Connections of Untrapped Confident in his Talents

Trainer Steve Asmussen and owner Mike Langford are waiting for their 3-year-old colt Untrapped to come up with a signature victory. The $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2) July 15 at Indiana Grand Racing & Casino would be an excellent time.

Untrapped, by Trappe Shot  , won on his second attempt in November at Churchill Downs, but in six stakes appearances since, he has two seconds and a pair of thirds. His out-of-the-money starts were a sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in what proved a one-race experiment with blinkers and 12th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1).

"He's a talented horse. He's had a lot of adjustments this year, starting off with being stuck in quarantine in New Orleans," Asmussen said, referring to horses being restricted to Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots after an outbreak of equine herpes virus. "So you start off your year not getting to do exactly what you want. He's had a productive year, but we've not seen the best of him. 

"We need to get into a good rhythm with him. I thought he ran solid in the Ohio Derby (G3). I didn't think the race unfolded ideally for him, and he still ran on valiantly. I think he's capable of a better trip than he got on multiple occasions this year, and when it comes together he's going to win a good race."

In his previous start Untrapped closed into a moderate pace to finish third by 4 1/4 lengths in the Ohio Derby behind victorious Irap, who nosed out TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Girvin. Irap, also Keeneland's grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner, is the anticipated favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby. Ricardo Santana Jr. will be back aboard Untrapped at Indiana Grand.

"I would have liked to have seen him break through in Ohio," said Langford, a real-estate developer in Arkansas who had his first Kentucky Derby starter in Untrapped. "I think he ran a good race. I would have liked to have seen him a little more forwardly placed, just to change what we're doing. But I'm an owner, not a jockey. I'm not going to say I'm disappointed, because those horses that beat him are pretty good horses. But I expect him to run pretty good in Indiana.

"In the Kentucky Derby, he cut himself pretty good coming out of the gate. We gave him some time, let that heal. I think he ran his race in Ohio. I do think there's a little more there. Steve really likes the way he's doing right now, I think more so than going into the Ohio Derby."