Untapable draws post 13, installed as 4-5 choice in
Kentucky Oaks
Untapable, a dominant winner of the Fair Grounds Oaks and Rachel Alexandra in
two starts this year, is the overwhelming 4-5 favorite on the morning line in
Friday’s Grade 1, $1 million Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. But the imposing
three-year-old filly will have to overcome the far outside post position in the
13-horse field.
After opening her racing career with two straight wins at Churchill Downs,
including the Grade 2 Pocahontas last September, Untapable experienced a
troubled trip and was eased in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The Tapit
filly concluded her juvenile season with a third in the Grade 1 Hollywood
Starlet on Cushion Track.
Her form has improved significantly this year. After opening 2014 with a 9
1/2-length score in the Grade 3 Rachel Alexandra at Fair Grounds, Untapable
earned a 107 BRIS Speed rating for her 7 3/4-length triumph in the Fair Grounds
Oaks a month later. That number is greater that any Speed rating earned by a
Kentucky Derby contender.
Rosie Napravnik will retain the mount aboard the Steve Asmussen-trained bay.
Multiple Grade 1 winner Fashion Plate comes next on the morning line at 6-1.
A maiden winner on December 29 at Santa Anita, the daughter of Old Fashioned
proceeded to record Grade 1 tallies in the Las Virgenes and Santa Anita Oaks,
leading all the way each time. The Simon Callaghan trainee will show speed from
post 7 with Gary Stevens.
Rosalind, the dead-heat winner of the Grade 1 Ashland at Keeneland, and Grade
2 Gazelle heroine My Miss Sophia are each listed at 8-1. Joel Rosario pilots the
Kenny McPeek-trained Rosalind, a confirmed late runner. Javier Castellano is the
regular rider of Todd Pletcher’s My Miss Sophia, a wire-to-wire scorer last
time.
Santa Anita Oaks runner-up Ria Antonia will make her second start for Bob
Baffert and rates as the early fifth choice at 10-1. She was placed first via
disqualification in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and has Mike Smith named
to ride. Grade 3 Fantasy winner Sugar Shock and stakes-winning Fair Grounds Oaks
third-placer Unbridled Forever are both 12-1.
Rounding out the field are Gazelle and Rachel Alexandra runner-up Got Lucky;
Ashland third-placer Thank You Marylou, a stakes winner at Gulfstream two back;
Sunland Oaks runner-up Empress of Midway; and stakes queen Please Explain.
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