Untapable (foaled 13 February 2011) is an American

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

racehorse Horse racing is an equestrian performance activity, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its bas ...

. She showed promise as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won two of her four races including the Pocahontas Stakes and was placed in the

Starlet Stakes The Starlet Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-old fillies run over a distance of one and one sixteenth miles ( furlongs) on the dirt held annually in early December at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, Californi ...

. In 2014 she emerged as a top-class racehorse, winning the Rachel Alexandra Stakes,

Fair Grounds Oaks The Fair Grounds Oaks is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March, usually on Louisiana Derby day at Fair Grounds Race Course in New O ...

Kentucky Oaks The Kentucky Oaks is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred fillies staged annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States. The race currently covers at Churchill Downs; the horses carry . The Kentucky Oaks is held on the Frida ...

Mother Goose Stakes The Mother Goose Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies held at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Raced on dirt in late October, the race currently offers a purse of $250,000. Inaugurated in 1957 at a mile and a s ...

Cotillion Handicap The Cotillion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is run in late September or early October as a prelude to the annual Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. ...

and

Breeders' Cup Distaff The Breeders' Cup Distaff is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, three years old and up. Known as the Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic between 2008 and 2012, it is held annually at a different racetrack in the United Stat ...

and was named

American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly The American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a female horse in Thoroughbred flat racing. It became part of the Eclipse Awards program in 1971. The award originated in 1936 when both ...

Background

Untapable is a

bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

filly with a white blaze and three white leg markings bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds. She was sired by

Tapit Tapit (foaled February 27, 2001, in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won three of his six races, including the Wood Memorial Stakes, then a Graded stakes race, Grade I event. He was an immediate success after retiring to stud, ...

, a

gray Grey (more frequent in British English) or gray (more frequent in American English) is an intermediate color between black and white. It is a neutral or achromatic color, meaning that it has no chroma. It is the color of a cloud-covered s ...

son of

Pulpit A pulpit is a raised stand for preachers in a Christian church. The origin of the word is the Latin ''pulpitum'' (platform or staging). The traditional pulpit is raised well above the surrounding floor for audibility and visibility, accesse ...

, who won the

Wood Memorial Stakes The Wood Memorial Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held annually in April at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. It is run over a distance of 1 1/8 miles (9 furlongs) on dirt. The Wood Memor ...

and started second favorite for the 2004 Kentucky Derby. Tapit has become a successful breeding stallion with other progeny, including Tonalist, Hansen,

Stardom Bound Stardom Bound (foaled in Kentucky on April 9, 2006) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies and the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly. Stardom Bound was sired by Tapit (winner of the 2004 W ...

, Tapitsfly (

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf is a one-mile turf stakes race for thoroughbred fillies two years old. As its name implies, it is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North American thor ...

) and Tapizar (

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile The Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile is a Weight for Age stakes race for thoroughbred racehorses three years old and up. As its name implies, it is part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships, the ''de facto'' year-end championship for North American ...

). Untapable's dam Fun House was a successful racemare who won five races including the

Grade II In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

Buena Vista Handicap. Fun House's dam Bistra was a half-sister to the

Hollywood Derby The Hollywood Derby is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in late November/early December. Now held at Del Mar racetrack in San Diego, California, until 2014 it was held at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, Californi ...

winner Olympio. Untapable is trained by

Steve Asmussen Steven Mark Asmussen (born November 18, 1965) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse trainer. The leading trainer in North America by wins, he is a two-time winner of the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Trainer and was inducted into the National Mu ...

and has been ridden in most of her races by

Rosie Napravnik Anna Rose "Rosie" Napravnik (born February 9, 1988) is a former American Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing jockey and two-time winner of the Kentucky Oaks. Beginning her career in 2005, she was regularly ranked among the top joc ...

Racing career

2013: two-year-old season

Untapable began her racing career at

Churchill Downs Churchill Downs is a horse racing complex in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States that hosts the annual Kentucky Derby. It opened in 1875 and was named for Samuel Churchill, whose family was prominent in Kentucky for many years. The first ...

