When Red Oak Stable’s
Unbridled Essence won the Taylor Made Matchmaker Stakes last year, she was 41-1
and it came as a complete surprise to a lot of people. When she started in last
Monday’s Grade 3 Violet Stakes, the odds were 17-1 and again she ran lights
out.
Now it’s doubtful if bettors
will get more than 4-1 when she goes for a repeat in the $200,000 Matchmaker
(G3) for fillies and mares on Sunday, July 31.
The 5-year-old mare by
Essence of Dubai demonstrated her affection for Monmouth’s turf course once
again in the Violet, charging from well off the pace to fall a nose short of
victory.
“She ran as well as we could
have expected,” trainer Gregg Sacco said. “She fired fresh, she loves this
track, so now we’ll wait for the Matchmaker.”
In the Violet, with Carlos Marquez
Jr. aboard for the first time, Unbridled Essence was last of seven through a
slow first quarter. On the turn for home, she was forced to go three wide into
the stretch and her strong late charge just fell short as Denomination proved
two inches the best.
“She came back great in that
race, just a whisker short,” Sacco said. “We’re happy to have her back to where
she was last year.”