Untapable versus eight boys in 47th Haskell

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Oceanport, NJ (SportsNetwork.com) - Leading three-year-old filly Untapable heads a field of nine for Sunday's 47th edition of the $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, Untapable will try to duplicate her trainer's 2009 accomplishment when he sent out eventual Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra to victory in the 1 1/8-mile race versus male 3-year-olds.

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Untapable has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite versus her eight male rivals and will start from post 7 with Rosie Napravnik back riding the filly.

"I think it's an excellent draw considering the field," Asmussen stated.

Untapable is perfect in four starts this year by a combined 31 lengths. The filly won both the Rachel Alexandra and Mother Goose Stakes by better than nine lengths and also posted decisive victories in the Fair Grounds Oaks and Kentucky Oaks.

"When the year started our goal with her was the Kentucky Oaks," Asmussen said concerning the start in the Haskell. "Once, with the performance she did in the Kentucky Oaks and how she has trained since, this was the right time to give this a chance."

Untapable has earned $1,304,725 in eight lifetime starts with six wins.

Trainer Bob Baffert will send out 5-2 second choice Bayern for an attempt to gain his seventh Haskell victory. Bayern will be ridden by Martin Garcia from post 2.

"He's a speed horse so no matter where he is he'll have to go," Baffert noted.

The colt's big win this year came in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens Stakes on Belmont Stakes Day, winning by more than seven lengths. He finished first in the Derby Trial at Churchill Downs but was disqualified to second and two weeks earlier was third at Oaklawn Park in the Arkansas Derby. He has won half of his six career starts for $477,680.

Here is the field for the Haskell in post position order: Encryption, Paco Lopez, 20-1; Bayern, Martin Garcia, 5-2; Albano, Kerwin Clark, 6-1; Irish You Well, Jose Lezcano, 12-1; Just Call Kenny, Joe Bravo, 10-1; Social Inclusion, Edgar Prado, 8-1; Untapable, Rosie Napravnik, 2-1; Wildcat Red, Luis Saez, 10-1 and Medal Count, Robby Albarado, 8-1.

The Haskell will be televised live on NBC with an approximate post time of 5:44 p.m. ET. For the first time it's part of the Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" series, with the victor getting an automatic berth to the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Nov. 1.