Untapable looks to resume dominance of division in Cotillion
Untapable’s string of runaway victories came to an end in the Haskell Invitational, a race in which little went right for her. On Saturday in the Grade 1 Cotillion at Parx Racing, she will attempt to reaffirm her standing as the leader of the 3-year-old filly division.
Her rivals include the three-time Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason and up-and-comers Cassatt, the winner of the Monmouth Oaks; Joint Return, the runner-up in the Alabama; Little Alexis, third to Sweet Reason in the Test; and Jojo Warrior, whom Bob Baffert has shipped from California following two graded stakes wins.
Stopchargingmaria, the winner of the Alabama and Coaching Club American Oaks in her last two starts, was entered but likely will scratch and instead run in the Beldame at Belmont Park next Saturday, according to trainer Todd Pletcher. If so, that will leave a field of eight in the $1 million Cotillion.
In the eight weeks since the Haskell, trainer Steve Asmussen has used a patient hand to prepare Untapable for the Cotillion. Expect a top effort.
“She’s been very impressive in her training,” Asmussen said by phone from the Keeneland sale. “It’s time to get her back on track.”
Untapable came into the Haskell with a perfect 2014 record that included one-sided wins in the Rachel Alexandra, Fair Grounds Oaks, Kentucky Oaks, and Mother Goose. Her average winning margin was a gaudy 7 3/4 lengths.
The Haskell was a strangely run race and has not proved productive. The Monmouth track was biased toward speed and played to the strength of the Haskell winner, Bayern. It also was a hot and humid day. Of the six Haskell horses to run back, none has won.
Things began to go awry in the paddock when the horses, with riders up, took at least four turns around the walking ring. Not only were the animals getting hot, but some of their handlers also appeared to be washing out.
In the gate, Social Inclusion, in the stall next to Untapable, threw a fit, possibly distracting her. She broke a half-step slow and was fanned four wide into the first turn. She remained three wide to the stretch and checked in fourth. Besides Bayern, who looked brilliant in winning, the rest of the field practically ran in place.
Untapable was sent to Saratoga to recoup. She has had five works: two trademark Asmussen-style slow breezes, two sharp five-furlong drills, and a slow half last Sunday.
“She worked with Regally Ready [on Aug. 31] and with Tapiture [on Sept. 7],” Asmussen said. “The weather at Saratoga was nice. She has done well up there. I am very pleased with her.”
Untapable shipped from Saratoga to Parx on Thursday and will be reunited with Rosie Napravnik, who is 5 for 7 on her, in the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion.
Key contenders
Untapable (Last 3 Beyers: 95-96-107)
* Asmussen has worked hard trying to get Untapable to remain calm before her races. She was on edge prior to the Kentucky Oaks but behaved well for the Mother Goose. She was somewhere in between for the Haskell, Asmussen said in the days following the race.
* Horses are saddled far from the public at Parx, and patrons can only view the walking ring from one side, which should help Untapable on Saturday. The weather forecast is for a pleasant day in the high 70s.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 8 Untapable. Trainer Steve Asmussen is 5 for 8 with a $4.98 ROI over the past five years in Grade 1 dirt routes following a layoff of between 45 and 60 days. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Sweet Reason (Last 3 Beyers: 93-93-80)
* She finished well to win the seven-furlong Test and one-mile Acorn in her last two starts. Her first Grade 1 win for trainer Leah Gyarmati came in the 2013 Spinaway at seven furlongs. Is she a Grade 1 filly at two turns? The jury is out, but I don’t see why not.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 2 Sweet Reason. Trainer Leah Gyrmati is 2 for 44 with a $0.35 ROI over the past three years taking all horses from sprints to routes. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Cassatt (Last 3 Beyers: 81-78-72)
* A big, talented, lightly raced daughter of Tapit, she has made two starts following a six-month layoff, and trainer Larry Jones said he would have liked to have had one more race in her before the Cotillion. Jones has compensated by giving her several stiff workouts.
* This is a difficult assignment for Cassatt, but she has galloped to victory in three of her four starts, and we still don’t know how high her ceiling is.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Cassatt. Trainer Larry Jones is 5 for 14 with a $3.06 ROI over the past three years in dirt routes with last-out winners following a layoff for between 31 and 44 days. Click for more details. – Dan Illman
Jojo Warrior (Last 3 Beyers: 88-92-72)
* Will be facing tougher company here. The filly she defeated in the Torrey Pines at Del Mar last out, Tiz Kissable, is 2 for 8, and the runner-up in her Summer Oaks win, Live for Now, is a maiden.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 7 Jojo Warrior. Trainer Bob Baffert is 2 for 21 with a $1.21 ROI over the past five years going from synthetic to dirt in Grade 1 stakes following a win. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Joint Return (Last 3 Beyers: 81-76-76)
* Trainer John Servis added blinkers for the Alabama, and she showed marked improvement, finishing a closing second to Stopchargingmaria.
Little Alexis (Last 3 Beyers: 91-78-89)
* Based in Florida with owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza, she is the most lightly raced member of the field with only three starts.
House Rules (Last 3 Beyers: 87-73-80)
* Normally a first-level allowance win wouldn’t count for much in a race like the Cotillion, but considering how hot Jimmy Jerkens has been and how her winning Beyer Speed Figure jumped to an 87, anything is possible.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 House Rules. Trainer Jimmy Jerkens is 10 for 31 with a $4.40 ROI over the past five years in dirt routes following a winning effort. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: Jerkens has gone 23 for 74 (31 percent) in the last six months with a positive ROI of $3.16. - Jim Dunleavy