Forever Unbridled, sophomores highlight brilliant Breeders’ Cup Friday

A gutsy half-length victory by Forever Unbridled in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) capped off a stellar Breeders’ Cup Friday at Del Mar.

The Charles Fipke homebred held off fast-closing three-year-old filly Abel Tasman to secure the win and go three-for-three thus far in 2017 for trainer Dallas Stewart. Forever Unbridled likely wrapped up champion older female honors as well when finishing the nine-furlong contest in 1:50.25 under John Velazquez.

Abel Tasman led home the sophomore brigade in the Distaff, with Paradise Woods, Elate, Mopotism and Champagne Room filling the next spots under the wire. In doing so, the Bob Baffert pupil likely ended the discussion on champion three-year-old filly of 2017.

Two races earlier, sophomore Battle of Midway defeated his elders at 14-1 in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. The bay son of Smart Strike ran down pacesetter Sharp Azteca to score by a half-length with Flavien Prat aboard.

The juvenile fillies kicked off Breeders’ Cup Friday, with Rushing Fall rallying for a three-quarter length triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) under Javier Castellano. Trained by Chad Brown for eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, the More Than Ready miss moved her career line to a perfect three-for-three.

Mendelssohn hit a winning note for Coolmore and trainer Aidan O’Brien when capturing the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf (G1) by a length as the near 5-1 favorite. The Scat Daddy colt had jockey Ryan Moore holding the reins as he powered home to finish a mile on the turf in 1:35.97.