Tapit Trice rallied from last and stormed down the stretch with ground-devouring strides to win the $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) by a comfortable two lengths Saturday at the Oldsmar, Fla. track.
With Luis Saez aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher, the Tapit colt was making his stakes debut and covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.37 on a fast track. The win marked his second in as many starts this season as he came into Saturday's race off an allowance-optional claiming win over stablemate Shesterkin Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park.
Classic Car Wash was second, and Classic Legacy checked in third, 1 1/4 lengths back. Shesterkin finished seventh in the 12-horse field.
The Tampa Bay Derby is a Kentucky Derby qualifier and Tapit Trice earned 50 points toward eligibility for the May 6 classic at Churchill Downs.
Owned by Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm and Antony Beck's Gainesway Stable, Tapit Trice returned $3 for the win. He has a 3-0-1 record from four career starts.
Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Tapit Trice was produced by Dunkirk mare Danzatrice. Whisper Hill purchase him for $1.3 million at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale.
Pletcher notched his sixth Tampa Bay Derby win following Tapwrit (2017) Destin (2016), Carpe Diem (2015), Verrazano (2013), and Limehouse (2004).
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