Untapable works half-mile to 'get acquainted' with surface

ARCADIA, Calif. – Untapable has kept a low profile in California so far, and the Kentucky Oaks winner maintained that profile early Sunday morning at Santa Anita.

It was still dark at 5:30 a.m. when Untapable posted her first workout since arriving. The country’s top-ranked 3-year-old filly worked a half-mile at 5:30 under exercise rider Carmen Rosas. It was an easy get-acquainted-with-the-surface breeze, timed by clockers in 51.80 seconds.

Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen, is among the leading contenders for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 31. Her early-morning workout was merely one small step in that direction, assistant trainer Scott Blasi said.

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“It was her first work over the track, so nice and easy,” Blasi said. “It was an easy work just to get acquainted with the surface.”

Untapable, 5 for 6 this year, returned to form winning the Grade 1 Cotillion on Sept. 20 at Parx. She shipped to Santa Anita soon afterward to prepare for her first start against older fillies and mares, including Beholder and Close Hatches, the one-two finishers in the 2013 Distaff.

Blasi said Untapable “settled in nicely” at Santa Anita, adding, “She’s gotten older and developed more physically.”