Untapable prevails in Apple Blossom

Untapable had no trouble subduing her Apple Blossom opponents (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography)

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s Untapable (Tapit) finished a half-length second
in her four-year-old bow on March 14, but that was just a preview to Friday’s
$600,00
Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park.

The bay miss was honored as champion three-year-old filly after going
six-for-seven in 2014, and was sent off the 1-5 favorite on Friday against six
rivals. Jockey John Vealzquez settled Untapable into an outside stalking
position as Sugar Shock (Candy Ride) moved up to set the pace through fractions
of :23 4/5 and :48 1/5. Pearl Turn (Bernardini) was pressing in second and
challenged Sugar Shock on the backstretch, gaining a slim advantage through
three-quarters in 1:12 before her rival battled back on the inside.

Those two continued to duel entering the turn, with Pearl Turn eventually
taking over. Unfortunately for her Untapable had begun her run by that point and
ranged up on the outside. The Kentucky-bred slipped past Pearl Turn and drew off
to be 2 1/2 lengths clear on the wire, finishing 1 1/16 miles on the fast main
track in 1:42 4/5.

“I was awfully
concerned with how sharp she’s been, the works that she’s put in,” trainer Steve
Asmussen said. “I thought Johnny did a great job with her into the first turn.
Once they lined out down the backside, I thought she was really in a commanding
position and ran extremely well from there.

Untapable has earned in excess of $3.4 million thus far (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography)

Untapable paid $2.40 for her first win of the year, which followed a second
in the Azeri S. (G2) to the re-opposing Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d’Oro). That
one wound up third in this spot just a neck behind 51-1 longshot Diva’s Diamond
(Crafty Shaw).

“She ran a big race. Grade 1 placed is not anything to sneeze at. We’re happy
with that and with her big effort,” trainer Donnie Von Hemel praised his charge,
Gold Medal Dancer. “Untapable was very tough today. I could see a little
different scenario where maybe we could have been second instead of third, but
we’re very proud of her, very proud. There’s no shame in running third to
Untapable in a Grade 1 race.”

The Apple Blossom enabled Untapble to add a fifth Grade 1 score to her
resume, as she already scored in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Kentucky Oaks,
Cotillion S. and Mother Goose S. last year. She also captured the Fair Grounds
Oaks (G2) and Rachel Alexandra S. (G3) as a sophomore and the Pocahontas S. (G2)
as a juvenile, and now boasts a 9-1-1 mark from 13 career starts. Thus far,
she’s banked $3,416,725 over three seasons of racing.

“After the last race, when I saw her works coming up to this race it seemed
like she was very upset about losing the last one. You kind of got the feeling
like she was almost training herself and this was kind of the result we were
expecting and hoping for,” owner Ron Winchell said. “I haven’t really thought
about the next target. When we brought her back this was the main target and so,
accomplishing this, we’ll look at the next options and try to figure that out.”