Weaver stablemates battle it out

SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (July 9, 2020) — A fierce stretch battle developed between two grey horses at Indiana Grand Thursday, July 9 in the $24,000 Starter Allowance. Regardless of the outcome, trainer Michael Weaver and owners Tami and James Eads were headed to the winner’s circle halfway down the stretch. Mystery Unbridled, ridden by Fernando De La Cruz, and Devil’s Due West hail from the Weaver barn for the Eads. This time, it was Devil’s Due West posed for the photo.

Mystery Unbridled drew post one and used early speed to his advantage to get on top early in the one-mile race. Devil’s Due West started from the outside post eight and opted for a trip near the back of the pack. Around the turn, Devil’s Due West began to move up and at the top of the stretch, the only horse he had to catch was Mystery Unbridled.

Neither horse gave in. The six-year-old Mystery Unbridled had the early advantage over the eight-year-old Devil’s Due West, but in the end, Devil’s Due West scooted by to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:38.34. Redyornothereicome and Emmanuel Esquivel moved up the inside to finish third.

Devil’s Due West was making his first start of 2020. The son of Devil His Due paid $7.60 to win.

It’s not the first time the two flashy greys have run against one another. Mystery Unbridled, who is also co-owned by Dianna Weaver with the Eads, has six career wins and in excess of $250,000. Devil’s Due West has eight career wins and in excess of $338,000. Both prefer route races, both are products of the Indiana program and have never run outside of Indiana Grand, and both are stakes winners. The two are very interchangeable. In their last meeting, Mystery Unbridled was victorious in the $100,000 To Much Coffee Stakes last fall. Ironically, riders were switched in the stakes and Bermudez was aboard Mystery Unbridled for the stakes title. The two have run against one another four times, each beating the other one twice.

Photo by Coady Photography

Devil's Due West (outside with Sammy Bermudez) battles with stablemate Mystery Unbridled (Fernando De La Cruz on the inside) to even things up between the two greys with the same connections. They are now two for two against one another. Photo by Coady Photography