When Bridlewood Farm manager George Isaacs asked owner John Malone if he was going to come to Tampa Bay Downs to watch their $1.2 million purchase, Tapwrit, compete in the Tampa Bay Derby, the boss said, simply, if the colt runs well, he would come for that other Derby in Louisville.

    Tapwrit ran well, alright, making one of the most stunning moves ever seen in these parts on the final turn of the 1 1/16-mile race, a move that reminded some of Arazi when he won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile in what seems like eons ago. The 3-year-old son of Tapit lagged behind early in the field of 10 and when Tapwrit went wide under Jose Ortiz turning for home, he inhaled the leaders in what seemed like a matter of seconds and was comfortably in front when they straightened out in the stretch. He won by 4 1/2 lengths and his clocking of 1:42.36 broke the stakes record of 1:42.82 set by Destin in winning the race last year.

    Tapwrit was a $1.2 million purchase at the 2015 Saratoga sale and was a collaborative effort of Bridlewood, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and long-time owner Robert La Penta. When the colt finished a distant 10th in his career debut at Saratoga last September, many eyebrows were raised, considering the price. But Tapwrit went to Gulfstream West in November and broke his maiden at seven furlongs, then added the $75,000 Pulpit Stakes at Gulfstream Park before finishing a fast-closing second to McCraken in the Sam F. Davis. He now has more than enough points to be eligible for the Run for the Roses, and John Malone, reputedly the largest owner of acreage in the United States, will be there. As will George Isaacs, who has worn a smart-looking fedora to both the Tampa races, and will no doubt continue to be fashionable in Louisville.  

  SUPREME EFFORT - In 1996, Hank Steinbrenner bred the stakes-winning Kinsman Stud Farm broodmare Spinning Round to Seeking  the Gold and the resultant foal turned out to be a dream supreme. In fact, that's what they named the filly, Dream Supreme, and she went on to become a multiple graded stakes-winner, compiling a record of 9-2-2 in 16 starts. Among her victories she numbered the Gr. I Test, Gr. I Ballerina, Gr. III Gallant Bloom, Gr. II Distaff Breeders' Cup Handicap, Gr. II Humana Distaff Handicap and Gr. III Princess Rooney Handicap. All told, