Unbridled's Song (USA)
February 18, 1993 – July 26, 2013
Unbridled (USA) x Trolley Song (USA), by Caro (IRE)
Family 4-m
February 18, 1993 – July 26, 2013
Unbridled (USA) x Trolley Song (USA), by Caro (IRE)
Family 4-m
Unbridled's Song was one of the most talented runners of his crop, yet left the tantalizing impression that he could have been far more. While he won the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (USA-G1) and 1996 Florida Derby (USA-G1), a foot injury and subsequent infections left him at less than his best for the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1), in which he finished fifth. He continued to struggle with various issues and did not win again at 3. His 4-year-old campaign was cut short by injury and he retired to stud with a reputation for both brilliant talent and questionable soundness. His stud career was similar to his racing career: successful, but marked by concerns about the soundness of his progeny. Unbridled's Song earned a posthumous title as the American champion sire of 2017 based largely on the achievements of his son Arrogate, who catapulted his sire into an insurmountable lead in the standings with his victories in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (USA-G1) and the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1).
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,311,800
1995:
1996:
1997:
Assessments
Co-highweighted with champion Maria's Mon at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1995, 2 pounds above Hennessy.
As an individual
A gray horse (officially registered as gray or roan), Unbridled's Song stood 17 hands. Lengthy and handsome, he had a long, smooth stride and excellent natural speed.
As a stallion
Unbridled's Song's progeny typically had good speed and scope but had a reputation for lacking durability. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, he sired 934 winners (54.9%) and 117 stakes winners (6.9%) from 1700 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits the stallion with 118 stakes winners. Unbridled's Song is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
Per The Blood-Horse:
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
Notable progeny
Arrogate (USA), Buddha (USA), Embur's Song (CAN), Emcee (USA), First Defence (USA), Forever Unbridled (USA), Honor Vivian (USA), Liam's Map (USA), Magnificent Song (USA), Marylebone (USA), Midshipman (USA), Octave (USA), Political Force (USA), Songandaprayer (USA), Splendid Blended (USA), Thorn Song (USA), Unbridled Forever (USA), Unrivaled Belle (USA), Unbridled Elaine (USA), Will Take Charge (USA), Zensational (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Annapolis (USA), Cappezano (USA), Carpe Diem (USA), Civil Union (USA), Gift Box (USA), Gina Romantica (USA), Jack d'Or (JPN), Leofric (USA), Magnum Moon (USA), Maracuja (USA), Moira (CAN), Moonshine Memories (USA), My Wandy's Girl (USA), Restless Rider (USA), Rolling Fog (USA), Sixties Song (ARG), The Lumber Guy (USA), Tourist (USA), Unique Bella (USA), Volatile (USA), Voodoo Song (USA), Zabeel Prince (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Unbridled's Song was bred by Mandysland Farm. He was sold to Ernie Paragallo for US$200,000 at the 1994 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale. He was pinhooked for US$1.4 million at the 1995 Barretts Equine Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training but was turned back by buyer Hiroshi Fujita after a bone chip was detected in the colt's left front ankle. Unbridled's Song remained in Paragallo's ownership and was trained by Jim Ryerson for all but his last two starts, for which he was conditioned by Nick Zito. After breaking down while in training for the 1997 Donn Handicap (USA-G1), Unbridled's Song entered stud at Taylor Made Farms, where he remained throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed in July 2013 after he began exhibiting neurological signs caused by a large mass in his sinuses.
Pedigree notes
Unbridled's Song is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Asian Meteor, dam of Japanese Group 3 winner D'Accord (by Deep Impact) and second dam of Japanese Group 3 winners Blanc Bonheur and Bien Fait. He is a half brother to Bells Are Ringing (by Sadler's Wells), dam of Grade 3 winners Eh Cumpari (by Elusive Quality) and Ballagh Rocks (by Stormy Atlantic) as well as English stakes winner Abby Road (by Danehill). Bells Are Ringing is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Eye of a Jedi. Returning to Unbridled's Song, he is also a half brother to Meine Cosmos (by Caerleon), second dam of Grade 3 winner Faraway Kitten.
Trolley Song, the dam of Unbridled's Song, is a winning full sister to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Goldspell, dam of stakes winner Bashful Charmer (by Capote), second dam of four minor stakes winners, and third dam of 2012 Venezuelan champion sprinter Jorge Prince. She is also a half sister to English Group 3 winner Merlin's Charm (by Bold Bidder) and to Lucky Soph (by Cozzene), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Lucky Pulpit (by Pulpit).
Trolley Song is out of 1974 Princess Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky Spell (by Lucky Mel), a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Seattle Song (by Seattle Slew). Lucky Spell is also a half sister to Celebration Song (by J. O. Tobin), dam of stakes winner Let the Music Play and second dam of four stakes winners, and to Stormy Slew (by Tsunami Slew), dam of Grade 3 winner Malabar Gold (by Unbridled).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photo by Jessica Morgan, taken in 2010 at Taylor Made. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2024
Race record
12 starts, 5 wins, 4 seconds, 0 thirds, US$1,311,800
1995:
- Won Breeders' Cup Juvenile Stakes (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Belmont)
1996:
- Won Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Wood Memorial Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Aqueduct)
- 2nd Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Peter Pan Stakes (USA-G2, 9FD, Belmont)
- 2nd Hutcheson Stakes (USA-G2, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
1997:
- Won Olympic Handicap (USA-L, 7FD, Gulfstream Park)
Assessments
Co-highweighted with champion Maria's Mon at 126 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1995, 2 pounds above Hennessy.
As an individual
A gray horse (officially registered as gray or roan), Unbridled's Song stood 17 hands. Lengthy and handsome, he had a long, smooth stride and excellent natural speed.
