Trainer Brad Cox has added a third GI Belmont S. contender to his lineup with Tapit Shoes, a stakes-placed son of Tapit who was last seen running second to Red Route One (Gun Runner) in the Bath House Row S. at Oaklawn Park on April 22.
“He's a pretty consistent workhorse, steady, and always gallops out well,” Cox said Thursday morning at Churchill Downs. “He gives us some confidence that he could like the mile and a half.”
Owned in partnership by Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers Racing, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Winners Win and Michael Caruso, the $300,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase is a half-brother to GISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner).
Tapit Shoes broke his maiden by seven and a half lengths at Fair Grounds last December. This year, he ran fourth and then third against allowance company before his second-place finish in the Bath House Row S.
“He seems to be getting better with the more he does,” said Cox. “He took a move forward in the Bath House Row S. and he's had plenty of time to recover from that. I think he obviously has to take another move forward and I'm hoping that he will.”
Cox's Belmont trio of Tapit Shoes, Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) and Hit Show (Candy Ride {Arg}) are all set to work at Churchill Downs over the weekend before shipping to Belmont on Monday evening.
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