Untapable comes out of Mother Goose nicely, may take on boys
ELMONT, N.Y. – Untapable came out of her galloping victory in the Mother Goose at Belmont Park nicely, according to Steve Asmussen's New York-based assistant Toby Sheets, who said the race did not appear to take very much out of her.
"She walked this morning and had good energy for a horse who has just raced," Sheets said.
Untapable earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure for her 9 1/4-length victory. Although the Beyer is by far Untapable's lowest of the season, that most likely is due to the lack of suitable competition she faced, that John Velazquez had her under a hand ride for most of the stretch run, and that it was her first race in eight weeks.
Following the race, Steve Asmussen said he would discuss Untapable's next start with owner-breeder Ron Winchell, and he left the door open for a possible start against males July 27 in the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.
The other possibility for Untapable is the $300,000 Coaching Club American Oaks at Saratoga on July 20. Untapable is scheduled to ship Monday to Saratoga.
Besides the purse differential between the two races, the Haskell would give Untapable an extra week between starts. The two leading horses for the Haskell at this point are the Bob Baffert-trained Bayern, who earned a 107 Beyer for winning the seven-furlong Woody Stephens by 7 1/2 lengths on Belmont Stakes Day, and Wildcat Red, who won the Quality Road Stakes by more than 10 lengths Saturday at Gulfstream Park for trainer Jose Garoffalo while making his first start since an 18th-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
Another possible Haskell starter is Albano, who won the Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park by 6 1/2 lengths June 15. Albano, trained by Larry Jones, made five starts at Fair Grounds over the winter, finishing second in both the Risen Star and Lecomte stakes and fourth in the Louisiana Derby.
Asmussen to split New York stable
Asmussen will split his New York stable during Saratoga, keeping horses upstate and at Belmont Park. Asmussen assistant Toby Sheets will oversee the Belmont division.
Sheets has worked for Asmussen about 15 years after training on his own for 10 years. Early in his career, Sheets, 45, worked for a number of different outfits, including trainers Lynn Whiting and Kathy Walsh.