Unbridled Elaine (USA)
March 15, 1998 – 2016
Unbridled’s Song USA) x Carol’s Folly (USA), by Taylor’s Falls (USA)
Family 12-b*
March 15, 1998 – 2016
Unbridled’s Song USA) x Carol’s Folly (USA), by Taylor’s Falls (USA)
Family 12-b*
Unbridled’s Elaine only rose to the top level once, but that once was in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (USA-G1). After breaking in the air and meeting with traffic trouble, she managed to overhaul defending Distaff winner Spain in the final strides to win by a head. She raced only once after her signature win before being retired to the paddocks, where she did well, producing three graded/Group stakes winners.
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$1,770,740
2000:
2001:
Assessments
Rated at 111 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 12 pounds below champion Caressing.
Rated at 124 pounds among 3-year-olds of 2001 by Timeform, 10 pounds below highweighted Galileo and Point Given and 5 pounds below the top filly, Banks Hill.
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2001 International Classifications for 3-year-olds, 10 pounds below highweighted Point Given and 3 pounds below top-rated filly Banks Hill.
As an individual
A tall, leggy gray mare with a long stride, Unbridled Elaine developed ankle problems late in her 3-year-old season and was retired in February 2002 after a chip was found in her left fore ankle that would have required surgery. (Another chip, this in her right fore, was actually detected first but was determined not to need treatment.)
As a producer:
Unbridled Elaine produced 10 named foals, of which five started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Unbridled Elaine was bred by Golden Orb Farm and K. David Schwartz. A US$230,000 purchase as a weanling from the 1998 Keeneland November sale, she was owned by Roger J. Devenport. She was initially trained by Dallas Stewart but was turned over th David Vance after running fourth in the 2001 Acorn Stakes, her first attempt at Grade 1 company. She was returned to Stewart's barn one week before the distaff because Devenport was unhappy with Vance not having shipped her to Belmont earlier after her fourth-place finish in the Spinster Stakes (USA-G1). She was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff by Pat Day. Unbridled Elaine was sold to Darley for US$4.4 million through the 2004 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Forestry. She died in 2016.
Pedigree notes
Unbridled Elaine is inbred 5x3 to 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner In Reality, She is a half sister to 1997 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Glitter Woman (by Glitterman), dam of 2007 Suburban Handicap (USA-G1) winner Political Force (by Unbridled’s Song). Unbridled Elaine is also a half sister to Gwenjinsky (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Lead Story (by Editor’s Note), listed stakes winner Capejinsky (by Capetown), and restricted stakes winner Prize Catch (by A.P. Indy).
Unbridled Elaine and her sisters were produced from stakes winner Carols Folly, whose sire Taylor’s Falls (by In Reality) won two stakes races and was a good regional sire in the Midwest. Carols Folly, in turn, was produced from No Trespassing (by multiple Grade 3 winner Bob’s Dusty, by Dust Commander), whose half sister Private Screening is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Kevin’s Turn (by Turn and Count). The next dam in Unbridled Elaine’s tail-female line, the winning Traffic Judge mare Private Parking, is a half sister to 1973 Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G2) winner Aljamin (by Delta Judge) and to stakes winner Pure Platinum (by Singh), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Purely Cozzene. The female line traces back to 1956 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Swoon.
*Unbridled Elaine's branch of Bruce Lowe Family 12-b has traditionally been attributed to a daughter of Jack of Diamonds listed among the produce of Diana, a daughter of the Cullen Arabian who was imported to the USA between 1762 and 1766; however, mtDNA evidence from her descendants (who all trace through an unnamed daughter of Tranby foaled about 1835) shows a different haplotype than that found among Thoroughbreds tracing tail-female to Diana's matrilineal relatives. The two therefore cannot be connected in direct tail-female line. Diana did have two well-documented daughters whose pedigrees are not questioned, but their direct female descent is extinct.
Adding to the confusion, there appear to have been not one but two unnamed daughters of Jack of Diamonds at the root of matrilineal lines traditionally ascribed to Diana, and mtDNA evidence indicates that their female lineages are distinct from one another’s as well as from Diana's. The other Jack of Diamonds mare's known descendants that have been tested for mtDNA all trace through the 1801 mare Maid of the Oaks.
Books and media
Footage of Unbridled Elaine’s come-from-behind win in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOmZII0Xyp0.
Fun facts
Last updated: February 21, 2026
Race record
11 starts, 6 wins, 2 seconds, 1 third, US$1,770,740
2000:
- Won Pocahontas Stakes (USA-L, 8FD, Churchill Downs)
2001:
- Won Breeders' Cup Distaff (USA-G1, 9FD, Belmont)
- Won Monmouth Breeders' Cup Oaks (USA-G2, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Iowa Oaks (USA-L, 8.5FD, Prairie Meadows)
- 2nd Pennsylvania Derby (USA-G3, 9FD, Philadelphia Park)
- 3rd Falls City Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Churchill Downs)
Assessments
Rated at 111 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 2000, 12 pounds below champion Caressing.
