Untapable may await Personal Ensign

Champion Untapable is happy to be back at Saratoga, but may not run until near the end of the meet.

"She loves it up here," trainer Steve Asmussen said. "She's doing really well. She's still the queen of the barn. She is nominated to the Shuvee ([G3] on August 2), but we may wait for the Personal Ensign ([G1] on August 29). It's her main target for being here."

The 1 1/8-mile Personal Ensign is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), which Untapable won at Santa Anita last fall. A distant second as the 3-5 favorite behind Wedding Toast in the Ogden Phipps (G1) on Belmont Day, Untapable has turned in four works at the Spa, including a five-furlongs breeze on the Oklahoma training track in 1:01.76 Thursday.

Asmussen also commented on promising two-year-old filly Just Wicked, who scored a good-looking maiden win at Saratoga on Friday's opening day card.

"It's very nice to have a win opening day at Saratoga," the trainer said. "We have high hopes for Just Wicked, that's why we have her here. We think that she's a very good filly and I thought she came out of the race in good shape."

Like Untapable, Just Wicked is a Ron Winchell homebred by Tapit. The gray is now in line for the meet's premier races in her division, the August 15 Adirondack (G2) and the September 5 Spinaway (G1).

Saturday brought news involving a past Asmussen star, Rachel Alexandra, whose juvenile daughter by Bernardini is training at Saratoga with Todd Pletcher. Named Rachel's Valentina, the Stonestreet-bred bay blitzed four furlongs in a bullet :47.04 from the gate two works back on July 11. But she's not an imminent runner.
 
"She's doing well. With all the babies it's week to week, hopefully another work or two or three, or whatever it takes to get her ready," Pletcher said.

Untapable photo courtesy Coady Photography.