Unbridled

Unbridled (FL)
March 5, 1987
(Fappiano – Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux)

Bred in Florida by Tartan Stable, Unbridled broke his Maiden on debut and rounded out his two-year-old campaign with a win in the What a Pleasure Stakes. He won his first Graded Stakes less than three months later in the Florida Derby (G1) before winning the Kentucky Derby (starting a rivalry with Summer Squall who finished second), finishing second in the Preakness (to Summer Squall), fourth in the Belmont, and ending the year on a high note with a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He was named Champion 3-Year-Old Colt and raced 7 more times as a 4-year-old, winning 2 of those starts.

He entered stud at Gainesway Farm in 1992, later moving to Claiborne Farm, producing a total of 437 foals, 292 runners, 183 winners, and 38 stakes winners, including Grindstone (1996 Kentucky Derby), Red Bullet (2000 Preakness Stakes), Empire Maker (2003 Belmont Stakes), Unbridled’s Song (1995 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile), and Niigon (2004 Queen’s Plate).

He underwent two surgeries for intestinal issues in September of 2001, the first removing 3 feet of his intestines. On October 19, however, just two weeks after his second surgery, he succumbed to severe colic and was euthanized, laid to rest at Claiborne Farm.

Starts: 24-8-6-6
Earnings: $4,489,475
—
Breeder: Tartan Farms Corp.
Owner: Frances A. Genter Stable, Inc.
—
Jockey: Craig Perret
Trainer: Carl Nafzger

Merits & Awards

1990 Champion 3-yr-old Colt
1st – 1990 Breeders’ Cup Classic
4th – 1990 Belmont Stakes
2nd – 1990 Preakness Stakes
1st – 1990 Kentucky Derby
Graded Stakes Winner