Churchill Downs: Untapable stays unbeaten in Pocahontas

Untapable ($13.60) outgamed favored Stonetastic in a torrid stretch run to remain unbeaten in two starts in the Grade 2, $168,150 Pocahontas Stakes, the filly counterpart to the Iroquois. With Rosie Napravnik fresh off the Kentucky Downs charter, Untapable overcame some early trouble when prevailing by a half-length at Churchill Downs. She finished the distance in 1:44.38.

Stonetastic, the 8-5 choice under Joe Bravo, had taken over from Elena Strikes and Milam before Untapable angled out and ran her down. Untapable, bred and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, was noticeably rank in the vicinity of the six-furlong pole before “she settled into a nice rhythm,” noted Asmussen.

“They kind of backed it up on us in the second quarter,” said Napravnik. “She was awesome.”

Untapable, by Tapit, also earned an expenses-paid Win and You’re In berth toward the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, as well as the first 10 points toward the 2014 Kentucky Oaks. The filly was a maiden winner at Churchill in the spring in her lone prior start before being scratched from the Adirondack last month at Saratoga with a minor illness. Asmussen said he would wait to see how the filly came out of the race before deciding how to proceed to the Breeders’ Cup.

Untapable is a half-sister to Paddy O’Prado, the multiple Grade 1 winner campaigned by Donegal.