Untapable returns as heavy favorite in Azeri
In retrospect, it looks so simple. Untapable was the best 3-year-old filly in the country last year, had a nearly perfect season that culminated in a victory over older rivals in the Breeders’ Cup, and was voted an Eclipse Award winner.
In reality, things were not that straightforward.
Untapable began the season following a pair of losses out west as a 2-year-old and paid $10.80 in her first start of the year, the Rachel Alexandra Stakes.
Untapable also was expending a lot of energy in the paddock and warm-up before her races. Trainer Steve Asmussen and his crew devoted a lot of time during the year to teaching her to relax.
And, after a strenuous outing in the Haskell Invitational, her only loss of the season, Asmussen spent the Saratoga meet freshening her up in preparation for her final two starts, the Grade 1 Cotillion and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
At year’s end, Untapable had won 6 of 7 starts and $2.8 million. On Saturday, she will begin her 4-year-old campaign as a heavy favorite in the Grade 2, $300,000 Azeri at Oaklawn Park. She will face four rivals in the 1 1/16-mile stakes.
“By the end of the year, I think she was a very confident horse,” Asmussen said. “She knows how good she is now.”
Following the Breeders’ Cup, Untapable and stablemate Tapiture – who runs in the Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn on Saturday – were given a vacation at owner Ron Winchell’s Corinthia Farm near Lexington, Ky. They then were sent to Asmussen’s winter base at Fair Grounds. Untapable has worked seven times since Jan. 26.
“This winter was a great opportunity to rest them, both mentally and physically, and give them some good R & R,” Asmussen said. “They both did phenomenal, filling out and putting on weight. At the beginning of last year, Untapable was a tall, lean 3-year-old filly. She is now stronger and more mature.”
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Key contenders
Untapable (Last 3 Beyers: 103-94-96)
* John Velazquez has been given the mount, replacing the now-retired Rosie Napravnik, who rode Untapable in 9 of 11 starts. Velazquez won the Grade 1 Mother Goose on Untapable at Belmont Park in June.
* The Azeri has allowance-weight conditions, and Untapable will carry a reasonable 122 pounds while making her Oaklawn debut.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 1 Untapable. Trainer Steve Asmussen is 13-0-2-1 over the past five years in dirt route graded stakes following a layoff of 80 days or more. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
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Sugar Shock (Last 3 Beyers: 80-N/A-89)
* Sugar Shok would have been Untapable's chief rival but is expected to be scratched, leaving a field of five.
* Is 4 for 5 at Oaklawn and finished first in both the Fantasy and Honeybee stakes here last year.
* Tuned up for this by winning the six-furlong American Beauty Stakes on Jan. 24 for trainer Doug Anderson. She was pulled up in her prior start, the Iowa Oaks, last June.
DRF FORMULATOR FACT: No. 3 Sugar Shock. Her win last out in the American Beauty featured three next-out winners, including Spring Included, who took the $100K Spring Fever. Click for more details. – Mike Hogan
Mufajaah (Last 3 Beyers: 95-89-75)
* Like Untapable, she is a 4-year-old daughter of Tapit.
* Mufajaah just now is reaching her potential and has won two stakes at the meet for trainer Dan Peitz. Still, she must face Untapable at equal weights here.
Flashy American (Last 3 Beyers: 95-71-91)
* Late-running 6-year-old just missed by a neck to Mufajaah in the Feb. 15 Bayakoa while giving her two pounds. Gets into the Azeri at 117.