. In a

maiden race In horse racing, a maiden race is an event for horses that have not won a race. Horses that have not won a race are referred to as maidens. Maiden horse races are held over a variety of distances and under conditions with eligibility based on the s ...

on June 20, 2013, she took the lead soon after the start and won by a length from Harlan's Special. In September, Untapable was moved up in class and distance for the Grade II Pocahontas Stakes over furlongs and finished strongly to win by half a

length Length is a measure of distance. In the International System of Quantities, length is a quantity with Dimension (physical quantity), dimension distance. In most systems of measurement a Base unit (measurement), base unit for length is chosen, ...

from tonetastic at odds of 5.8/1. On November 2, Untapable started the 11/2 fourth choice in the betting for the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies is a -mile thoroughbred horse race on dirt (although the distance has varied, depending on the configuration of the host track) for two-year-old fillies run annually since 1984 at a different racetrack in the Un ...

Santa Anita Park Santa Anita Park is a Thoroughbred racetrack in Arcadia, California, United States. It offers some of the prominent horse racing events in the United States during early fall, winter and in spring. The track is home to numerous prestigious race ...

. She appeared beaten when hampered by the fall of Secret Compass and came home eighth of the nine finishers behind the subsequently disqualified

She's a Tiger She's a Tiger (foaled 10 May 2011) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2013, racing exclusively in California, she won three of her six races including the Del Mar Debutante Stakes and was disqualified after finishing first in the Breeders' ...

Joseph Talamo Joseph Talamo (born January 12, 1990) is an American jockey who competes in Thoroughbred horse race, thoroughbred horse racing. Born and raised in Marrero on the West Bank of the Mississippi River within the Greater New Orleans Metropolitan area, ...

took over the ride from Napravnik when Untapable ran in the

Hollywood Park Racetrack Hollywood Park was a thoroughbred horse racing, race course located in Inglewood, California, about 3 miles (5 km) from Los Angeles International Airport and adjacent to The Forum (Inglewood, California), the Forum indoor arena. In 1994, t ...

on December 7 when the filly finished third behind Streaming and Taste Like Candy.

2014: three-year-old season

Untapable began her three-year-old season at

Fair Grounds Race Course Fair Grounds Race Course, often known as New Orleans Fair Grounds, is a thoroughbred racetrack and racino in New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana. It is operated by Churchill Downs Louisiana Horseracing Company, LLC. The ''Carrollton Race Cours ...

New Orleans New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...

Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...

. On February 22 in the Grade III Rachel Alexandra Stakes over nine furlongs she started third favorite behind Ria Antonia and Got Lucky. She raced on the outside before moving up to take the lead in the straight and won very easily by lengths from Got Lucky. After the race Asmussen said "The filly acted extremely well today...we just think she's a better mare than she was last year, and she showed it today" whilst Napravnik commented "I had lots of confidence in her. It was a wide trip which just goes to show you how much the best she was". Five weeks later she started 1/2 favorite for the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks over furlongs. She took the lead a quarter of a mile from the finish and drew away in the closing stages to win by seven and three quarter lengths from Fiftyshadesofgold. Asmussen said "She has grown up a lot, and she has great composure... and she's fast. I like how she was handled by Rosie, how she relaxed, and she ran big, especially off such a fast effort in the Rachel Alexandra" whilst Napravnik admitted to being "very excited about her". On May 2, Untapable started favorite for the

over nine furlongs at Churchill Downs with her main opposition appearing to come from the

Gazelle Stakes The Gazelle Stakes (formerly Gazelle Handicap until 2004) is an American thoroughbred horse race held annually at Aqueduct Racetrack in Ozone Park, New York. It is a Graded stakes race, Grade III event run over a distance of miles on dirt that is ...

