Tapit Trice got the best of Verifying in a thrilling stretch-long battle in the $1-million Blue Grass (G1) then withstood a foul claim to prevail Saturday at Keeneland.
Ridden by Luis Saez, Tapit Trice covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50 flat but had to wait out claim of interference lodged by Verifying's rider Tyler Gaffalione before stewards let the result stand. The two horses had lightly brushed in the final sixteenth.
As Verifying pressed pacesetter Clear the Air early, Saez had Tapit Trice ideally positioned in midpack down the backstretch. Verifying moved to lead around the second turn and Tapit Trice was soon to engage, throwing down a unrelenting challenge as the two matched strides toward the finish line. Tapit Trice made a powerful lunge and scored the victory by about a neck.
Blazing Seven was third, Sun Thunder was fourth, and Raise Cain fifth in the field of 11 3-year-olds.
Sent off at 8-5, the Tapit colt was following up on his March 11 victory in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and with Saturday's triumph stayed perfect in all three starts this year for Todd Pletcher, who trains the colt for Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill and breeder Antony Beck's Gainesway Stable.
Pope purchased the son of Tapit for $1.3 million at the 2021 Keeneland's September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway consignment, which subsequently bought back in as a partner.
Tapit Trice ($5.28) is out of the stakes-winning Dunkirk mare Danzatrice, a half sister to champion Jaywalk.
The race awarded Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying points on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis to its top five finishers.
Tapit Trice now has 150 points, good for fourth place on the Kentucky Derby Leaderboard. The Derby is limited to the top 20 point earners and invitees that pass the entry box.
Verifying picked up 40 points and increased his total to 54. Blazing Sevens earned 30 points for finishing third to boost his total to 46. Sun Thunder picked up 20 points for finishing fourth to give him 54 points, and Raise Cain added 10 points for fifth and a total of 64 points. The current cut line is 45 points.
Blue Grass Quotes:
Todd Pletcher (winning trainer of Tapit Trice): “He didn't jump well, but then he gained a little momentum. It got a little hairy going into the first turn, but when he was able to secure that spot (jockey) Luis (Saez) was able to take him out in the clear down the backside. That was the position we hoped to get into, and once he got into that stride I thought we were in good shape. Yeah (slow out of the gate), that's him. We're not going to make him into a quick horse. The distances, as they stretch out, we always felt like would make him better. I think (the 1¼ miles of the Kentucky Derby-G1 Presented by Woodford Reserve) is right in his wheelhouse.”
Mandy Pope (whose Whisper Hill Farm co-owns Tapit Trice with Gainesway Stable): “It is so awesome (to get Tapit Trice a Grade 1 win). It's unbelievable for me. It's dreams come true and a lot of hard work from a lot of people.”
On the motivation behind her commitment to Thoroughbred sales and racing
“It's the determination that quality does pay off and quality is worth all the effort. From pedigree to the physical to the trainers to the barn crew at each of our farms who raise the horses and break them – they're all quality people and it's a quality effort. Hopefully quality continues up the road.”
On being ready to have one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby
“We'll have one of the favorites.”
Antony Beck (owner of Gainesway, which bred Tapit Trice): “He's absolutely outstanding. It's wonderful to be partners with Mandy (Pope). It's a great friendship. We both love, love horses; we both love the sport. Tapit (sire of Tapit Trice standing at Gainesway Farm) has been an incredible stallion and this is another one of his incredible horses. I also want to thank John Fort (of Peachtree Stable), who selected Danzatrice (dam of Tapit Trice) for me as a 2-year-old. Without that, we wouldn't be here.”
Luis Saez (winning rider):
On the objection from jockey of runner-up Verifying: “I just feel like I was riding Tapit Trice perfectly. We came and passed the other horse (runner-up Verifying) clear and then when I was in front I felt like somebody hit my horse from behind. I feel like the other guy (jockey Tyler Gaffalione) tried to look for a chance and look for a foul. That's what I feel. I didn't feel like we would come down. I kept the horse straight and he won the race.
“Yes, definitely (the early move to get clear down the backside was key). First of all, we had a tough (post one) position, especially with him, because he takes a little while to get going. In the first turn we had an opportunity to put him in the clear. I made a little move early, because the pace was pretty slow, so I could get behind the horse we were supposed to beat. I know we have to beat everybody, but that was the horse (Verifying) to follow, so we were right there, and when he made his move we were right on top of him.”
Tyler Gaffalione (rider of runner-up Verifying): “He really ran a huge race and tried very hard. (Tapit Trice) kind of came in on me in the stretch, but my horse really tried hard today, especially in the stretch. He dug in and almost got it done.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. (rider of third-place finisher Blazing Sevens): “I got a good trip. I was a step slow trying to get into position, and then (found) a perfect spot going into the first turn beside the winner. Then I let him go and I sat right behind him. After that everything was perfect. He stayed (running) and can go farther for sure. Didn't work out for him today. He's a nice horse.”
Florent Geroux (rider of fourth-place finisher Sun Thunder): “I was at the back of the pack and I weaved my way through traffic. We took fourth place, all went great but he was really out of reach from the first two.”
Brian Hernandez Jr. (rider of sixth-place finisher Mendelssohns March): “We had a really good trip and a good position going into the first turn. I thought we were in a good spot coming down the backside, but Tapit Trice (got the) jump on us early. He started to make his move and we just got kind of pinned in there. He seemed like he stepped up for only his third race. (Mendelssohns March) was there for me the entire way. The other horses were just a little more seasoned and got the better of him today.”
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