Seneca Park goes to 2-for-2 on turf in Untapable
Seneca Park wins stakes debut in $750,000 Untapable;
Plensa returns to Kentucky Downs to capture the restricted $500,000 Tapit
Edited stakes recaps by Kentucky Downs publicist Ryan Martin (Coady Media/Pumita Rodriguez photo of Seneca Park winning the Untapable)
FRANKLIN, KY (August 30, 2026) – Holy Cow Stable’s Seneca Park backed up an impressive debut maiden victory when capturing Sunday’s $750,000 Untapable for 2-year-old fillies by a neck over Luminous Beauty after 6 ½ furlongs on the turf.
The daughter of leading first-crop sire Golden Pal arrived from a four-length maiden victory going 5 ½ furlongs on August 7 at Ellis Park. Breaking from the inside post at Kentucky Downs, Seneca Park rated a close third, just 1 ½ lengths behind pacesetter Severely Overpayin, who recorded early fractions of 22.76 and 45.99 over the firm turf. Graded stakes-placed Luminous Beauty sat just to the outside of Severely Overpayin in second.
Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. saved ground around the far turn aboard Seneca Park with Severely Overpayin and Luminous Beauty to catch, and tipped his charge to the outside at the five-sixteenths pole. With dead aim on the frontrunners, Seneca Park took command within the final furlong to win by a neck. Luminous Beauty finished another 2 ¼ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Severely Overpayin.
Program favorite Waggley, who had been 3 for 3 on dirt; Estardotoo; Gone and Plenty; Party Mix, Washton; Epernay; Holiday Weekend, and Master Queen completed the order of finish. Just Peachy and Lexi’s Charm were scratched.
“She showed up professionally,” said Hernandez, Jr., who also piloted Seneca Park to her debut maiden score. “She broke sharply, and put herself in a great spot. From there, we tipped out and she was able to run down those two horses.”
Trainer Dallas Stewart trained Seneca Park in company with her stablemate and fellow debut winner Worth the Mischief, who also is by the Coolmore America stallion Golden Pal.
“She showed everything first time out; she really showed her hand,” Stewart said. “I had another Golden Pal filly that she worked with who came back and won first time out, and she [Seneca Park] was the second one and they both won first time out at Ellis Park.”
The victory brought Seneca Park’s lifetime earnings to $502,318 through a perfect 2-for-2 record.
Bred in Kentucky by Southern Comfort Farm, Seneca Park is out of the Invasor mare Wendy Wow. She was bought for $70,000 at the OBS March Sale.
The Untapable honors Winchell Thoroughbreds’ 2014 Eclipse Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, who won that year’s Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose, and Cotillion before defeating older fillies and mares in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She completed her career with earnings of $3,926,625, making her the all-time richest female by the elite sire Tapit.
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On Kentucky HBPA Youtube: Arnold assistant Crystal and Axel Concepcion on Plensa’s Tapit win
Mill Ridge Farm and Frank Garrison’s Plensa made a triumphant return to Kentucky Downs when capturing the $500,000 Tapit, a one-mile restricted stakes for horses that have not won a stakes race in 2026.
The Rusty Arnold-trained 4-year-old son of Caravaggio captured last year’s Gun Runner at Kentucky Downs, defeating Graded stakes-winner Giocoso by one length. Winless in four starts since, Plensa earned his redemption, defeating a late-rallying Vote No by a half-length. He is now unbeaten in two starts at Kentucky Downs.
Breaking from the outermost post in the 11-horse field under Axel Concepcion, Plensa sat towards the rear of the field while Smokey Mandate commanded opening fractions of 23.75, 46.63 and 1:10.42. Making a four-wide bid around the turn, Plensa gobbled up rivals and had a 1 ½-length lead at the stretch call. Vote No launched a late kick in the final furlong, but could not reel in Plensa, who completed the mile in 1:41.71. Vote No finished another 1 ¾ lengths ahead of third-place finisher Clever Mischief.
Hiding in Honduras, I Know I Know, Baby Max, West Hollywood, Lambeth, Ancient Rome, Smokey Mandate, and Flying Mohawk completed the order of finish. Abrumar, Mercante, and Native Runner were scratched.
Plensa banked $291,050 in victory, enhancing his lifetime earnings to $579,269. His record now stands at 11–3-2-1.
The Tapit honors Winchell Thoroughbreds’ prolific sire whose progeny includes a list of champions, classic winners, as well as sires. A Grade 1-winner, Tapit’s most notable progeny include 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline, Eclipse Champion 2YO and 3YO Essential Quality, as well as influential sires like Constitution, Tonalist and the late Frosted.
Live racing resumes on Thursday, September 3 with an 11-race program that features the $750,000 Marsh McLennan Bowling Green Gold Cup Invitational going 2 1/16 miles for 3-year-olds and upward. First post is 12:55 PM CT.
