A $1-million purse and automatic berth into the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff lured just six older mares to Saturday's GI Ogden Phipps S., but the presence of last year's champion 3-year-old filly Untapable (Tapit) might have something to do with it. The Winchell homebred racked up over $2.8 million last term during a season that included wins in the GI Kentucky Oaks, GI Mother Goose S., GI Cotillion S. and was capped off by a win in the Distaff. Upended when second at 1-9 odds in Oaklawn's GII Azeri S. Mar. 14, the Steve Asmussen pupil returned to winning ways with a clear success in the GI Apple Blossom H. back in Hot Springs Apr. 10. Hall of Famer John Velazquez picked up the mount on Untapable after Rosie Napravnik announced her retirement following last year's Breeders' Cup. When asked what the superstar filly's best asset it, he said, “I don't know, because whatever she does, she does very well. In her first race this year, it just seemed she needed a run, and then I rode her back and she was ready for it, and she ran pretty impressively.”
Sheikh Mohammed homebred Wedding Toast (Street Sense) is probably Untapable's biggest obstacle. The lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' comes off a four-length win over Princess Violet (Officer), House Rules (Distorted Humor) andShayjolie (Indian Charlie) going a sixteenth shorter in the GII Ruffian S. May 9. “She ran huge last time,” offered conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin, who won this race with Godolphin's It's Tricky (Mineshaft) in 2012. “We took her back because we had [front-runner] Via Strata in the race and she was going to the lead, so I asked [Jose Lezcano] if he could sit off the pace with Wedding Toast. We don't have Via Strata for this race, but there will be pace with Untapable. We'll be off the pace.”
Rounding out the field is last year's GI Ashland S. dead-heat winner Rosalind (Broken Vow), who hasn't tried the main track since a fourth behind Untapable in the Kentucky Oaks for previous conditioner Ken McPeek. Now managed by Chad Brown for Bethlehem Stables, Michael Dubb and Highclere America, the chestnut comes in off a victory in the GII Sheepshead Bay S. over 11 panels May 2.
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