Unbridled’s Note captures his first turf start in the Eddie D. Stakes
Mike McCarty’s 3-year-old colt, Unbridled’s Note was finally coming to terms with the dirt surface after a win and two third place finishes in graded company, but conditioner Steven Asmussen decided to go with turf in the Grade 3, $100,000 Eddie D Stakes, seeing his colt coming good in fine style on the opening day of Santa Anita’s fall meet.
Unbridled’s Song’s son raced over the Santa Anita’s hillside turf course for the first time, and loved every inch of it, as he swept past the pacesetter, Chosen Miracle in deep stretch to win by 1 ¼ lengths in a field of 12 at 3 to 1.
Over firm going, Unbridled’s Note was most impressive in his first start against older horses, and was quick enough to time the 6 ½ furlong distance in 1 minute and 12.45 seconds.
Previously known as the Morvich Stakes, the Eddie D Stakes was named after the Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Delahoussaye.
"It's an honor to win this race," Nakatani said. "Eddie was one of the guys I idolized when I first started. It's good to get that first stakes win for the meet out of the way. This horse is a good enough horse to put me in the position I needed to be in to win. The key is if they handle it (the turf), and he handled it just fine. It's Eddie D.'s day today, though. He's a great asset to the sport."
Out of Siberian Express mare Siberian Fur, Unbridled’s Note broke from the far outside, and was pulled back by Nakatani, who seemed content to stalk leaders, while racing in fourth.
Chosen Miracle stole the lead from Comma to the Top, and led by 1 ½ lengths, while the 31 to 1 long shot, Canuletmedowneasy, pushed the two to carve fractions of 22.30 seconds for the opening quarter mile, and 44.28 seconds for the half mile.
The eventual winner moved to striking position when Chosen Miracle responded to a challenge by Canuletmedowneasy, and in all the commotion, space opened up for Unbridled’s Note and Nakatani decided to seize the advantage.
Unbridled’s Note held on to the lead until the wire, and landed his first turf outing, courtesy of a perfect trip.
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