As a stallion
Unbridled's Song's progeny typically had good speed and scope but had a reputation for lacking durability. According to statistics compiled by The Jockey Club, he sired 934 winners (54.9%) and 117 stakes winners (6.9%) from 1700 named foals. The Blood-Horse credits the stallion with 118 stakes winners. Unbridled's Song is an Intermediate chef-de-race in the Roman-Miller dosage system.
Sire rankings
Per Arion Pedigrees (www.arion.co.nz):
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2014; 3rd in 2013, 2015, and 2020; 5th in 2021; 6th in 2017; 7th in 2016 and 2022; 10th in 2023.
- 2nd on the North American general sire list in 2017; 3rd in 2013; 6th in 2016; 9th in 2010.
- Led the North American broodmare sire list in 2018; 2nd in 2015 and 2019; 3rd in 2014, 2016, and 2017; 4th in 2020; 7th in 2021 and 2022; 8th in 2023; 9th in 2013.
Per The Blood-Horse:
- Led the American general sire list in 2017; 6th in 2013; 8th in 2016; 20th in 2008,
- 2nd on the American broodmare sire list in 2015 and 2019; 3rd in 2018; 4th in 2021; 6th in 2014, 2016, and 2017; 10th in 2023.
Per the Korean Studbook (https://studbook.kra.co.kr/neweng/html/eng_sire_list.jsp):
- Led the Korean broodmare sire list in 2014.
Notable progeny
Arrogate (USA), Buddha (USA), Embur's Song (CAN), Emcee (USA), First Defence (USA), Forever Unbridled (USA), Honor Vivian (USA), Liam's Map (USA), Magnificent Song (USA), Marylebone (USA), Midshipman (USA), Octave (USA), Political Force (USA), Songandaprayer (USA), Splendid Blended (USA), Thorn Song (USA), Unbridled Forever (USA), Unrivaled Belle (USA), Unbridled Elaine (USA), Will Take Charge (USA), Zensational (USA)
Notable progeny of daughters
Annapolis (USA), Cappezano (USA), Carpe Diem (USA), Civil Union (USA), Gift Box (USA), Gina Romantica (USA), Jack d'Or (JPN), Leofric (USA), Magnum Moon (USA), Maracuja (USA), Moira (CAN), Moonshine Memories (USA), My Wandy's Girl (USA), Restless Rider (USA), Rolling Fog (USA), Sixties Song (ARG), The Lumber Guy (USA), Tourist (USA), Unique Bella (USA), Volatile (USA), Voodoo Song (USA), Zabeel Prince (IRE)
Connections
Foaled in Kentucky, Unbridled's Song was bred by Mandysland Farm. He was sold to Ernie Paragallo for US$200,000 at the 1994 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga August yearling sale. He was pinhooked for US$1.4 million at the 1995 Barretts Equine Sales March sale of 2-year-olds in training but was turned back by buyer Hiroshi Fujita after a bone chip was detected in the colt's left front ankle. Unbridled's Song remained in Paragallo's ownership and was trained by Jim Ryerson for all but his last two starts, for which he was conditioned by Nick Zito. After breaking down while in training for the 1997 Donn Handicap (USA-G1), Unbridled's Song entered stud at Taylor Made Farms, where he remained throughout his stud career. He was humanely destroyed in July 2013 after he began exhibiting neurological signs caused by a large mass in his sinuses.
Pedigree notes
Unbridled's Song is outcrossed through five generations. He is a full brother to Asian Meteor, dam of Japanese Group 3 winner D'Accord (by Deep Impact) and second dam of Japanese Group 3 winners Blanc Bonheur and Bien Fait. He is a half brother to Bells Are Ringing (by Sadler's Wells), dam of Grade 3 winners Eh Cumpari (by Elusive Quality) and Ballagh Rocks (by Stormy Atlantic) as well as English stakes winner Abby Road (by Danehill). Bells Are Ringing is also the second dam of Grade 3 winner Eye of a Jedi. Returning to Unbridled's Song, he is also a half brother to Meine Cosmos (by Caerleon), second dam of Grade 3 winner Faraway Kitten.
Trolley Song, the dam of Unbridled's Song, is a winning full sister to Grade 3-placed listed stakes winner Goldspell, dam of stakes winner Bashful Charmer (by Capote), second dam of four minor stakes winners, and third dam of 2012 Venezuelan champion sprinter Jorge Prince. She is also a half sister to English Group 3 winner Merlin's Charm (by Bold Bidder) and to Lucky Soph (by Cozzene), dam of Grade 2-placed stakes winner Lucky Pulpit (by Pulpit).
Trolley Song is out of 1974 Princess Stakes (USA-G3) winner Lucky Spell (by Lucky Mel), a half sister to multiple Grade/Group 1 winner Seattle Song (by Seattle Slew). Lucky Spell is also a half sister to Celebration Song (by J. O. Tobin), dam of stakes winner Let the Music Play and second dam of four stakes winners, and to Stormy Slew (by Tsunami Slew), dam of Grade 3 winner Malabar Gold (by Unbridled).
Books and media
- “Song and a Prayer” is the eighth chapter of Steve Haskin's Tales From the Triple Crown (2008, Eclipse Press) and tells the story of Unbridled's Song's troubled run in the Kentucky Derby.
- Unbridled's Song has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Unbridleds-Song/773574359369712.
- Footage of Unbridled's Song's win in the 1995 Breeders' Cup Juvenile can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scnnKJhUUiY.
Fun facts
- Unbridled's Song got his 100th stakes winner on February 10, 2013, when his son Graydar won the Donn Handicap (USA-G1). The win made Unbridled's Song the 27th North American-based stallion to join the “Century Club.”
Photo credit
Photo by Jessica Morgan, taken in 2010 at Taylor Made. Used by permission.
Last updated: November 17, 2024