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October 1, 2007


UNBRIDLED BELLE “WINS” AND IS “IN” BREEDERS’ CUP,
TALL 4YO FILLY COPS $600,000 W-F-A BELDAME STAKES,
KENTUCKY-BRED IS STABLE’S 15TH GRADE 1 WINNER


Unbridled Belle showed uncommon grit and determination to best stablemate in Beldame.
(photo credit - Brandon Benson)
Unbridled Belle overcame a troubled trip to nail barn mate Indian Vale approaching the finishing post to score a convincing triumph in the historic Beldame Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The 17-hands daughter of Broken Vow ran right up to her best, equaling her career-best Beyer of 104 crafted when she won the Delaware Handicap two starts back.

The Grade 1 fixture was renewed with an enhancement of the fillip that the winner received an automatic starting berth in the Breeders’ Cup’s “Win and You’re In” Challenge series.

Carrying the famous international silks of Team Valor, the 4-year-old filly flashed under the wire with a head to spare over Indian Vale. Both runners are trained by Todd Pletcher.

Under the weight-for-age conditions of the race, all starters shouldered 123 pounds. All of the horses in the race were 4-year-old fillies, except Indian Vale, who is a 5-year-old mare.

The field was considered the strongest put together this season in the United States, as it included all of the top fillies in the nation with the exception of the West Coast super star Nashoba’s Key, who raced on grass the day before when winning the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon, and the Pletcher-trained 3-year-old filly Octave, who tasted defeat the week before in the Grade 2 Cotillion.

The division’s leader, Bobby Frankel-trained Ginger Punch, was sent postward as the even-money favorite. She stalked in fourth and fifth early, made her move to contention around the final turn to vie for the lead with Indian Vale, then could not keep pace late to finish third, beaten about 2 ½ lengths.

West Coast invader Balance, owned by former Team Valor partner John Ammerman, was sent postward as the 3 to 1 second choice, looked a bit burly in the preliminaries, and wound up running evenly to finish fourth, beaten about 7 lengths.


Turning for home, towering Unbridled Belle tries to stay off the heels of Ginger Punch.
(photo credit - Adam Coglianese)
It is no secret that Todd Pletcher considered Indian Vale his best filly or mare this season, but when Unbridled Belle defeated her arch rival for a third consecutive time on Sunday and was dispatched at lower odds, it signaled the end of her designation as the “other Pletcher.”

Barry Irwin, principal of Team Valor International, said “I think that because Pletcher’s go-to rider Johnny Velazquez was aboard Indian Vale in her last 3 starts, outsiders habitually concluded that Indian Vale must be the stable’s choice.

“Fact of the matter is, Team Valor itself has no arrangement with Velazquez and the mount aboard Unbridled Belle’s has always belonged to Ramon Dominguez.”

Unbridled Belle hinted that she had the stuff to scale the heights in the Distaff division this season when she roared home a nearly 8-length winner of the $1-million Delaware Handicap.

Although flat for the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga, she did rally to pass Indian Vale for second in her race prior to the Beldame.

Prize money of $360,000 in the Beldame, pushed the filly’s career earnings to $1.2 million and her seasonal earnings to more than $1 million.

Unbridled Belle became Grade 1 winner number 15 for a runner syndicated by Barry Irwin since 1987. Earlier she had become one of the stable’s 46 Grade 1 horse when placing in the Grade 1 Personal Ensign at Saratoga.

Since 1987, better than 1 out of every 7 runners for the stable has at least placed in a Grade 1 event worldwide.

Barry Irwin said “She has to be considered the one to beat in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, especially if Nashoba’s Key goes in the grass race. We plan to race her next season.”