Longines Kentucky Oaks Winner Untapable Works, Ships Tuesday for Mother Goose

Jun 23, 2014 John Asher

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Untapable, an emphatic 4 ½-length winner of the $1 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (Grade I) in her most recent start, worked four furlongs on Monday at Churchill Downs in a final prep for her scheduled return to competition in Saturday’s Grade I Mother Goose at New York’s Belmont Park.

The Steve Asmussen-trained homebred covered the distance in :49.60 over a fast track on a warm and humid morning at the Louisville track.  Internal fractions of her work were timed in :13.20 and :25.40 and the 3-year-old daughter of Tapit galloped-out five furlongs in 1:03.

The training move tied as the 22^nd fastest of 50 at the distance.

“We’re just trying to stay in a nice rhythm with her – keep her happy and comfortable,” Asmussen said.  “I thought she went over the racetrack well.  It was a pretty warm morning – a little humid – but all is good.”

Asmussen said Untapable would fly to New York on Tuesday for Saturday’s Mother Goose, a 1 1/16 mile race that carries a purse of $300,000-added.  John Velazquez will ride Untapable as regular jockey Rosie Napravnik continues her recovery from injuries suffered in a training mishap at Churchill Downs on June 15.

“She’s special,” Asmussen said on Untapable.  “You realize how fortunate we are to be around her.  She’s just a tremendous talent and it’s exciting and fun to have her.”

Untapable’s victory in the Longines Kentucky Oaks lifted her career record to 5-0-1 in seven races with earnings of $1,124,725.

Other notable Monday works included:

• A five-furlong move in 1:00 by Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (GI) winner Ria Antonia, 10^th in her most recent start against males in the Preakness (GI);

• A five-furlong breeze in 1:02 by Golden Soul, runner-up in the 2013 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI);

• A work by Opening Verse winner Regally Ready, a candidate for the Firecracker Handicap (GII) who breezed a half-mile in :50.20.