HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Jim Bakke and Jerry Isbister’s Attachment Rate will take a much-welcome detour on the Road to the Triple Crown Saturday, when the Dale Romans-trained colt will return to Gulfstream Park for the $75,000 Unbridled Stakes.
Attachment Rate, who finished third in the March 7 Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct last time out, had previously broken his maiden at Gulfstream Park with a dominating 6 ½-length victory Feb. 15. The son of Hard Spun had been scheduled to run in the Blue Grass (G2) earlier in the month prior to the cancellation of the Keeneland spring meet due to the coronavirus pandemic that also forced the postponement of the Kentucky Derby (G1) from May 2 to Sept. 5 and put the dates for the Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) up in the air.
The Unbridled was recently added to the stakes schedule at Gulfstream’s Spring/Summer Meet that began April 2 following another successful edition of its prestigious Championship Meet. The 1 1/16-mile stakes for 3-year-olds will provide Attachment Rate and six other sophomores an opportunity to continue their development.
“I appreciate Gulfstream putting together some races for us and for the horses that aren’t usually here this time of year,” Romans said. “They gave him a good spot.”
Attachment Rate, who finished off-the-board in his June 19 debut at Churchill Downs, came off a seven-month layoff to finish a strong second behind Market Analysis, closing from far back to miss by three-quarters of a length at seven furlongs. He came right back to break his maiden at a mile before earning his way onto the Road to the Triple Crown. The Virginia-bred colt closed from eighth while racing wide in the Gotham, finishing two lengths behind victorious Mischevious Alex. Attachment Rate finished a head behind runner-up Untitled, who return to action Thursday at Gulfstream Park to capture an optional claiming allowance in a romp.
Attachment Rate has had a series of five five-furlong workouts at Gulfstream since the Gotham.
“He’s been training super. He’s doing good,” Romans said. “He’s going to run big Saturday.”
Luis Saez has the return mount aboard Attachment Rate.
Gulfstream Park Press Release
Photo: Attachment Rate works at Gulfstream in late February. Credit: Joe DiOrio
