Untapable Aims for Apple Blossom Repeat

Winchell Thoroughbreds' 2014 champion 3-year-old filly Untapable will bid for a repeat victory in the $600,000 Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares April 15 at Oaklawn Park. 

 

The 1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom, carded as race 8 drew, five other entrants, including Stonestreet Stables' recent grade I winner Tara's Tango. Approximate post time is set for 5:10 p.m. CDT.

 

A daughter of leading sire Tapit   and conditioned by meet-leading trainer Steve Asmussen, Untapable is the 120-pound highweight and will look to snap a four-race winless streak dating from last year's 2 1/2-length triumph in the Apple Blossom. She is coming a season-debut, runner-up finish to Apple Blossom entrant Call Pat in the Azeri Stakes (gr. II) March 19 at Oaklawn. 

 

Prominent early in the Azeri, Untapable moved to lead entering the stretch, opening a 1 1/2-length advantage under Florent Geroux, but Call Pat wore her down for a neck win in completing a sensational last-to-first rally. Geroux has the return call on Untapable, who will depart from post 4.

 

Miller Racing's Call Pat is aiming to stay unbeaten this year and get her first win at the highest level. In her start prior to the Azeri, she won the Bayakoa Stakes (gr. III) at Oaklawn for trainer Brad Cox.

 

A 6-year-old daughter of Lawyer Ron assigned co-second high weight of 119 pounds, Call Pat will be ridden by Joe Rocco from post 1. 

 

Tara's Tango, also at 119, ventures from California where she took the Santa Margarita (gr. I) in come-from-behind fashion March 19 at Santa Anita Park for trainer Jerry Hollendorfer. 

 

The 4-year-old Unbridled's Song filly will bid for a third straight win this year after starting the season with a third in the Santa Monica Stakes (gr. II) in January at Santa Anita, where she followed with a breakthrough stakes win in the Santa Maria Stakes (gr. II) Feb. 13. Rafael Bejarano rides Tara's Tango, who will break from the 3 hole.

 

The field is completed by Charles Fipke's 2015 Comely (gr. III) victress Forever Unbridled (117, John Velazquez), winner of the Houston Ladies Classic Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 30 in her most recent start for trainer Dallas Stewart; Nancy Vanier and Cartwright Thoroughbreds Illinois-bred Streamline (115, Chris Landeros), who took the listed Pippin Stakes at Oaklawn to start the year and subsequently was second to Call Pat in the Bayakoa and third to that rival in the Azeri, and Conrad Farms' Theogony (114, Ricardo Santana Jr.), fourth in the Azeri.