Forever Unbridled gets started

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The road to a return appearance in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff for Forever Unbridled begins Saturday evening in the Grade 2, $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs.

The race marks her first start since the Distaff, where she rallied to be third behind Beholder and Songbird, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. And if she replicates that effort from November, none of her eight rivals on Saturday – a group that includes graded stakes winners Carrumba, Big World, Walkabout, and Weep No More – has much chance of keeping up.

But such a peak performance after offseason surgery to remove a chip from her left front ankle is not guaranteed. This race is her starting point of the year, and she has been breezing since only May 13.

Getting started when she did, trainer Dallas Stewart initially targeted the Grade 3 Chicago Handicap on June 24 at Churchill for her return but changed course with her surprise entry in the Fleur de Lis, a 1 1/8-mile dirt race that is a Win and You’re In race for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff; the distance better suits her.

Although her work tab leading into the Fleur de Lis is limited, with only three works of five furlongs or longer, Stewart is pleased with her training, particularly her most recent work June 10 at Churchill, where she covered five furlongs in 1:01.

“She galloped out in 1:13,” he said. “She hasn’t missed a day, has had lot of a good gallops, and this should fit her well.”

Heading the opposition are two fillies who enter off stakes wins at this meet – Big World, winner of the Grade 1 La Troienne Stakes on the Kentucky Oaks undercard, and Walkabout, who rallied from 17 lengths off the pace to score a neck victory in the Grade 3 Matron on May 20.

KEY CONTENDERS

Walkabout, by Stroll Last 3 Beyers: 84-77-79

◗ A half-sister to 2012 Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Fort Larned, she has improved with maturity, and her connections have allowed her to become a closer from the rear half of the pack. She ended her 2016 campaign with a third in the Grade 2 Falls City over the Churchill strip and is perfect in two starts in 2017. Forever Unbridled, by Unbridled’s Song Last 3 Beyers: 103-96-101

◗ Although she has never returned from a break of this length, she has performed well in routes following shorter layoffs, with two wins, a second, and a third in four such starts.

Big World, by Custom for Carlos Last 3 Beyers: 91-83-88

◗ Used her tactical speed and a sharp, hustling ride from Florent Geroux to go to the lead in the La Troienne and turn back all challengers to notch the most significant victory of her career.

◗ Is unraced at 1 1/8 miles and has never defeated a filly as accomplished as Forever Unbridled, a winner of nearly $1.6 million, but catching her off the bench could prove the equalizer.