Unrivaled Belle was resting comfortably in her stall Sunday morning, one
day after she broke her withers after falling backwards in the paddock while
waiting to be saddled prior to the Ogden Phipps. The 5-year-old mare, who won
six of her 14 starts and more than $1.9 million, will be retired, said Hall of
Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“I’ve had horses come back from that
and race and even win a stakes,” said Mott. “It’s not an uncommon thing. But
with her, the year would be practically over.”
Unrivaled Belle will have several
weeks of stall rest, and then will likely go to co-owner Peter Vegso’s farm in
Ocala before being bred, said assistant trainer Leanna Williford.
Williford added the Mott-trained Royal
Delta, winner of three of four starts, including the Grade 2 Black-Eyed
Susan, will miss Saturday’s Grade 1 Mother Goose with a bruised foot.
“We’ll look at the [Grade 1 TVG]
Coaching Club American Oaks and the [Grade 1 TVG] Alabama,” said Williford. The
1 1/8-mile TVG Coaching Club American Oaks is on July 23 while the 1 ¼-mile TVG
Alabama is on August 20, both at Saratoga Race Course.