Stopchargingmaria gets green light to face Untapable in Phipps

ELMONT, N.Y. - They combined to win six Grade 1 stakes in 2014 and were both finalists for the Eclipse Award as champion 3-year-old filly. Yet, somehow, Untapable and Stopchargingmaria never met on the track.

That will change next Saturday when Untapable and Stopchargingmaria will clash for the first time in the Grade 1, $1 million Ogden Phipps Stakes on the undercard of the Belmont Stakes program.

Untapable, last year’s 3-year-old champion filly after winning four Grade 1 stakes, had the Phipps as her goal since she won the Grade 1 Apple Blossom Handicap at Oaklawn Park on April 10.

Stopchargingmaria literally worked her way into the Phipps with a strong half-mile move in 47.95 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont training track. Stopchargingmaria worked in company with Sandiva, a potential candidate for the Grade 1 Just a Game on turf. The work convinced trainer Todd Pletcher to wheel back Stopchargingmaria three weeks after her victory in the Grade 3 Allaire duPont Distaff at Pimlico.

“She seems to be pretty transparent,” Pletcher said. “When she breezes like she did this morning, she generally runs well, touts herself with strong works. That’s what we saw this morning. That’s why we decided to go.”

Stopchargingmaria won the Grade 1 Coaching Club American Oaks and the Grade 1 Alabama last year.

Pletcher was planning to run Grade 1 winner Dame Dorothy in the Phipps, but said Saturday morning she would not run after contracting a temperature.

Others expected for the Phipps include House Rules, Princess Violet, Rosalind, Shayjolie, and Wedding Toast.