Fair Grounds notes: Untapable, Gold Hawk work for Asmussen

Untapable, who is bound for the Fair Grounds Oaks, and Gold Hawk, who’s being pointed for the Louisiana Derby, worked in company on Monday at Fair Grounds, both getting a time of 1:01 for a five-furlong drill.

Untapable stamped herself as a leading contender for the Kentucky Oaks when she won the Feb. 22 Rachel Alexandra Stakes at Fair Grounds, her first start at age 3, by 9 1/2 lengths, a performance that produced a Beyer Speed Figure of 100. Untapable, a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred by Tapit, returned to the work tab with an easy half-mile on March 3, and picked up the pace Monday.

“I think she did it very nice, and we’re very pleased with where she’s at,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “The timing of the Fair Grounds Oaks to the Kentucky Oaks is ideal, with her running such a big number off a break.”

The Fair Grounds Oaks is March 29, the Kentucky Oaks May 2. Untapable was making her first start since Dec. 7 when she won the Rachel Alexandra.

Gold Hawk, meanwhile, was third in the Lecomte and fifth in the Risen Star Stakes after winning his first two starts late last year. Asmussen still believes Gold Hawk, a son of Empire Maker, has room to improve.

“He’s a great big Baby Huey type horse that I think is going to get better with experience,” he said.

Unbridled Forever breezes

Unbridled Forever, the Silverbulletday Stakes winner who might prove Untapable’s main competition in the Fair Grounds Oaks, worked six furlongs in 1:12.40 on Saturday. Breezing by herself, Unbridled Forever galloped out seven furlongs in about 1:26 and one mile in a little more than 1:40, according to trainer Dallas Stewart.

“She needed a good work. This was her big one before her race,” said Stewart, who said Unbridled Forever might work only once more before the local Oaks.

Friday, Stewart partnered Commanding Curve, who is bound for the Louisiana Derby, and Golden Soul, who will race the same day in the New Orleans Handicap, in another six-furlong drill. Both horses were timed in 1:13.60. Commanding Curve raced wide and finished sixth in the Risen Star, his first start since November. Golden Soul hasn’t started since September and still is eligible for a first-level allowance race, but made a name for himself finishing second to Orb in the 2013 Kentucky Derby.