1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 www.fairgroundsracecourse.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Graham Ross, Staff Writer, 504.948.1255, graham.ross@fgno.com
Untapable, unbridled forever set for face-off in 48th running of $400,000 fair Grounds oaks
By Graham Ross, Staff Writer
Five of the last nine Fair Grounds Oaks winners have gone on to victory in the Grade I Kentucky Oaks, run one day before the Kentucky Derby, underlying the importance of this premiere New Orleans event for 3-year-old members of the distaff set. Significantly, Untapable and Unbridled Forever were the first and third choices respectively in the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager.
Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen, is the currently-active sole leader in points toward the Kentucky Oaks. Unbridled Forever is a foal out of 2006 Kentucky Oaks winner Lemons Forever. Veteran trainer Dallas Stewart, born in McComb, Mississippi, has handled the careers of both mother and daughter.
Untapable will be ridden by three-time Fair Grounds jockey champion Rosie Napravnik and break from the rail while Unbridled Forever, who will break from the outside in the five-horse field, has the riding services of Robby Albarado, the only jockey in Fair Grounds history to have won seven riding titles in the Crescent City.
In spite of the attractive Untapable-Unbridled Forever match up, the Kentucky Oaks could be more than a two-horse race. The late Clarence Scharbauer Jr’s Fiftyshadeofgold, trained by Bret Calhoun, was undefeated as a juvenile until victimized by a rough trip in Saratoga’s Grade II Adirondack Stakes where she was advanced through a disqualification. Fiftyshadesofgold returned as a winner this season in Sam Houston’s $75,000 Two Altazano Stakes, scoring by 2 ½-lengths while less than fully extended. The Texas-bred gray filly will break from the #3 post under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Fox Hill Farms’ Mary Rita, a late-developing daughter of Distorted Humor, broke her maiden here Jan 25 and advanced out of the her next condition Feb. 21 with a 1 ¾-length score.. Larry Jones is the trainer. Kerwin Clark is the rider for Mary Rita and she will break from post #2.
A surprising supplementary nomination to the Fair Grounds Oaks was made by trainer Wes Hawley on behalf of Dan Brown and Wes Hawley’s Artist Cry. She is a Louisiana-bred filly who has won all three of her starts this year over the Stall-Wilson turf course in restricted company and will leave from the #4 post.
About Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots
Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, the nation’s third-oldest racetrack, has been in operation since 1872. Located in New Orleans, Fair Grounds is owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ Global Select Market: CHDN); it also operates a slot-machine gaming facility and 11 off-track betting parlors throughout southeast Louisiana. The 142nd Thoroughbred Racing Season – highlighted by the 101st running of the $1 million Louisiana Derby - will run from November 22, 2013 through March 30, 2014. More information can be found online at www.FairGroundsRaceCourse.com.
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