Multiple Grade 1 queen Forever Unbridled is set to make her five-year-old debut on Saturday facing eight rivals in the $200,000 Fleur de Lis Handicap (G2) at Churchill Downs on Stephen Foster Night.
Trained by Dallas Stewart, Forever Unbridled was last seen rallying for third in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) at Santa Anita Park on November 4. While no match for superstars Beholder and Songbird on that occasion, the Unbridled’s Song mare easily held multiple Grade 1 heroine Stellar Wind to fourth by 2 1/2 lengths.
Forever Unbridled returns to Churchill Downs for only the third time in her career. The Kentucky homebred ran second in her racing debut under the Twin Spires and finished 11th in the 2015 Kentucky Oaks (G1). Joel Rosario has been aboard for her past four starts and retains the mount on Saturday.
Big World and Romantic Vision finished one-two, respectively, in the La Troienne Stakes (G1) over a sloppy, sealed track last out on Kentucky Oaks Day, and line back up here for another try at an upset.
The Tom Amoss-trained Big World was sent off at 7-1 in the La Troienne, but pulled off a wire-to-wire victory that extended her current win streak to four straight. Florent Geroux stays in the saddle for this nine-furlong affair.
Romantic Vision was saddled to a runner-up effort at 15-1 in the La Troienne by trainer Rusty Arnold after taking an allowance/optional claimer at Keeneland on April 9. The Lemon Drop Kid mare gets a jockey switch to Julien Leparoux in the Fleur de Lis.
Like Big World, Walkabout is exiting an unexpected win at Churchill. The Ian Wilkes pupil rallied from the rear of the Matron Stakes (G3) on May 20 at 5-1 to score a neck victory under returning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. She’ll once again face fellow Matron runners Crooked Stick (fourth), Weep No More (fifth) and Tiger Moth (sixth) in this spot.
Completing the Fleur de Lis field are Grade 3 victress Carrumba, runner-up last out in the Allaire duPont Distaff (G3) at Pimlico, and stakes debuter Apologynotaccepted, who is riding a three-race win streak.
Be sure to place your Fleur de Lis bet to back your pick!
