Fair Grounds Oaks: Untapable delivers as heavy favorite

NEW ORLEANS – There will be plenty of debate over the next few weeks regarding the horse to beat in the Kentucky Derby, but as far as the Kentucky Oaks goes, Untapable left no doubt that she is the clear-cut leader among the nation’s 3-year-old fillies with her overpowering victory Saturday in the Grade 2, $400,000 Fair Grounds Oaks.

Untapable ($3) was the heavy favorite owing to her first start of the year, a runaway win in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes here last month, and she was every bit as good, against a smaller but better field, in the Fair Grounds Oaks.

Untapable stalked the early pace of Fiftyshadesofgold, fended off the challenge of Unbridled Forever on the far turn, then powered away from both those stakes-winning rivals to score a 7 3/4-length victory.

Fiftyshadesofgold, trying two turns for the first time, held on for second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Unbridled Forever, who faltered down the stretch while making her first start in more than two months.

Untapable, under Rosie Napravnik, completed 1 1/16 miles on the fast main track in 1:43.09.

“She ran so huge off the break that we were cautious approaching this race, with the Kentucky Oaks coming up. We’re very pleased with her,” said Steve Asmussen, who trains Untapable. “The excitement about her is – what is she capable of? She’s grown up a lot, her composure has gotten a lot better, and she’s very fast.”

Untapable was a bit jumpy leaving the paddock, and Napravnik took her feet out of the stirrups during part of the post parade to help becalm Untapable, but Untapable loaded eagerly into the gate and was a willing runner throughout.

“I loved that she relaxed in the gate,” Asmussen said. “She’s been a touch of a high-strung filly.”

Untapable was winning for the fourth time in six starts. Significantly, she owns two wins at Churchill Downs, where the Kentucky Oaks will be run May 2. Her only two losses came in a pair of races late last year in California.

“I think the biggest mistake we made in California was wanting her to be in a certain position,” Asmussen said. “Rosie gets along well with her. We’ve learned to let her run her race, rather than make her run her race.”

Untapable was bred and is owned by the Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC of Ron Winchell. She is a daughter of Tapit out of the Prized mare Fun House.