Untapable Top Individual Choice in Oaks Pool

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Untapable has turned a dazzling romp in Saturday's Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III) at Fair Grounds Race Course into status as the co-favorite with the always popular mutuel field for the only 2014 pool of the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager, which opens its three-day run Feb. 27.



The impressive nature of Untapable's Rachel Alexandra runaway and the fact that the filly is unbeaten in two races at Churchill Downs prompted Churchill Downs handicapper Mike Battaglia to install her as the 6-1 co-favorite with the mutuel field for the Oaks pool, which will open at noon (EST) Thursday.  

The Kentucky Oaks Future Wager runs concurrent to Pool 3 of the 2014 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Wagering is scheduled to conclude at post time for the $100,000-added Santa Ysabel (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park, or 6 p.m., whichever comes first.  

The Steve Asmussen-trained Untapable emerged as a major contender for the Kentucky Oaks after her dominant victory in the 1 1/16-mile Rachel Alexandra under jockey Rosie Napravnik. Untapable rolled by 9 1/2 lengths and completed the distance in 1:43.64 over a fast track.  

The winning time for the daughter of Tapit   was faster than the clockings for males in two stakes races run later in the day over the same track and distance at the New Orleans track. Intense Holiday, a contender for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), turned back fellow 3-year-olds in 1:43.86 in the Risen Star (GII). The 4-year-old Bradester defeated older males in the Mineshaft Handicap (GIII) in 1:43.80.

The mutuel field includes all 3-year-old fillies other than the 23 individual horses listed the Kentucky Oaks Future Wager pool's roster of wagering interests

Other prominent fillies in Battaglia's morning line are Charles Fipke's homebred Unbridled Forever, winner the Silverbulletday Stakes at Fair Grounds, and Glencrest Farm's unbeaten Onlyforyou, winner of the Davona Dale (gr. II) and Forward Gal (gr. II) at Gulfstream Park in her most recent outings. Both are listed as 8-1 co-third choices in the pool.