Untapable, Tapiture work for Asmussen

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The champion Untapable led a trio of important workers Monday for Steve Asmussen, who enters Wednesday’s card at Oaklawn Park just five victories shy of 7,000 career Thoroughbred training wins in North America.

Untapable and stablemates Tapiture and Bold Conquest prepped for stakes engagements with five-furlong breezes at Oaklawn. The horses each worked by themselves on a sunny morning in the 40s. The track was rated “muddy” by Oaklawn head clocker Jim Hamilton.

Untapable, in her first drill since starting her 4-year-old season with a close second in the Grade 2, $300,000 Azeri on March 14 at Oaklawn, went in 1:01.80. She worked in the second set after warming up alongside a pony ridden by Asmussen.

“I thought she looked beautiful this morning,” Asmussen said Monday. “I think she’s settled in nicely [at Oaklawn]. It was her first breeze since her race. I thought she traveled well. I was very happy with her work.”

Untapable went into her drill at the five-furlong pole and breezed a few paths off the fence, with Hamilton catching her final quarter-mile in 23.80 seconds. Hamilton had Untapable galloping out six furlongs in 1:15.80.

Asmussen, who trains Untapable for her breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds, said she is to be nominated to both the Grade 1, $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap on April 10 at Oaklawn and the Grade 1, $300,000 La Troienne on May 1 at Churchill Downs. A decision on her next move is to be determined after conversations with the Winchell Thoroughbreds team, said Asmussen.

“We’ll see how she comes out of this work, what her attitude’s like, how she eats, how she goes back to the track, all that,” said Asmussen.

Tapiture worked in the first set, breezing in 1:03.

“He went a little slower than she did, but it was just the first set, and he was just off a little slower,” said Asmussen.

The next start for Tapiture, the runner-up in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, is also to be determined, said Asmussen.

“I did nominate him to the Charles Town Classic as well as the Oaklawn Handicap,” he said. “There’s even a spot for him at Keeneland.”

The Grade 3, $150,000 Ben Ali will be run April 11 at Keeneland.

Bold Conquest, who is on deck for the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby on April 11, worked in the second set Monday and, traveling a few paths off the rail, went in 1:01.60.

“I thought he worked great today,” Asmussen said.

Hamilton had Bold Conquest’s final quarter in 23.40 seconds and had him galloping out six furlongs in 1:14.80.

Asmussen said he wanted a strong move from the horse, whose training has been hampered by winter weather at Oaklawn.

“I would appreciate better weather,” Asmussen said. “I think the horse would respond to some good training. I’d been concerned with how easy we’ve been with him because of [the weather]. It’s time to pick it up.”

Asmussen had a pair of notable 3-year-old winners last week at Oaklawn, and both could see stakes action soon. Holy Boss dominated an allowance sprint March 19 with a Beyer Speed Figure of 94 and will be considered for the $100,000 Bachelor on April 10, said Asmussen. Holiday Man won an allowance route March 20 and will be nominated to the $100,000 Northern Spur on April 11, the trainer said. Both races are at Oaklawn.

Asmussen has starters in the first and seventh races Wednesday at Oaklawn. He is tied with Chris Hartman atop the trainers’ standings at the meet with 18 wins.

Horse claimed in 23-way shake

She’sabrees was claimed in a 23-way shake Sunday at Oaklawn Park, where 316 horses have been claimed for a cumulative $4,632,250 since the meet opened Jan. 15.

She’sabrees was entered for a $20,000 tag in an optional-claiming sprint for fillies and mares Sunday. She ran third. Gene Burkholder and trainer Kim Puhl won the shake for She’sabrees, a career winner of 10 races who was claimed from Danny Keene and trainer Karl Broberg.

She’sabrees is a 6-year-old mare by Ghostzapper.

There was also a 13-way shake Sunday for Virginia’s Joy. She was in for a claiming price of $5,000 and went to Danny Caldwell and trainer Federico Villafranco.