Circle Unbroken gives trainer rare sweep with Bashford Manor win

Circle Unbroken gives trainer rare sweep with Bashford Manor

win

"Making history like that would be more important for my kids,"

Simms said earlier this week. "Down the road they can look back and talk about it. That would

mean the most to me. It's about my family and my owners now. It's not about

me anymore."

Circle Unbroken is named for Simms' close knit friends, who have been a

support system during his multiple myeloma fight.

"All I've really got to say is that I've been very blessed," Simms said.

"Once again, it's all about my owners and my family and God. This horse, Circle

Unbroken, is named for the circle of people I had around me that have supported

me the last couple of years during my roughest times.

"It was a big step forward today. I had total confidence in the horse.

Everyone was asking me about coming back in 13 days and this and that. But good

racehorses find a way to win. There is a proverb that says 'You can prepare your

horse for battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.'"

The colt was sent off the near 5-2 favorite in the Bashford Manor and rallied

between rivals in upper stretch after stalking the pace on the backstretch.

The dark bay son of Broken Vow drifted in a bit nearing the wire, but had

plenty left to hold Positively and move his record to a perfect two-for-two

while returning $6.80, $3.80 and $2.80 to his faithful supporters.

Positively had 1 1/4 lengths to spare on near 5-2 second choice Special Jo

on the wire, while Hightail, Good Tickled, Roman's Avenue, Praetorian

Prefect and Go Jack Go completed the order of finish.

"He's a nice colt," said Pat Byrne, trainer of Positively. "He's going to

improve off of this and I think the horse that beat us (Circle Unbroken)

could be a serious racehorse. He was the fastest horse going in and this was

a tough group -- it was a tough Bashford Manor. Anytime you get beat by a

good horse it's never a big deal. We're just happy he showed up. He's got an

incredible pedigree and now he's been second in a Grade 3, so it's all good.

He finished and galloped out good."

Circle Unbroken broke his maiden under the Twin Spires just 13 days ago, and

pushed his earnings to $94,534 when taking his stakes bow Saturday. The

Florida-bred was purchased by Simms, acting Morgeson's agent, for $92,000 from

his breeder, Brylnn Farm Inc., at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is

the first stakes winner out of the multiple Grade 3-placed stakes-winning

Doneraile Court mare Baldomera.

"It's the second most I've ever paid for a horse," Simms said earlier this

week. "I just loved the horse. I usually look for bargains, but there was just

something about this horse. He's almost a perfect specimen, as far as

conformation goes. He has a few little flaws, but not many. He had the perfect

eye, attitude, walk...he had everything I like in a horse. I was going to get

him and I probably would have paid more than I did."

Circle Unbroken's fifth dam is Strip Poker, who is best known for producing

unbeaten champion Landaluce. This female family is also responsible for Grade 1

scorers Harmonious and Startac.

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