Oaks Post #9: Unbridled Mistress

It’s most unusual in the sim world for a top class filly to undergo a change of owner / trainer approaching what is the most significant race in the animal’s career, but that has happened here with texasace taking over the Unbridled Mistress training duties while fatattack concentrates on guiding the fortunes of a full stable of young and lightly raced charges. The change of stable should not prove too traumatic however, as she’ll now being sharing lodgings with the likes of Horseshoe Bay and Red Tejas.

The Unbridled Mistress story begins with the decision of fatattack to use the quality bloodlines of Awesome Again / Unbridled / Alydar on a two year old scratch breeding. She raced eight times in the fatattack colors before being recently transferred to texasace.

Beginning her career in California, Unbridled Mistress showed enormous ability right from the outset. Her debut maiden appearance was over the mile in week 2622, and she had no trouble disposing of her opposition on that occasion, winning comfortably by more than four lengths. Four weeks later she lined up at the same venue, but this time against eight opponents in a black type feature. Once again she displayed her fighting abilities, leading that field home by a length and a quarter. Another four weeks between starts and a road trip to Arizona for the Grade 2 – Mistaken Soda Identity Stakes. Was it the track she didn’t like? Was she stepped up in class too quickly? Whatever the reason, she put in the worst performance of her career, finishing tenth in her only run to date which failed to produce a prize check. Given six weeks to recover from that run, and returning to the scene of her two early successes, she was to round out her two year old season with a second in a stakes race.

2006 arrived and Unbridled Mistress was given a lightweight introduction to three year old racing, going around at a short price in a six horse NW3L allowance, and treating that day’s opposition with the contempt expected from a short priced favorite. An unusual preparation for her next race which was at that time, the toughest assignment set, as her next appearance, three weeks hence, was the Grade 1 – Sweet Nanette Stakes in New Jersey. She went into this race at 8/1, the longest price of her career to date, but she was oblivious to goings on the betting ring, and once again greeted the judge. This victory was really something special. With her quality breeding and a Grade 1 victory on the CV, she was now one of the most valuable fillies in racing. The victory also ensured qualification for this race, the pinnacle for three year old fillies. Connections could now put away the need to get her into the event, and concentrate on having her fit and ready when it counts, Bluegrass Oaks day. Her two lead ups for this day, Arkansas’ Fantasia Handicap – G2 and Pennsylvania’s lool Oaks – G1 both resulted in fourth placings against full fields. Florida’s top jockey, V.Gardner is in Kentucky for the big day and is sure to give her a superb ride.

Unbridled Mistress will be looking to add to her record of four wins from eight, and to almost double her winnings of $405,000 this weekend. Her racing style suggests she’s likely to race within a couple of lengths of the pace. Fostfang and Biter Hollandia are likely to fight for the lead, while most of the field will be content to drop out early. Unbridled Mistress and A.P. Sadler are the logical pair to slot in behind the leaders and be in perfect position to pounce when the pressure is applied. 14/1 looks extremely generous odds for the recent winner of the Sweet Nanette. Although she doesn’t come into this with the best current form, she’s proven to be competitive at this level of racing, her racing has been nicely spaced and she’s been prepared by two of the sim’s legends.