Untapable, Tapiture expected to return in 2014; Goldencents retired to stud

Untapable, Tapiture expected to return in 2014; Goldencents

retired to stud

Breeders' Cup Distaff heroine Untapable and fellow Tapit-sired stablemate

Tapiture, runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile earlier on the Santa Anita

card, both returned from their races in good order on Saturday and are slated to

continue their career in 2014, according to trainer Steve Asmussen.

"Untapable performed excellently and ran a huge race. They

both came back perfectly and everything is good with them," Asmussen said

Saturday. "Mr. (Ron) Winchell

plans on racing both Untapable and Tapiture next year, so there will be a little

down time for them and then we have big plans for them from here on when,

hopefully, both of them will end up back in the Breeders' Cup again next year.

"Now that it's all had the chance to sink in, I'm still very happy

and could not be prouder of both horses and of my whole team and how everything

came together."

Untapable wrapped up champion three-year-old filly honors by defeating both

sophomore fillies and her elders, whom she was facing for the first time in the

Distaff. Tapiture attempted to run down defending Dirt Mile victor Goldencents

but could never catch that game rival.

"The immediate particulars have not been worked out yet,

but I would expect both of them to end up back at the Winchells' farm (in

Kentucky for a respite before coming back into training)," Asmussen explained.

"Yesterday was one of the most special and gratifying days of my entire

career, especially as I had my parents here along with (wife) Julie and the

boys," he added. "It was especially nice to be able to celebrate a great victory

by an outstanding mare with all of them."

Goldencents, the first

repeat winner of the Dirt Mile, returned in good shape as he readied for a

new career as a stallion, trainer Leandro Mora said Saturday.

"I was nervous when I saw the fractions to the half (:44

4/5) yesterday, and I'm still nervous now," Mora joked. "Hopefully he will do as

well in his next career as he did on the track. He's going to make a lot of

champions."

Mora said he, groom Dagoberto Lopez and the rest of the

barn will miss the four-year-old colt after he is flown to Spendthrift Farm in

Kentucky on Sunday.

"We're going to have a going-away party in the barn from

10:30 to noon (PST), when he is scheduled to be vanned to Ontario Airport for a 2:30

flight," Mora remarked.

Goldencents led all the way in his second Dirt Mile score

for his seventh win in 18 starts and raised his earnings to $3,044,000 for W.C.

Racing, nom de course for owners Josh Kaplan and Glen Sorgenstein.

Trainer Wesley Ward

celebrated a career day at Santa Anita on Breeders' Cup Friday when his three

charges managed a win and two seconds, including a one-two finish in the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. The victory was his first in a Breeders' Cup race

and came with longtime friend Frankie Dettori aboard.

Hootenanny, the morning-line favorite, watched his odds

rise and his competition fall behind when he collared Ken and Sarah Ramsey's

Luck of the Kitten and outkicked him to the wire by three-quarters of a length.

Owned by Coolmore principals Mrs. John Magnier, Michael

Tabor and Derrick Smith, the son from the freshman crop of Quality Road provided

some retribution for his sire, who famously broke prematurely through the gate in

the 2009 Breeders' Cup Classic and was scratched.

The Wesley Ward $2 exacta paid $100 to Ward devotees. The

race was the fifth on five different courses for Hootenanny, including three

different countries -- with wins at two of the world's greatest meets -- Royal

Ascot and the Breeders' Cup.

Two races later, Ten Broeck Farm's Sunset Glow set the pace

in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf before being collared and passed by

favored Lady Eli. The daughter of Exchange Rate was the morning line-favorite,

but was later passed in the wagering in much the same fashion she was on the

racetrack by the winner.

"I am elated. I can't tell you how happy I am," Ward said. "I am so proud of

the horses. All three shipped back to Keeneland early (Saturday) morning."

Ward's Breeders' Cup is not over yet -- he has three more

horses running Saturday, including morning-line favorites Judy the Beauty -- whom

he owns -- in the Filly & Mare Sprint and Ice Wine Stable and the aforementioned

Coolmore principals' No Nay Never in the Turf Sprint. Also competing for Ward in

the Turf Sprint will be Wes Welker's Undrafted.

"All three horses are doing really well," the trainer remarked. "I am not too

nervous because I know they will be tough to beat."

Grade 1 heroine Judy the Beauty, second in last year's Filly & Mare Sprint

and earner of more than $1.1 million, may stay in training

one more year, according to Ward.

"If she runs well, I will most likely keep her in training

next year," he said. "The Breeders' Cup is at Keeneland and she flourishes

there. It's like Michael Jordan playing in the United Center."

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