2014 Kentucky Oaks Winner Untapable Preparing For Run In Odgen Phipps

May 14, 2015 Ryan Martin and Darren Rogers

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Untapable, winner of last year’s Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I), returned to the work tab Monday, breezing five furlongs in 1:01.60 – her third published workout since winning Oaklawn Park’s $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (GI) by 2 ½ lengths on April 10.

On Tuesday, trainer Steve Asmussen shipped the 4-year-old daughter of Tapit to Belmont Park to further prepare for her next start in the $1 million Ogden Phipps Handicap (GI) at 1 1/16 miles on the June 6 Belmont Stakes undercard. Overall, Untapable boasts a career record of 13-9-1-1—$3,416,725 and she’ll vie for the sixth Grade I victory of her career.

Also on the work tab for Asmussen and owner Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC was Tapiture who worked four furlongs in :49.60. The multiple graded stakes-winning son of Tapit is entered in Friday’s Pimlico Special (GIII), but Asmussen says he’ll scratch out of the race and be targeted to the $200,000 Lone Star Handicap (GIII) at 1 1/16 miles on Memorial Day, May 25.

“Both of those horses worked well and are very easy to be around,” Asmussen said.

VETERAN TORRES COLLECTS THREE-BAGGER SUNDAY – Veteran jockey Francisco Torres had a big day on Sunday afternoon, having scored three victories on the 10-race card with Ultimo Trago ($19.60), Give Me Thy Heart ($6.80) and Double Rah Rah ($9.20). Torres, who has been riding since age 16, stated that it was a good feeling to have so many victories on one card because days like that do not come often.

“They’re hard to come by,” Torres said. “It’s a tough meet because you’ve got a lot of good riders and the opportunities are slim, especially when there are so many good riders. When you win one let alone three, it’s a blessing and we got lucky, too.”

Torres admitted he was worn out at the end of the day after riding seven mounts on Sunday, but that having such a successful day makes it worthwhile.

“At the end of the day it was a good day, but being that I had ridden that many, I got dehydrated going into the last race (aboard Double Rah Rah),” he said. “My body was telling me, ‘Hey, it’s taking a toll on you.’ It was hot, but it turned out to be a good day. It’s awesome to be able to come home and say, ‘Wow it was a good day.’”

Torres is not scheduled to ride any horses on Churchill Downs’ Thursday twilight card, but has four mounts on both Friday and Saturday afternoon.

ADVANCE PREAKNESS WAGERING AVAILABLE FRIDAY – Fans attending Churchill Downs on Friday can advance wager all day on a simulcast of Saturday’s 140^th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes, featuring Kentucky Derby 1-2-3 American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund.

The Preakness from Pimlico Race Course near Baltimore will be run Saturday at approximately 6:18 p.m., about 28 minutes after Churchill Downs’ final race of day. The Preakness, along with other select stakes from Pimlico, will be shown on Churchill Downs’ video board between live races.

In addition to advance wagering on the Preakness, fans can place wagers Friday on the unique multi-day $1 Black-Eyed Susan/Preakness Double. Post time for Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan is 4:50 p.m. ET.

Gates open Friday at 11:30 a.m. and the first of nine races at Churchill Downs is 12:45 p.m.

TRENDING – Julien Leparoux led all riders with eight wins last week (May 7-10) to take a 13-9 lead in the jockey standings over seven-time champ Corey Lanerie. Lanerie served a four-day suspension last week for a careless riding infraction aboard Susie’s Baby at Keeneland on April 23. He returns to the saddle Thursday with four scheduled mounts. … Chris Hartman and Mike Maker each won three races last week. Steve Asmussen and Todd Pletcher begin the week atop the trainer standings with six wins and are followed by Mark Casse and Maker with five apiece. Hartman, Dale Romans and Ian Wilkes have won four races through the first 10 days of the 38-day meet.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Churchill Downs has a new special box seat package for the Preakness Stakes simulcast on Saturday. For $24, fans can get a box seat in Section 314, an official program, one domestic beet or souvenir soda and a custom Kentucky Derby 141 T-Shirt. … Harry T. Rosenblum and Robert V. LaPenta’s Far Right breezed a half mile over a fast main track Thursday morning in :48.40 – his first work since a 15^th-place effort in this year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI). Trainer Ron Moquett has a trio of 1 1/16-mile races under consideration for the 3-year-old: the $500,000 Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 20, $250,000 Iowa Derby (GIII) at Prairie Meadows on June 27, and $500,000 Indiana Derby (GII) at Indiana Grand on July 18.  … Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider’s Departing breezed five furlongs in 1:01.80 over the firm Matt Winn Turf Course. … Charles E. Fipke’s Golden Soul, second in last year’s Kentucky Derby, worked four furlongs in: 49.60 on turf. … Effective immediately, valet parking at Churchill Downs will return to Gate 10 and is $10 daily. … Family Adventure Day Presented by Kroger returns to Churchill Downs on Sunday for a Churchill Charlie birthday bash and bike helmet giveaway by Kosair’s Children’s Hospital. General admission to Churchill Downs is $3 but wristbands that include admission are required to access Family Adventure Day activities. They can be purchased online at ChurchillDowns.com for $8 until 10:45 a.m. Sunday or $10 at the gate on the day of the event. One dollar of every ticket purchased will benefit Kosair Children’s Hospital through the Children’s Hospital Foundation. …Gary Palmisano will join Darren Rogers as co-host for Saturday’s “Inside Churchill Downs” on ESPN 680/105.7 from 10-11 a.m. Palmisano is subbing for Churchill Downs’ John Asher, who’ll be in Bowling Green, Ky. to attend his daughter Erin’s graduation ceremony from the honors college at Western Kentucky University. She graduates with a degree in international business and continues to outrun her father’s pedigree.