Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: Unbridled Sidney

May 03, 2024 Gary Yunt

Brittlyn Stable’s Ova Charged survived an early speed duel with Stone Silent and then held off a host of challengers in deep stretch to post a neck victory over Secret Money to win the 14th running of the $332,000 Unbridled Sidney (GIII) for fillies and mares Friday afternoon at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Shane Wilson and ridden by Florent Geroux, Ova Charged completed the 5 ½ furlongs on a turf course rated as yielding in 1:03.71. It was the second stakes victory of the afternoon for Geroux.

Ova Charged broke a bit slow from the gate allowing Stone Silent to take early command but Geroux immediately sent Ova Charged after the leader and the two hooked up through an opening quarter-mile in :21.91 and the half in :45.30.

Ova Charged maintained a narrow edge through the stretch with the main challenge coming from Secret Money, who found clear running to the outside of Ova Charged but never could go by.

It is the first graded stakes victory for the Louisiana homebred, fifth consecutive victory and 13th win in 16 starts.

Favored in the field of eight, Ova Charged returned $3.48, $3.22 and $2.74. Secret Money, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, returned $6.44 and $4.28 and finished a neck in front of Run for the Hills, who paid $6.74 to show under Jose Ortiz.

It was another half-length back to Medalla Match, who was followed in order by Elm Drive, Tony Ann, Stone Silent and Miss Speedy.

UNBRIDLED SIDNEY QUOTES

Florent Geroux (jockey, Ova Charged, winner) – “She didn’t break super-sharp. It took me a couple jumps to make the lead, when I was able to establish the lead, and slow it down, we were in a good spot.”

Shane Wilson (trainer, Ova Charged, winner) – “She’s so easy to train, she’s so smart, when Flo (Florent Geroux) came back, I asked him, ‘It got kind of tight there, didn’t it?’ And he said, ‘Naw, I had a lot. She just did enough to stay in front.’ She’s a very, very talented filly, and we figured out that it’s better if we don’t waste her time getting bullet workouts every morning. I train her every day, she’s very sound. We put her on the turf because her mother was actually a stakes winner on the turf. So she’ll stay on the grass.”

Tyler Gaffalione (jockey, Secret Money, second) – “My filly ran a very credible race. She ran big for us today. The filly in front (Ova Charged) she has a talent and never really came back. It just wasn’t our day and we were second best.”

Jose Ortiz (jockey, Run for the Hills, third) – “Passing the eighth pole, I thought I had good momentum in the middle of the track. I was happy with my trip as I was able to save some ground. I swung to the outside, got in the clear and she gave me a great run. I just couldn’t get there.”