Untapable, Tapiture go to work for Asmussen

Mondays often are busy workout days for the Steve Asmussen barn, and Feb. 9 at Fair Grounds was no exception, as Asmussen sent all his best Fair Grounds-based stock through timed drills.

The work contingent included Eclipse Award winner Untapable, who posted her first five-furlong breeze of the year, which was timed in 1:02.80. It was Untapable’s third work since she returned to training in December following a freshening in Kentucky after her 1 1/4-length win in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Working alone, Untapable went off at an easy pace, 13 seconds for her first furlong and 25.80 for her first quarter-mile, according to Asmussen.

“It was perfect. I was very happy with it,” Asmussen said. “She’s been very relaxed since she came back to training.”

Tapiture, who is on the same schedule as Untapable, also worked an easy five furlongs, his timed in 1:02.20 by track clockers, while Asmussen had Tapiture in 1:02.60.

Both horses, 4-year-olds, are training toward an as-yet-to-be-announced 2015 debut. Asked if any decisions had been reached on where either horse would launch their campaign, Asmussen said, “Not yet. We’ve obviously got four or five more works to go before they’d be ready.”

That would put a comeback race sometime in mid-March. There are no obviously suitable races for either horse at Fair Grounds, but Oaklawn Park hosts the Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares and the Razorback Handicap for 4-year-olds and up on March 14. Tapiture raced at Oaklawn last winter and spring, while an obvious early-season goal for Untapable is the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom on April 10 at Oaklawn.

Asmussen on Monday also worked the two 3-year-olds he is pointing toward stakes races Feb. 21 at Fair Grounds, Tiznow R J and Shook Up, the former a colt for the Risen Star, the latter a filly for the Rachel Alexandra.

Tiznow R J had a serious six-furlong work, going the distance in 1:11.80, which is about as fast as horses ever work three-quarters of a mile at Fair Grounds. A big, robust son of Tiznow, Tiznow R J still was racing a bit green when he finished third in the Lecomte Stakes last time out in his stakes debut on Jan. 17.

“He worked great; very impressive,” Asmussen said. “You ask him to work, and he works great. I have nothing but respect for the competition in the next race, but obviously we like him.”

Tiznow R J may meet Imperia – a horse more accomplished than anything he faced in the Lecomte – in the Risen Star. Also expected in is Lecomte winner International Star.

Shook Up raced more recently than Tiznow R J, and less was asked of her Monday, as she went five furlongs in 1:01.20. A sharp maiden winner two starts ago in her route debut, Shook Up subsequently took a surprising optional-claiming defeat to Rachel Alexandra-bound Lovely Maria on Jan. 26. Difficult to control early in that race, Shook Up also lugged in several times during the stretch run, and she has since been training in a different bit, though Asmussen said Shook Up never has had issues during morning exercise.

Silverbulletday Stakes winner I’m a Chatterbox is expected to head the Rachel Alexandra. Entries for all the Feb. 21 stakes races will be taken Monday, Feb. 16.

Top Decile may go in Rachel Alexandra

Top Decile, who finished a distant sixth as the even-money favorite in the Silverbulletday, worked five furlongs in 1:01.20 on Sunday and is a possible starter in the Rachel Alexandra, trainer Al Stall said.

It was Top Decile’s second work since she barely lifted a hoof in the Silverbulletday, checking in 19 lengths behind I’m a Chatterbox in a performance a shadow of the form she showed when finishing second in the Grade 1 Alcibiades and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies to round out her 2-year-old campaign.

Stall said his team never found anything physically amiss with Top Decile after her poor showing, and that she has trained forwardly since.

Stall also is considering Harbour Island for the Rachel Alexandra. The 3-year-old half-sister to 2014 Louisiana Derby winner Vicar’s In Trouble has won a maiden race and a first-level optional-claiming race – both by open lengths – at this meet, though she has yet to start around two turns.

West Coast Belle now a go

West Coast Belle, another disappointment in the Silverbulletday, worked a sharp half-mile in 47.20 seconds on Saturday and is an intended runner in the Rachel Alexandra, trainer Wayne Catalano said Monday.

West Coast Belle won all three of her starts at 2, including the Grade 2 Golden Rod in her 2014 finale, but as the 2-1 second choice in the Silverbulletday, she came home a one-paced fourth.

Catalano had said previous to that race that the plan was to sit out the Rachel Alexandra and await the Fair Grounds Oaks, but West Coast Belle – who is owned by Gary and Mary West – now is likely to run Feb. 21.

“She worked great, and if everything still is looking good. We’ll run,” Catalano said. “She was really wanting to go a little more than normal early in that last race, and she probably won’t try to run off like that again.”

Catalano said jockey Shaun Bridgmohan had committed to ride West Coast Belle back in the Rachel Alexandra.