Untapable Shocked by Gold Medal Dancer in Hot Springs
They can’t win them all.
On paper, the $300,000 Azeri Stakes did not look like a big test for Untapable going in, but horse races are never run on paper. In one of the bigger surprises in recent years, Gold Medal Dancer pulled off a front-running, shocking upset over the returning champion in the Grade 2 affair today at a rain dampened Oaklawn Park.
As the field of five made their way to the starting gate, all eyes were on last year’s undisputed leader of the sophomore fillies division, in her first start since a resounding win in the Breeders' Cup Distaff some 4 1/2 months ago. A winner of 6-of-7 in 2014, and perfect against the fairer set, Untapable was sent off a prohibitive 1-9 favorite, while the Donnie Von Hemel trained Gold Medal Dancer was the 8-1 third choice.
Away in the middle of the pack from her rail post position, Untapable moved into second by the time the compact field hit the first turn, as Gold Medal Dancer was allowed to set moderate fractions over the track listed as good. Through fractions of :24.66 and :48.96, Untapable and rider John Velazquez tracked the early leader down the backstretch, and to all the world it appeared that she could take over the race whenever asked.
Velazquez asked for a little more on the far turn, and Untapable responded, as she usually does, ranging right up to the nose of Gold Medal Dancer. The two mares came spinning out of the Oaklawn turn together, and the crowd braced for the champion to kick into another gear. Her competitor had other ideas, though.
Slowly but surely, Gold Medal Dancer, under Luis Quinonez inched back ahead by mid-stretch. Velazquez got into the champion, as it was clear that she was in trouble. From there, Gold Medal Dancer continued her bold and determined run on the rail, and just like that, a champion was beaten today in Hot Springs, Arkansas by a half-length on the wire.
Second betting choice, Murajaah, made a nice move to get within striking distance at the head of the lane, but could not make up any ground from there, and finished 2 ½-lengths farther back in third.
The winner is a five-year-old daughter of Medaglia d’Oro. A Pin Oak Stable homebred, Gold Medal Dancer raised her lifetime record to a very respectable 16-7-4-1. She completed the 8 ½ furlongs over the wet racetrack in 1:45.92, while raising her lifetime earnings over the half-million dollar mark. Gold Medal Dancer was a stakes winner coming in, but today’s victory, especially considering who she beat, is easily the biggest of her career. The winning rider was thrilled with the trip she had today.
“We had the perfect trip,” explained Quinonez. “I just tried to get her to relax. She came out of the gates relaxed and I just let her do it. I said wait, wait, wait and when that other horse (Untapable) came to her, she wouldn’t let her by. It was great. (Trainer) Donnie (K. Von Hemel) did a great job getting her ready.”
As for Untapable, it was a disappointing seasonal debut after such an excellent season at three, and whenever a champion is defeated, questions arise. Can the loss be easily explained by the layoff, or the track condition? Or, is Untapable going to fall victim to what has happened to so many female champions over the years, and lose something during the offseason. Obviously, it is far too early to tell, but her trainer, Steve Asmussen, remained positive after the stunning defeat.
“The track was a little heavy and obviously it was a bit of a concern off the layoff, said Asmussen. “The main thing is that she comes out of it well. There’s a lot of reasons for her to move forward off this race. It was a concern not being able to get her up here and have a work over the track, but the weather didn’t allow for that. As long as she comes out ok, we’ll be happy with this effort.”