an allowance the opening weekend at Keeneland over the Beard Course. It’s on a Sunday (Apr. 8). If all goes well, our goal with him is to shoot for the (Gr. III $300,000) Pat Day Mile (at Churchill Downs on May 5).”

Margolis scored a stakes win with Robert and Lawanna Low’s Bourne In Nixa in Oaklawn Park’s Gazebo Stakes on Feb. 24 and the 3-year-old son of More Than Ready will likely return to the Hot Springs, Ark. oval for the $150,000 Bachelor Stakes on Apr. 12. Prior to his stakes triumph, he was third in the Big Drama Stakes at Delta Downs.

“I think we’re going to shoot for the Bachelor at Oaklawn,” Margolis said. “I think it’s a good fit because I want to keep him at one turn. It looks like he might be the sprinting type of horse. I know that Churchill has the Pat Day Mile, but I don’t know if he can get that far. The race at Delta was seven furlongs, but it was two turns and he didn’t get a great trip either.”