winner My Miss Sophia and the

Ashland Stakes The Ashland Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in early April at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Kentucky, United States. It and the Ashland Oaks, the Kentucky Association racetrack's predecessor race, were named fo ...

winner Rosalind. Drawn wide in stall 13, the filly settled in fourth place before moving up to take the lead from My Miss Sophia on the final turn. In the straight she went clear of her opponents before being eased in the closing stages to win by lengths. After the race, Napravnik commented "She was really great. She got into a great stride and relaxed. She is magnificent". On June 28, Untapable started at odds of 1/20 for the

over furlongs at

Belmont Park Belmont Park is a thoroughbred racing, thoroughbred horse racetrack in Elmont, New York, just east of New York City limits best known for hosting the Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the American Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United Stat ...

. After being hampered in the early stages, Untapable, ridden by

John Velazquez John R. Velazquez (born November 24, 1971) is a Puerto Rican jockey in Thoroughbred horse race, Thoroughbred horse racing. He began his career in Puerto Rico and moved to New York in 1990. In 2004 and 2005 he was the United States Champion Jockey ...

moved up to take the lead on the final turn and pulled clear to win by nine and a quarter lengths from Princess Violet. Untapable's connections opted to race her against colts in her next race, hoping she could become the third filly, after

Serena's Song Serena's Song (foaled April 4, 1992) is an American Thoroughbred race horse. She won 17 graded stakes races, including 11 Graded stakes race, Grade I (some against males and older mares), in three seasons for $3,286,388 in earnings. Background ...

and

Rachel Alexandra Rachel Alexandra (foaled January 29, 2006) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse and the 2009 Horse of the Year. When she won the 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, she became the first filly to win the race in ...

to win the

Haskell Invitational The Haskell Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds run over a distance of miles on the dirt held annually in July at Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. The event is a signature event at Monmouth ...

over nine furlongs at

Monmouth Park Monmouth Park Racetrack is an American race track for thoroughbred horse racing in Oceanport, New Jersey, Oceanport, New Jersey, United States. It is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated under a five-year lease ...

. Racing on the outside of the field, Untapable (the 7/5 favorite) made some progress approaching the straight but never threatened the wire–to–wire winner

Bayern Bavaria, officially the Free State of Bavaria, is a state in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest German state by land area, comprising approximately 1/5 of the total land area of Germany, and with over 13.08 million ...

and finished fifth, beaten more than nine lengths. Napravnik reported that "the horse next to us (Social Inclusion) acted up in the gate, so she got a little fussy and didn't get away well. We had the widest trip of everybody; she ran a hell of a race and ran as hard as she could". Untapable returned to competing against her own sex in the

Cotillion Stakes The Cotillion Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at Parx Racing and Casino in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. It is run in late September or early October as a prelude to the annual Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships. ...

over furlongs at

Parx Parx Casino and Racing (formerly Philadelphia Park Racetrack and Casino) is a Thoroughbred horse racing venue and the largest casino gaming complex in Pennsylvania. Parx is located in Bensalem Township in Bucks County, northeast of the city of ...

on September 20 in which she was expected to be matched against Stopchargingmaria the winner of the

Alabama Stakes The Alabama Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race open to three-year-old fillies. Inaugurated in 1872, the Grade I race is run over a distance of one and one-quarter miles on the dirt track at Saratoga Race Course. Held in mid August, i ...

and the

CCA Oaks The Coaching Club American Oaks is a race for thoroughbred three-year-old fillies and the second leg of the Triple Tiara of Thoroughbred Racing. Originally run at Belmont Park, the Grade I $500,000 stakes race was moved to Saratoga Race Course in ...

