Distaff: Untapable works swift five furlongs

ARCADIA, Calif. – The visually impressive workout by Untapable on Sunday morning at Santa Anita was so fast trainer Steve Asmussen declined to reveal the time on his stopwatch.

“I’ll let them say that,” Asmussen said, referring to track clockers.

The official time was 58.60 seconds, co-fastest five furlongs of the day and a move that further confirms Untapable as a top contender for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31. BC Sprint contender Big Macher also worked five furlongs in 58.60.

Untapable worked alone Sunday morning at 7:10. She broke off at the five-eighths pole, picked up steam into the turn, and glided through the lane in seemingly effortless fashion while Asmussen and owner Ron Winchell watched from the apron.

“She does thing really pretty, very gracefully,” Asmussen said after the work. “When she works, she kind of propels herself, she doesn’t dig. She’s extremely elegant to the eye.”

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The workout was the third by Untapable since arriving in California three weeks ago. It was one of the fastest of her career. A typical five-furlong work by Untapable is in the 1:01-range. Fast times are the norm at Santa Anita however, and Untapable is a fast filly.

She also has matured since winning the Kentucky Oaks in May.

“She’s gotten so much quieter,” Asmussen said. “I think she’s filled out some. Going into the Oaks, she was a tall, slender growing lady. I think she’s settled into herself. She carries a little more weight than she did then.”

Untapable, whose Grade 1 wins this year include the Oaks, Mother Goose, and Cotillion, will meet older fillies and mares for the first time in the Distaff. Her rivals include Close Hatches, who worked a half-mile Sunday at Belmont Park.

Untapable will have one more workout before she tries to become the first Kentucky Oaks winner since Ashado in 2004 to win the Distaff. Untapable’s only loss this year was a fifth-place finish against males in the Haskell. She rebounded Sept. 20 to win the Cotillion at Parx.

Rosie Napravnik is Untapable’s regular rider.

*Close Hatches worked a half-mile Sunday at Belmont Park in 48.92. It was her first work since she finished fourth in the Grade 1 Spinster Stakes on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

* Tiz Midnight worked six furlongs Sunday at Santa Anita in 1:12.40. She finished second last out in the Grade 1 Zenyatta Stakes.