Untapable looking to rebound again in Apple Blossom

The connections of Untapable hope history will repeat itself when the five-year-old mare faces five others in her title defense of the $500,000 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park on Friday.

Coming off a 2014 campaign in which she was honored as champion three-year-old filly, Untapable shockingly lost her 2015 debut in the Azeri (G2) but rebounded to take the Apple Blossom by 2 1/2 lengths. Untapable again enters the Apple Blossom following a season-opening loss in the Azeri, on March 19 to Call Pat, but figures to be favored to turn the tables in the 1 1/16-mile event.

However, the 120-pound highweight, who looked so good at three, has had a more difficult time reaching the winner's circle as an older mare. Indeed, the 2015 Apple Blossom was the daughter of Tapit's last win, though she did place in the Ogden Phipps (G1), Shuvee H. (G3), Personal Ensign (G1), and Spinster (G1) to conclude her season. Victorious in last year's Apple Blossom at 1-5, it is unlikely she'll be so heavy a favorite this time.

Lining up against the former champion are Forever Unbridled, who enters in peak form off back-to-back wins in the Comely (G3) and Houston Ladies Classic (G3) for Dallas Stewart, and the California-based Tara's Tango, who captured Santa Anita's major wintertime events for the older females, the Santa Maria (G2) and Santa Margarita (G1).

A repeat by Call Pat perhaps can't be entirely discounted. The six-year-old by Lawyer Ron successfully rallied behind a soft pace in both the Azeri and Bayakoa (G3), and the the projected splits in the Apple Blossom could prove moderate, too, with no serious speed in the field. Tara's Tango, who spent quite a bit of time sprinting earlier in her career, could be sent and followed closely by Untapable and Streamline, an Illinois-bred who captured the $100,000 Pippin before placing in the Bayakoa and Azeri.

The field is rounded out by Theogony, fourth by a length as a longshot in the Azeri.

The supporting feature is the $150,000 Bachelor, a six-furlong dash for three-year-olds. Morning Fire, who captured the $75,000 Spectacular Bid and $63,000 Pasco in Florida earlier this year, is the likely favorite over California invader I Will Score, a tiring third in the Robert B. Lewis (G3) two back. Also in the lineup is recent $100,000 Gazebo hero Will Munnings and the Steve Asmussen-trained Counterforce.

(Coady Photography)