. The race lost some of its interest when Stopchargingmaria was scratched. Napravnik tracked the leaders Jojo Warrior and Cassatt before sending the 1/2 favorite into the lead approaching the final furlong. Untapable held off the late challenge of Sweet Reason and won by a length in a time of 1:42.30. Untapable took on older fillies and mares for the first time in the

at Santa Anita on October 31 and started 8/5 favorite. Her biggest danger appeared to be the five-time Grade I winner

Close Hatches Close Hatches (foaled January 31, 2010) is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. Unraced as a two-year-old, she emerged as one of the leading fillies of her generation in the United States in 2013 when she won five of her eight races inclu ...

while her other rivals included Belle Gallantey (

Beldame Stakes The Beldame Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares three-years-old and up. Inaugurated in 1939, it was run as a handicap prior to 1960. The race is held annually near the beginning of October at Belmont Park and curr ...

), Iotapa (

Vanity Handicap The Beholder Mile Stakes is a Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three and up. It is run over a distance of one mile on the dirt each year in March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. History The event was ...

) and Don't Tell Sophia (

Spinster Stakes The Spinster Stakes (also known as the "Juddmonte Spinster" with Juddmonte Farms sponsorship) is an American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares aged three or up run annually in early October at Keeneland Racecourse in Lexington, Kentuc ...

). Forced to race on the outside she made rapid progress on the final turn before taking the lead from Iotapa entering the straight. She stayed on strongly to win by one and a quarter lengths from Don't Tell Sophia, who finished a nose in front of Iotapa. Asmussen said "I can't say enough about her and how proud I am of her. She's an amazing mare to put us on this stage and to perform like she did. Rosie and she are a great combination and they have had a tremendous season. Today, definitely makes her a champion and that's enough said. She's had a great year and she's a great filly." After the win, Napravnik announced that she was seven weeks pregnant and would be taking a "retirement" of "indefinite" duration.

2015: four-year-old season

On January 17, 2015, Untapable won the

Eclipse Award The Eclipse Award is an American Thoroughbred horse racing award named after the 18th-century British racehorse and sire, Eclipse. An Eclipse Award Trophy is presented to the winner in each division. The trophy is made by a few small selected A ...

for

by a unanimous vote. Rebounding from her March 14, 2015 debut loss in the

Azeri Stakes The Azeri Stakes is a Grade II American Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares that are four years old or older, over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in March at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansa ...

, Untapable took the

Grade I In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, H ...

Apple Blossom Handicap The Apple Blossom Handicap is a Graded stakes race, Grade I American Thoroughbred horse race for filly, fillies and mares that are four years old or older, run under handicap conditions over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt tra ...

on April 10. The winner of the Azeri, Gold Metal Dancer, placed. For the rest of the year Untapable ran consistently without recovering her best form and posted a string of placed efforts in major distaff races. She finished second to Wedding Toast in the

Ogden Phipps Stakes The Ogden Phipps Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race for fillies and mares, four years of age and older run over a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt track held annually in mid June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New ...

, second to Stopchargingmaria in the Shuvee Handicap, third to Sheer Drama in the

Personal Ensign Stakes The Personal Ensign Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held annually during the third week of August at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York. Open to fillies and Mares age three and older, it is contested at a dista ...

and second to Got Lucky in the

. It was expected that she would attempt to defend her Breeders' Cup Distaff title but was scratched three days before the race after she was found to be running an abnormally high temperature.

2016: five-year-old season

Untapable made her seasonal debut in the Azeri Stakes for the second year in succession and as in 2015 she was beaten at odds-on, going down by a neck to Call Pat. She failed to recover her form in her two remaining races, despite starting odds-on on both occasions: she finished fourth in the

in April and fourth in the Grade III Fleur de Lis Handicap on 18 June at Churchill Downs. On June 19, 2016, it was announced Untapable had been retired from racing.

Retirement and Breeding

Foals – In 2018, she had a colt by Frankel. She was bred to Gun Runner for a 2019 foal. In 2022, she carried an aborted foal by Gun Runner. In 2023, she had a colt by Gun Runner. In 2024, she was bred to Gun Runner.

Pedigree

References

{{reflist 2011 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Kentucky Racehorses trained in the United States Kentucky Oaks winners Thoroughbred family 8-d Breeders' Cup Distaff winners Eclipse Award winners