GOLD MEDAL DANCER wins Azeri Stakes.

HOT SPRINGS — It was clear by midstretch that Untapable was not unbeatable.

Untapable — the 2014 Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff champion who came into the race with nearly $3 million in career earnings — went off as the prohibitive 1-9 favorite in the Grade II $300,000 Azeri Stakes for older fillies and mares at Oaklawn Park.

But the 4-year-old Tapit filly, the champion 3-year-old of 2014, never could get past Gold Medal Dancer, who ignored Untapable’s class advantage and led from gate to wire to win her first graded stakes by a half length in 1:45.93.

The 1 mile, 1/16th race was run on a track rated good but clearly wet.

Gold Medal Dancer — third in Oaklawn’s Grade III Bayakoa Stakes on Feb. 15 — took advantage of the late scratch of last year’s Fantasy Stakes winner Sugar Shack to gain an easy lead under Luis Quinonez.

The towering presence of Untapable and the late scratch of Sugar Shack led to the track not allowing show wagering in the five-horse field.

Untapable, trained by Steve Asmussen and ridden by John Velazquez, was doing two things she had never done before — running at Oaklawn and over a wet track. Plus, she had not raced since her victory at the Breeders’ Cup nearly 4 ½ months ago.

“The track was a little heavy, and obviously it was as a big of a concern off the layoff,” Asmussen said. “The main thing is for her to come out of it well.”

Gold Medal Dancer, at 9-1, was unsympathetic to chalk players. She stepped immediately from the gate to the lead with Untapable right behind. She reached the first turn about 1 length in front, and maintained the advantage as the field turned into the backstretch.

“She came out of the gate relaxed and I just let her do it,” Quinonez said.

Gold Medal Dancer, trained by Donnie Von Hemel, led by 1 ½ lengths through a moderate first quarter of 24.66 seconds. Her lead was the same at the half in 48.96.

“It was very exciting, and the mare just ran a huge race,” Von Hemel said.

Untapable pulled within a head of the leader as they approached the 6-furlong mark, and stayed there as they passed the marker in 1:13.85, with Flashy American 3 ½ lengths back in third.

Quinonez kept Gold Medal Dancer a head in front as he and Velazquez led the leaders into the home stretch.

“We had a perfect trip,” Quinonez said.

Velazquez said he was pleased by Untapable’s position as well. Untapable put a head in front with 3/16ths of a mile to go, but could not get by.

“She was in perfect position,” Velazquez said of Untapable, who has won 8 of 12 career starts, with 1 second and 1 third. “I was happy where I was. Coming down the lane, she was a little hesitant to go by the other filly, but she put in a good fight.”

Gold Medal Dancer, owned by Pin Oak Stable, re-established a half-length lead with an eighth of a mile to go, an advantage she would maintain to the finish.

“She fought off the champion, and she showed a lot of heart,” Von Hemel said.