Stopchargingmaria runs up big win in Shuvee

Sunday’s $200,000 Shuvee H. (G3) could have proved anti-climactic coming hot on the heels of American Pharoa’s easy Haskell S. (G1) win. However, it proved anything but thanks to a race-long battle between Untapable and Stopchargingmaria.

Those two hooked up from the start of the 1 1/8-mile contest and proceeded to duke it out all the way to the finish.

Untapable took early command and led the way on the backstretch, but was usurped by Stopchargingmaria in the lane. The latter filly proved best in the end, inching away to a one-length score under jockey Javier Castellano in a final time of 1:49.37.

Stopchargingmaria was a close second favorite, sent off at 1.35-1 as compared to her rival’s 1.30-1 odds.

The Todd Pletcher trainee never faced Untapable last year during that filly’s championship season, but she did rack up wins in the Alabama S. (G1), Black-Eyed Susan S. (G2) and Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), with a second in the Beldame S. (G1) thrown in for good measure.

Untapable has now dropped three of her four starts this season after going 7-6-0-0 in 2014. Since winning last year’s Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the chestnut miss has run second in the Azeri S. (G3), Ogden Phipps S. (G1) and this one.

She did take the Apple Blossom H. (G1) over the spring at Oaklawn Park, but just isn’t showing the same spark as last year.

Stopchargingmaria (left) and Untapable (right) photo courtesy of NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography