Untapable heads Phipps; 12 set for contentious Acorn

Champion three-year-old filly Untapable (Tapit) has been installed as the 2-5

morning line favorite against five challengers in Saturday's $1 million

Ogden

Phipps, the first of five Grade 1 events on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

Winner of the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1), the four-year-old filly exits a 2

1/2-length score in the April 10 Apple Blossom H. (G1) at Oaklawn Park. John

Velazquez retains the mount for trainer Steve Asmussen.

The Phipps marks her second start at Belmont Park, with Untapable rolling to

a 9 1/4-length decision in last year's Mother Goose (G1), and the classy bay

miss will seek her sixth Grade 1 tally. She's captured three of her last four

starts, the lone setback being a close second in the Azeri (G2) two back, and

Untapable is a six-time winner at the 1 1/16-mile distance.

Wedding Toast (Street Sense) is the main rival following a four-length

victory in the May 9 Ruffian (G2) at Belmont Park. The Kiaran McLaughlin-trained

mare netted a 103 BRIS Speed rating last time, her second century-topping figure

in her last three starts, and possesses a sterling 4-3-1-0 mark on Belmont's

main track. Regular rider Jose Lezcano has the call.

The $750,000

Acorn (G1) shapes up to be an outstanding betting race with a deep field of

12 three-year-old fillies entered. Promise Me Silver (Silver City) enters the

one-mile event perfect from eight starts, rolling to a comfortable 1 1/4-length

decision in the May 1 Eight Belles (G3) at Churchill Downs last time, but the

Bret Calhoun-trained filly didn't receive much respect from the Belmont oddsmaker, being installed as the 5-1 third choice.

The Texas-bred Promise Me Silver takes her track with her, recording wins at

six different venues, but the Acorn marks her first attempt past seven furlongs.

Mike Smith picks up the mount on the classy gray filly.

Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up Shook Up (Tapit) is the early 7-2 favorite.

Robby Albarado, who was up on Promise Me Silver last time, will stick with the

Asmussen trainee. Multiple Grade 2 winner Condo Commando (Tiz Wonderful) is the

4-1 second choice on the morning line. A winner of five of seven lifetime

starts, the Rudy Rodriguez-trained Condo Commando faltered when stretching out

to nine furlongs in the Kentucky Oaks but the speedy miss should appreciate the

cut back in distance here.