Dr Post Earns His Degree in Unbridled

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – The other five runners put him through his paces, but St. Elias Stable’s Dr Post earned his degree with a hard-fought victory in Saturday’s inaugural $75,000 Unbridled Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Breaking from post 3 as the even-money favorite under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Dr Post was sandwiched between Necker Island on the rail and Relentless Dancer heading into the clubhouse turn. Ahead of them, Americanus posted opening fractions of :24.07, :47.47, and 1:10.79, with Soros moving up halfway through to apply outside pressure. 

Down the backstretch, Americanus moved forward and drifted in slightly, forcing Dr Post to check off of heels. Ortiz, Jr., responded by taking back and angling outside of that foe to run three-wide, but heading into the far turn, Attachment Rate came along his outside. Attachment Rate’s move forced the favorite to wait for running room, as the two front-runners were blocking a straight path forward.

Near the top of the stretch, Dr Post found a glimpse of running room to Soros’ outside and pushed his way between that foe and Attachment Rate. They straightened for home four-wide, but Soros soon gave way shortly before Americanus drifted up off of the rail.

The trio dueled briefly in the stretch, but with 1/16 of a mile left, Dr Post surged between foes before drawing off in hand to score the victory. The Todd Pletcher trainee crossed 1 1/2 lengths clear in a final time of 1:43.07 for the 1 1/16-mile event over the fast main track.

Attachment Rate stayed on for second, 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Americanus. Necker Island, Relentless Dancer, and Soros completed the order of finish. South Bend was scratched.

Dr Post’s win was his second in as many 2020 starts, having broken his maiden here on March 29 in a 7-furlong dirt sprint, and improved his overall record to 3-2-0-0 with $76,635 earned. The 3-year-old son of Quality Road debuted last July but missed the rest of the season due to a minor setback, but Pletcher seems to have him healthy and ready for his next step toward a possible start in September’s Kentucky Derby (G1).

Dr Post returned $4.20 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.10 to show. Attachment Rate brought back $2.80 to place and $2.40 to show, while Americanus paid $3.60 to show.