Untapable, Tapiture plans undeteremined; Bold Conquest likely for Arkansas Derby

It wasn't all bad, trainer Steve Asmussen noted Sunday morning, one day after

champion Untapable (Tapit) finished second in the Azeri S. (G2), Bold Conquest (Curlin)

ran third in the Rebel S. (G2) and Tapiture came in fifth in the Razorback H.

(G3), all at Oaklawn Park

Asmussen, Oaklawn's perennial leading trainer, had his support system with him for

Saturday's races in his wife and three children.

"It's never a bad day when you've got family around," Asmussen said.

The horseman began regrouping with his equine family Sunday morning and said all

three horses came out of their respective races in good physical condition.

"No worry this morning, so we'll be able to do it again," he noted.

Bold Conquest, in his three-year-old debut, ran fourth in the February 22 Southwest

S. (G3), and was then beaten 8 3/4 lengths by champion American Pharoah (Pioneerof

the Nile) in the Rebel after encountering trouble on the first turn. Both the

Southwest and Rebel were run over sloppy tracks.

"I would love for things to dry out around here and get some decent training

into the big guy," Asmussen said.

He added that Untapable will start next in the $600,000 Apple Blossom

H. (G1) on April 10 at Oaklawn or in a stakes race at Churchill Downs on

Kentucky Oaks/Derby Day while Tapiture will be pointed for either the $600,000

Oaklawn H. (G2) on Arkansas Derby undercard or the $400,000 Alysheba S. (G2) on

May 1, Kentucky Oaks Day, under the Twin Spires.

Untapable would have the opportunity to extract revenge on her Azeri

conqueror, Gold Medal Dancer (Medaglia d'Oro), if she goes in the Apple Blossom.

Trainer Donnie Von Hemel said the five-year-old Gold Medal Dancer would be pointed for the

1 1/16-mile Apple Blossom following her half-length score on Saturday.