Untapable was an overwhelming favorite entering the 2014 Kentucky Oaks and the 3-year-old filly was able to live up to expectations, blowing away the field to win the race and claim the $600,000 first-place purse. My Miss Sophia finished second while Unbridled finished third.
Untapable wins the 2014 Kentucky Oaks
Drawing comparisons to Rachel Alexandra, Untapable entered the Kentucky Oaks with high expectations and lived up to the billing.
Lauren Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Starting from the far outside post, Untapable started well, running with the pace from the start. She showed her form throughout the 1-1/8-mile race, sticking near the lead for most of the early going. Jockey Rosie Napravnik held back until the final turn. Untapable and My Miss Sophia entered the final turn nearly neck-and-neck but there was no suspense down the stretch with Untapable blowing away My Miss Sophia and the rest of the field to win easily.
Untapable was slotted with 4-5 morning line odds, entering the race in dominating form after having won her previous two races by nearly 18 combined lengths. Untapable went off with 1-1 odds, with My Miss Sophie the second-favorite at 5-1. Untapable has been running so strong that some didn’t expect any of the other 12 horses to challenge, unless Untapable wasn’t up to form. Form was not an issue.
Kentucky Derby
Although the race is a definite undercard to the Derby on Saturday, it is still a major victory. The Grade 1 stake race has a total purse of $1 million. The field as a whole was widely considered to be strong, making Untapable’s win even more impressive. The race was delayed slightly when Empress of Midway, a 50-1 favorite, bucked in the starting gate and flipped onto her back, just before the start of the race. She was scratched as a result. The race veterinarian told NBC Sports it was for precautionary reasons and there did not appear to be anything wrong otherwise.
Some have compared Untapable to former Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra and the dominating win won’t do anything to stop those comparisons. Like Rachel Alexandra, Untapable did not run in the Kentucky Derby, despite being in top form, and instead headlined the Kentucky Oaks field. Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks by 20-1/4 lengths, going on to win the Preakness Stakes.
Whether Untapable follows a similar path and claims a Triple Crown race race will remain to be seen.
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