Hard to look beyond Untapable in Phipps
ELMONT, N.Y. – Untapable, the champion 3-year-old filly of 2014, could rival American Pharoah as the shortest-priced favorite among the six Grade 1 races Saturday at Belmont Park when she meets five rivals in the $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes at a 1 1/16 miles.
Untapable is running for the first time since she won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom at Oaklawn Park in April, rebounding from a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Azeri in her seasonal debut.
Steve Asmussen, who trains Untapable for Ron Winchell, said he felt his filly was compromised by not being able to get satisfactory training at Oaklawn Park before the Azeri due to harsh winter weather.
Asmussen noted that most of Untapable’s losses have come when she shipped to a track on top of a race. With that in mind, Asmussen shipped Untapable to New York several weeks out and was able to get three works into her at Belmont.
“Very pleased with bringing her up here early; the works she put in were a nice progression, and I think she’s training really well,” Asmussen said. “It’s always fun to run her.”
Untapable will break from post 4 under John Velazquez and the high weight of 123 pounds. She is spotting two to eight pounds to the remainder of the field.
The Phipps field was to include the multiple Grade 1 winner Stopchargingmaria, but she was not entered after developing a temperature.
Instead, Untapable’s biggest rival figures to be Wedding Toast, who comes off a four-length victory in the Grade 2 Ruffian, going a one-turn mile here May 9. Wedding Toast, a daughter of Street Sense owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is 3 for 4 over Belmont’s main track.
Aside from Untapable, the only other Grade 1 winner in the field is Princess Violet, who won the Madison at Keeneland in April. She finished second to Untapable, beaten 9 1/4 lengths, in the Mother Goose here last June.
House Rules and Shayjolie complete the field.
Ogden Phipps, race 5
KEY CONTENDERS
Untapable (Last 3 Beyers: 99-96-103)
◗ Reigning 3-year-old champion filly looked back to her form in winning the Apple Blossom by 2 1/2 lengths.
◗ Has breezed three times at Belmont, including a strong five-furlong move under Velazquez on 1:00.80 on May 25.
◗ Figures to be on or close to the lead in what looks to be a race devoid of true early speed.
Wedding Toast (Last 3 Beyers: 97-80-91)
◗ The two best races of her career came in one-turn, one-mile races at Belmont, including a four-length victory in the Ruffian.
McLaughlin liked that Wedding Toast, from the outside post that day, was able to sit off the pace set by stablemate Via Strata and make a late move. The dynamics might be different in the Phipps.
“Short field, we drew down inside in the 2 hole but should be able to work out a good trip, sit off the pace,” McLaughlin said. “I don’t know who the pace is.”
When it was suggested that Wedding Toast could be the pace, McLaughlin said, “She might be there on her own the right way.”