Unbridled began his stud career at Gainesway Farm and moved to Claiborne for the 1997 breeding season. He was syndicated by Claiborne president Seth Hancock into 40 shares worth $475,000 each, a value of $19 million.
Unbridled, the 15th leading sire of 2001 by progeny earnings, had surgery Friday morning to remove a "tumor like mass" from his abdomen. A pathology report is due from the University of Kentucky Diagnostic Lab on Sept. 24.Claiborne Farm manager Gus Koch said the 14-year-old stallion came out of the surgery well and was "bright as he could be" in the recovery room.Koch said Unbridled (Fappiano -- Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux) showed "mild colic-like symptoms" during the summer. He was examined at Claiborne by Drs. Kim Sprayberry and Doug Byars this Wednesday and Thursday. The veterinarians discovered the mass.A 70-minute surgical procedure was performed at Hagyard-Davidson-McGee veterinary clinic by Drs. Bob Hunt and Paul Thorpe."They found a three-foot piece of large colon that was very thickened and angry which needed to be removed. More than three feet was removed and his bowel was resected," Koch said."He came out of the recovery fine and then was transferred to the medicine unit, which is where he is now," Koch continued. "We're very hopeful his recovery will be uneventful."On Sept. 3, 2000, Unbridled was taken to the same clinic after experiencing signs of colic. The veterinarians found a thickening of the large colon wall and there was a significant blockage of bile from the bile duct. He returned to Claiborne a week later after receiving a good report on his liver functions.The 1990 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) winner is the sire of 23 stakes winners including Exogenous, who won the grade I Gazelle Handicap on Sept. 8. Unbridled is the sire this year of the earners of $3.2 million. His other major stakes winners include Red Bullet, Unshaded, Banshee Breeze, Anees, Unbridled's Song, Manistique and Grindstone.