RACING FESTIVAL OF THE SOUTH

Star shines, this time

Untapable regains form on Grade I stage

4/10/15
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. John Velazquez stands up aboard Untapable before he crosses the finish line to win The Apple Blossom Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park  in Hot Springs.
4/10/15 Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/STEPHEN B. John Velazquez stands up aboard Untapable before he crosses the finish line to win The Apple Blossom Friday afternoon at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

HOT SPRINGS -- Untapable made amends for her previous Oaklawn Park start.

Settling off the pace Friday in the 51st running of Grade I $600,000 Apple Blossom Stakes, heavily favored Untapable took charge at the top of the stretch to post a 2 1/2-length victory over long shot Diva's Diamond.

The victory gave trainer Steve Asmussen his second stakes victory of the afternoon on the next to last day of the Racing Festival of the South.

Untapable, a 4-year-old filly, won for the third time in her past four races and for the ninth time in 13 career starts.

"Once they lined out down the backside, I thought she was really in a commanding position," Asmussen said. "[She] ran extremely well from there. I can't say enough how proud I am."

Untapable finished second to Gold Medal Dancer in the $300,000 Azeri Stakes on March 14, but Friday's 1-5 favorite found her best stride when called upon, even after breaking in and brushing with another horse coming out of the gate.

Jockey John Velazquez maneuvered Untapable into fourth, on the outside, down the backstretch, as Sugar Shock, last year's winner of the Fantasy Stakes, took the field through fractions of 23.90, 48.26 and 1:12.05.

Velazquez called on Untapable to run as the seven-horse field made its way around the far turn in the 1 1/16th race for fillies and mares 4 years old and up.

From there, a 4-wide Untapable blew past the field, passing the mile mark in 1:36.61 and crossing the wire in 1:42.96.

"She had a race under her belt this time, and obviously off a layoff last time out she still ran a great race," Velazquez said. "Steve told me last time, 'I'm not sure she's 100 percent fit.' ... He was unsure about how she would like the track.

"Today he told me she was ready, and she showed it."

Untapable earned $360,000 for Winchell Thoroughbreds and increased her career earnings to $3,168,600. She paid $2.40, 2.20 and $2.10.

"I was awfully concerned with how sharp she's been, the works that she's put in" Asmussen said. "I thought Johnny did a great job with her into the first turn."

Earlier in the day Holy Boss won the Bachelor Stakes for Asmussen, who enters the final day of the Oaklawn meet three victories behind Chris Hartman in the trainer standings.

Diva's Diamond, who went off at 50-1 and had Cliff Berry aboard, rallied to finish second and paid $15.60 and $5.40. Gold Medal Dancer settled for third and paid $2.40.

Diva's Diamond had finished no better than fourth in her previous three outings.

"Truthfully, I was just trying to make a check and she finished great," Berry said of Diva's Diamond. "That's the best she's ran for me, and she did it against some great company."

Gold Medal Dancer trainer Donnie K Von Hemel also was pleased with his horse's efforts.

"Grade I placed is not anything to sneeze at," Von Hemel said. "We're happy with that and with her big effort. 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."

Untapable owner Ron Winchell said he thought his horse was "very upset" after finishing second in the Azeri Stakes.

"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," Winchell said. "It's always tough when you're [1-5] though.

"I haven't really thought about the next target. Then 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."

"She was mad after he last race," Velazquez said. "That was a great effort from her today. A nice effort from a nice filly."

Sports on 04/11/2015

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