Team Valor International’s UNBRIDLED BELLE (Broken Vow) completed the first
half of her reported swan song with an easy score in Saturday’s
$109,000 Turnback the Alarm H. (G3) at Aqueduct. The Grade 1-winning six-year-old is
expected to conclude her career in the Falls City H. (G2) at Churchill Downs on
Thanksgiving Day, November 26.
Tucked in behind rivals through the opening six furlongs, the 1-2 favorite
swung three-wide turning for home and drew off handily to win by four lengths in
a time of 1:50 1/5 for nine furlongs on the fast main track. She returned $3,
$2.40 and $2.10 while keying exotics of $10 (exacta), $25.20 (trifecta) and
$143.40 (2-4-5-7 superfecta).
“She was on the bridle the whole way,” winning jockey Ramon Dominguez said.
“She gave me a good run and in the last eighth I just wrapped up on her.”
Weathered (Key Contender), the 9-2 second choice who set early splits of :24
3/5, :49 and 1:12 1/5, held second by 1 3/4 lengths and returned $3.70 and
$2.80. Way with Words (Sefapiano), the 9-1 fourth choice, was 2 1/4 lengths
clear in third and paid $3.40. Nicksappealinglady (Successful Appeal), Manitoba
Miss (D’wildcat), Sweet and Flawless (Unbridled’s Song), Dean Henry (Empire
Maker) and Dattts Our Girl (Thunder Gulch) completed the order of finish.
Unbridled Belle enjoyed her finest season in 2007 when winning the Beldame S.
(G1) and Delaware H. (G2), and also counts two wins in the Obeah S. (G3) and one
score in the Go for Wand S., both at Delaware Park. She’s placed twice in the
Personal Ensign S. (G1) and in two other editions of the Delaware H., and
preceded this victory with a second in the October 3 Beldame. She’s now
bankrolled $1,893,728 from a line of 24-8-4-4.
Bred in Kentucky by Joe Sutton and Laszlo Makk, the dark bay is out of stakes
winner Little Bold Belle (Silver Buck) and has a yearling half-brother by Strong
Hope and a weanling half-brother by Bernardini. Little Bold Belle is herself a
full sister to multiple Grade 3 winner Classic Endeavor and a half-sister to
Grade 1-placed multiple stakes winner B. B. Best (Yes It’s True).