Gold Medal Dancer powered home to upset the Azeri in a wire job (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography)

Saturday's $294,000 Azeri S. (G2) at Oaklawn Park was supposed to be an easy spot for champion Untapable's (Tapit) opening volley to her four-year-old season. However, a muddy track labeled as good, sealed, and a rank attitude from the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner didn't help her any as she was beaten a half-length by Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d'Oro).

That Pin Oak Stud homebred actually grabbed the lead out of the gate and proceeded to set the pace under jockey Luis Quinonez. Untapable, who broke from the inside post 1 after acting up in the stalls, raced just to her inside rounding the first turn. The four-year-old lass tossed her head and fought jockey John Velazquez as he angled her to the outside of Gold Medal Dancer, who was loping along through splits of :24 3/5 and :48 4/5.

The pair continued in that way until the turn, when Untapable began inching closer to Gold Medal Dancer before finally running in tandem entering the stretch. Meanwhile, Mufajaah (Tapit), winner of the Bayakoa S. (G3) over track and distance last out, came flying from the back of the five-filly field to put in her bid.

Untapable ranged up and briefly stuck her head in front of Gold Medal Dancer, but the pacesetter fought back on the rail, regained command of the race and refused to yield again. She stopped the clock in 1:45 4/5 for 1 1/16 miles and paid $18.80 as the 8-1 third choice.

"It's very exciting and the mare just ran a huge race," trainer Donnie Von Hemel said. "Thanks to Pin Oak (Stud) and my entire staff. It was a team effort and I am thrilled to death.

Gold Medal Dancer (right) edges Untapable in Azeri (Oaklawn Park/Coady Photography)

It was another 2 1/2 lengths behind Untapable to 6-1 second favorite Mufajaah.

"She was in perfect position. I was happy where I was," Velazquez said of Untapable. "Coming down the lane she was a little hesitate to go by the other filly. She put in a good fight for her first start of the year. It was her first time on a wet track, but take nothing from the winner. The winner was a nice horse."

"The track was a little heavy and obviously it was a bit of a concern off the layoff," said the filly's trainer, Steve Asmussen. "The main thing is that she comes out of it well. There's a lot of reasons for her to move forward off this race. It was a concern not being able to get her up here and have a work over the track, but the weather didn't allow for that. As long as she comes out OK, we'll be happy with this effort."

Gold Medal Dancer earned her first graded win in this spot, having captured her initial black-type in the Minnesota H.B.P.A. Distaff S. last June. The five-year-old mare -- who has recorded wins on dirt, synthetic and turf in her career -- took her maiden debut at Arlington and an allowance/optional claimer over a wet-fast Oaklawn surface as a juvenile. As a sophomore she ran second in the Zia Park Oaks and Remington Park Oaks, and last year added both her first stakes win and a second in the Lady Canterbury S. to her resume.