Unbridled’s Song joined the century club in a big way Saturday when Graydar scored an electrifying win in the $500,000 Donn H. (G1) at Gulfstream Park, becoming the 100th career stakes winner and 15th Grade 1 winner for the elite sire.
Only 27 sires all time in North America have reached the landmark total of 100 lifetime stakes winners, and just 10 active sires worldwide have accomplished the feat. Unbridled’s Song is now included among both elite lists.
“Unbridled’s Song has been such a great sire, and our entire team at Taylor Made could not be more proud of him for accomplishing such a landmark of 100 stakes winners for a sire,” said Ben Taylor, Vice President of Taylor Made Stallions. “I want to thank all of the breeders, owners, trainers and all other horsemen who have shared a hand in Unbridled’s Song’s success.”
Fittingly, a talented, big gray colt won a big Grade 1 event at Gulfstream Park to become the 100th stakes winner for Unbridled’s Song, who himself captured the Grade 1 Florida Derby in similar fashion during his illustrious racing career.
For Graydar, Saturday’s Donn win was accomplished wire-to-wire, and accomplished in his stakes debut. The 4-year-old colt cruised through quick early fractions before pulling away impressively in the stretch. He powered to the wire a decisive three-length winner over a top group of older horses, stopping the clock in 1:48.25 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast local main track.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Graydar’s Grade 1 triumph earned $300,000 for owners Twin Creeks Racing Stables, LLC – also the owners of the narrow 2012 Donn runner-up Mission Impazible, who is also by Unbridled’s Song. Graydar, who was close to the one-mile track record earlier in the Gulfstream meet when winning an allowance race, was bred by William Farish out of the Dehere mare Sweetest Smile.
Among the 100 stakes winners by Unbridled’s Song are 44 Graded stakes winners and 15 Grade 1 winners. He has also sired three Breeders’ Cup winners, 2010 Breeders’ Cup Ladies’ Classic (G1) victress Unrivaled Belle, 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) winner Unbridled Elaine, and 2008 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Midshipman, the Eclipse 2-Year-Old Champion that year. Over the past 12 months, Unbridled’s Song has sired 10 individual stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Emcee, Grade 3 winners Noble Tune and Unbridled’s Note, and recent 3-year-old added-money winners Will Take Charge and Melody Lady.
From 14 crops to race, Unbridled’s Song has sired more than 700 winners from just over 1000 lifetime starters, with nearly $86 million in progeny earnings to date. On the racetrack, the most accomplished son of Unbridled was a leading juvenile and a leading 3-year-old. He captured the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at two, and won the Wood Memorial (G2) at three to go along with his Florida Derby (G1) win.
Out of the Caro (Ire) mare Trolley Song, Unbridled’s Song stands at Taylor Made Stallions in Nicholasville, KY for a fee of $60,000 live foal, payable stands and nurses.
