Untapable, Close Hatches each work half-mile toward BC Distaff

ARCADIA, Calif. – Untapable and Close Hatches will be a lot closer to one another Friday in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff than they were Sunday morning in California and New York, where the Distaff favorites each posted their final workouts.

Untapable went an easy half-mile at Santa Anita in 50.60 seconds, and Close Hatches worked a half-mile in 47.19 at Belmont Park.

Untapable was under a hold from exercise rider Carlos Rosas in her 7:10 a.m. workout. She broke off by herself at the half-mile pole and was under restraint most of the work.

The work was exactly as planned for Untapable. Her major work was Oct. 19, five furlongs in a bullet 58.60. For her final work Sunday, trainer Steve Asmussen was looking for something slower.

“We wanted a good work in her last week, and she did plenty,” Asmussen said. For her final workout, Asmussen “wanted nice and smooth. Carlos did a great job getting her to the pole … nice and smooth.”

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Untapable walked off the track through the grandstand tunnel and paddock on her way to back to the barn. She looks good, acts confident, and is expected to start favored when she takes on older fillies and mares for the first time in the Distaff.

Close Hatches worked at Belmont for trainer Bill Mott.

“She went well,” Mott said. “She was smooth, finished up strong, galloped out well, and came back to the barn happy.”

The work was quicker than her previous work by design. Last time, Mott said, “She went 49 and change under a hold. I wanted her to do more today. … she’s good.”

Close Hatches is scheduled to ship Monday to California.