Etched makes his mark in return

The five-year-old Etched, who advanced his mark to 8-6-0-0, $407,586, first

burst onto the scene during his unbeaten juvenile season in 2007. A 6 3/4-length

debut winner, the chestnut captured the Nashua S. (G3) by 6 1/2 lengths in his

subsequent outing for McLaughlin and earned a promotion to the Godolphin

operation. Etched was shipped to Dubai, but failed to sparkle in his only start

for Saeed bin Suroor, finishing fourth in the 2008 U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas

(UAE-G3). He resurfaced with McLaughlin nine months later and got back on the

winning track with a half-length score in an allowance/optional claiming event

at Aqueduct.

Shelved for another nine months, Etched made a belated return at the 2009

Saratoga meet, winning an allowance/optional claimer. That served as a perfect

prep for the Meadowlands Cup (G2) in October, which he garnered by a hard-fought

neck. Etched made his third start off the layoff in the aforementioned Clark,

where he was involved in the early pace before giving way badly.

In light of his Meadowlands Cup victory, Etched looms as a logical candidate

for the replacement event, the $300,000 Monmouth Cup (G2) on October 9.

The Kentucky-bred Etched is the only foal to race so far out of 2001 Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1)

winner Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled's Song), who earned $1,770,740 from an

11-6-2-1 career line. Unbridled Elaine is a half-sister to Grade 1 heroine and

$1.2 million earner Glitter Woman (Glitterman), the dam of 2007 Suburban H. (G1)

winner Political Force (Unbridled's Song). She is also a half-sister to

Gwenjinsky (Cape Town), the dam of multiple Grade 2 queen Lead Story (Editor's

Note) and stakes victor Capejinsky (Cape Town).

Unbridled Elaine's most recent offspring are a juvenile colt named Blunt

(Distorted Humor), an unnamed yearling colt by Discreet Cat and a 2010 colt by

Distorted Humor.