By Claire Novak,
Coming off a victory in the May 24 Sheepshead Bay Stakes (gr. IIT) at Belmont Park, Juddmonte Farms' versatile homebred Riposte continued her winning ways with a quick turn of foot June 28 in the $200,000 New York Stakes (gr. IIT) (VIDEO).
Although she won the 1 3/8-mile Sheepshead Bay with a wire-to-wire run on yielding ground, the 4-year-old daughter of Dansili was unhurried early by jockey Joel Rosario in the 1 1/4-mile New York Stakes. Off a step slow and then positioned fourth off opening fractions of :24.98 and :49.86 set by 14-1 shot Viva Rafaela, Riposte galloped clear well back on the outside while Gathering and Scampering pressed the pace through three-quarters in 1:13.32.
Building steam around the final turn, Riposte improved her position and ranged up for a 1:36.69 mile while putting away Viva Rafaela and Gathering three wide. She shifted over while kicking clear with a good burst of speed from the head of the lane under confident handling and held sway 1 1/4 lengths beyond the late advance of Tannery in the final furlong.
Final time was 1:59.71 on the firm inner turf.
"Last time, there was no speed," Rosario said. "Today, I just let her run her race. I rode her in Florida when she came from off the pace. She can do anything. She's a little filly, but it looks like she can do a lot of things. I tried to get on the outside. I didn't want to be caught wide, but I wanted a clean trip and not get stuck inside. She got the job done today."
The victory was a second in as many starts at Belmont for Riposte and her second score in North America for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. A group II winner in England, Riposte is out of the Rainbow Quest mare Rainbow Lake, and is a half sister to $1.9-million earner Powerscourt, winner of the 2004 Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I) and the 2005 Arlington Million (gr. IT). Earlier this year she had a trio of good efforts, getting a runner-up finish by a neck in a second-level allowance race at nine furlongs April 11 on the Keeneland turf, a second in the Suwannee River Stakes (gr. IIT) in February at Gulfstream Park followed by a third in the Hillsborough Stakes (gr. IIIT) in March at Tampa Bay Downs.
"I think the longer distances have probably helped her," Mott said. "She broke a little slow, so she was fourth instead of second or third, but she was still within range of the leaders. She rated very nicely and kicked very well. She punched pretty good off a slow pace.
"We have nothing planned for her right now. It's too close to run her back in the Diana (gr. IT, July 19 at Saratoga Race Course), so she won't do that."
Riposte won twice in her native England including a score in the 1 1/2-mile Ribblesdale Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot last June. The New York victory improved her record to 4-3-1 from 11 starts, with earnings of $460,968.
Favored at odds of 6-5 in a group of six older fillies and mares, Riposte paid $4.60, $2.70, and $2.40 while 3-2 second choice Tannery brought $2.70 and $2.50. Viva Rafaela paid $4.10 as Scampering, Gathering, and Inimitable Romanee completed the order of finish.
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/85912/riposte-quickens-to-new-york-stakes-score#ixzz35zIMocSV
By Claire Novak,
Ron Winchell's Longines Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) victress Untapable continued her perfect season June 28, starting for the first time since her May 2 Oaks win and running away with the $300,000 Mother Goose Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park by 9 1/2 lengths (VIDEO).
Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez replaced the injured Rosie Napravnik in the irons and had little to do from the far turn to the wire, as Untapable ranged up under her own power, took over from front-runner Princess Violet, and widened away to win by daylight. Final time for the 1 1/16-mile test was 1:41.48.
Velazquez had his hands full a few strides from the start, however, as Untapable was in close quarters from post 2 and nearly clipped heels with Princess Violet while that rival veered over when striking out for the lead. Steadied sharply, the 3-year-old daughter of Tapit was shifted outside by her expert rider and found running room in third about one length back of America, who pressed the pace through a quarter in :23.30 and a half in :45.95.
"I didn't hesitate at all; I got her out of there," Velazquez said. "After that, it was pretty easy. I put her into the clear, she settled really well, and it was a nice ride. I just kind of put my hands down and I was confident I could give her the opportunity she needed."
Untapable got her signal to go shortly thereafter and began a sustained bid around the turn for home through three-quarters in 1:09.65. She easily passed the leader entering the lane, and struck out on her own to gallop a mile in 1:34.57 while increasing her advantage to the line.
"I'm very pleased with her race today," trainer Steve Asmussen remarked. "I loved how quiet she was pre-race and in the paddock. She turned off right after a little trouble at the start and was pretty relaxed. She picked it up when she needed to and appeared to be looking around quite a bit in the stretch,
Based at Churchill Downs this spring, Untapable turned in her final pre-race move at the Louisville oval June 23, going four furlongs in :49 3/5 before shipping to New York to compete.
"It was her first time (at Belmont)," Asmussen said. "All of her previous victories had been where she was training, so I think that this was a pretty good step. I think she's a very special filly."
Bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds out of the Prized mare Fun House, Untapable improved her career total to six wins and a third from eight starts, with earnings of $1,304,725. Before taking the Oaks by 4 1/2 lengths earlier this season, she won the Fair Grounds Oaks (gr. II) and the Rachel Alexandra Stakes (gr. III), both at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, for a combined 2014 win margin of 31 1/4 lengths.
Untapable was the 1-9 favorite in the field of five sophomore fillies and returned $2.10 and $2.10 to win and place, while Princess Violet held for second and brought $3.70 to place. There was no show wagering. Completing the order of finish were America, House Rules, and Aqua Regia, who jumped at the start and lost all chance.
Stopchargingmaria scratched and will target the July 20 Coaching Club American Oaks (gr. I) at Saratoga Race Course.
Untapable is the third Mother Goose winner for Asmussen, who saddled Dreams Gallore in 1999 and took the 2009 edition with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra. Velazquez has won the race six times; his previous triumphs came aboard Buster's Ready (2011), Devil May Care (2010), Octave (2007), Fleet Renee (2001), and Yanks Music (1996).
According to her trainer, Untapable's connections continue to maintain great interest in running her against males this year.
"There's definitely the thought of running her against the boys," said Asmussen. "I think that this was a very good obstacle for her, as far as shipping and running, because of how bad her Breeders' Cup was (8th in the grade I Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies). Maturity, time, confidence, how she acted pre-race in the paddock today, all of those are steps in the right direction, and it will be an interesting conversation with Ron after today's win."
Untapable will ship to Saratoga, which will be her summer base, June 30.
"The Coaching Club is a very lucrative race that is there, but I don't want to speak for Ron at this point," Asmussen said. "We're aware that the Haskell is (July 27) and the timing is excellent. It's nice to have a horse like her because you can consider races as good as these."
Read more on BloodHorse.com: http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/85904/untapable-cruises-by-daylight-in-mother-goose#ixzz35zImrNrB
