Untapable to Miss BC Distaff Due to Fever

Winchell Thoroughbred’s defending GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff heroine and Eclipse Champion Untapable (Tapit) will not defend her title Friday, according to her connections. The Steve Asmussen trainee breezed a half-mile in 50 1/5 Monday at Keeneland. The connections were not pleased with how she exited the breeze, which led their decision to scratch the filly.

“After she worked yesterday, she was scoped and they found a little bit of mucus,” David Fiske, Winchell’s racing manager, said Tuesday. “Everyone had a panicked reaction, but then we thought that maybe we could fix it and she would eat up well. Her blood-work from Monday morning came back good, but she didn’t eat up last night and this morning and this morning she had a low-grade temperature. At that point, it’s game-over and start treating her with antibiotics.

The connections are still unsure whether the 4-year-old will continue racing next season.

“(Racing in 2016) hasn’t been decided,” Fiske continued. “We’ve had some brief discussions, but nothing serious. I think everyone is leaning toward running her next year. She’s been unusually sound and healthy for the better part of three seasons and this is the first time I can remember her being sick. Given that, there’s a lot of support to run her next year, but you never know. The landscape changes from day to day. Hopefully this is not anything serious. At the moment, no decision has been made.”