Rated at 124 pounds among 3-year-olds of 2001 by Timeform, 10 pounds below highweighted Galileo and Point Given and 5 pounds below the top filly, Banks Hill.
Rated at 120 pounds on the 2001 International Classifications for 3-year-olds, 10 pounds below highweighted Point Given and 3 pounds below top-rated filly Banks Hill.
As an individual
A tall, leggy gray mare with a long stride, Unbridled Elaine developed ankle problems late in her 3-year-old season and was retired in February 2002 after a chip was found in her left fore ankle that would have required surgery. (Another chip, this in her right fore, was actually detected first but was determined not to need treatment.)
As a producer:
Unbridled Elaine produced 10 named foals, of which five started and three won. Her important foals are as follow:
- Seresa’s Spirit (2003, by Rahy) never raced but is the second dam of 2025 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (USA-G1) winner Nysos.
- Etched (2005, by Forestry) won three graded races including the 2009 Meadowlands Cup Stakes (USA-G2) and the 2010 Monmouth Cup Stakes (USA-G2). He was exported to South Korea after six seasons at stud in Kentucky.
- Out of Bounds (2009, by Discreet Cat) won the 2012 Sham Stakes (USA-G3).
- Emotionless (2015, by Shamardal; a gelding) won the 2017 Champagne Stakes (ENG-G2).
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Unbridled Elaine was bred by Golden Orb Farm and K. David Schwartz. A US$230,000 purchase as a weanling from the 1998 Keeneland November sale, she was owned by Roger J. Devenport. She was initially trained by Dallas Stewart but was turned over th David Vance after running fourth in the 2001 Acorn Stakes, her first attempt at Grade 1 company. She was returned to Stewart's barn one week before the distaff because Devenport was unhappy with Vance not having shipped her to Belmont earlier after her fourth-place finish in the Spinster Stakes (USA-G1). She was ridden to her win in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff by Pat Day. Unbridled Elaine was sold to Darley for US$4.4 million through the 2004 Keeneland November sale, in foal to Forestry. She died in 2016.
Pedigree notes
Unbridled Elaine is inbred 5x3 to 1968 Metropolitan Handicap winner In Reality, She is a half sister to 1997 Ashland Stakes (USA-G1) winner Glitter Woman (by Glitterman), dam of 2007 Suburban Handicap (USA-G1) winner Political Force (by Unbridled’s Song). Unbridled Elaine is also a half sister to Gwenjinsky (by Nijinsky II), dam of multiple Grade 2 winner Lead Story (by Editor’s Note), listed stakes winner Capejinsky (by Capetown), and restricted stakes winner Prize Catch (by A.P. Indy).
Unbridled Elaine and her sisters were produced from stakes winner Carols Folly, whose sire Taylor’s Falls (by In Reality) won two stakes races and was a good regional sire in the Midwest. Carols Folly, in turn, was produced from No Trespassing (by multiple Grade 3 winner Bob’s Dusty, by Dust Commander), whose half sister Private Screening is the dam of multiple restricted stakes winner Kevin’s Turn (by Turn and Count). The next dam in Unbridled Elaine’s tail-female line, the winning Traffic Judge mare Private Parking, is a half sister to 1973 Vosburgh Handicap (USA-G2) winner Aljamin (by Delta Judge) and to stakes winner Pure Platinum (by Singh), second dam of multiple Grade 3 winner Purely Cozzene. The female line traces back to 1956 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Swoon.
*Unbridled Elaine's branch of Bruce Lowe Family 12-b has traditionally been attributed to a daughter of Jack of Diamonds listed among the produce of Diana, a daughter of the Cullen Arabian who was imported to the USA between 1762 and 1766; however, mtDNA evidence from her descendants (who all trace through an unnamed daughter of Tranby foaled about 1835) shows a different haplotype than that found among Thoroughbreds tracing tail-female to Diana's matrilineal relatives. The two therefore cannot be connected in direct tail-female line. Diana did have two well-documented daughters whose pedigrees are not questioned, but their direct female descent is extinct.
Adding to the confusion, there appear to have been not one but two unnamed daughters of Jack of Diamonds at the root of matrilineal lines traditionally ascribed to Diana, and mtDNA evidence indicates that their female lineages are distinct from one another’s as well as from Diana's. The other Jack of Diamonds mare's known descendants that have been tested for mtDNA all trace through the 1801 mare Maid of the Oaks.
Books and media
Footage of Unbridled Elaine’s come-from-behind win in the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Distaff can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOmZII0Xyp0.
Fun facts
- Unbridled Elaine’s edition of the Breeders’ Cup Distaff was marred by a fatal injury to Exogenous, who spooked and flipped over just inside the emergence point of the tunnel leading to the track from the paddock area. Although she had no visually obvious injuries, the multiple Grade 1 winner refused to get up and was sedated and taken from the track by horse ambulance. She proved to have a skull fracture and neurological damage from striking her head during her flip and had to be euthanized.
Last updated: February 21, 2026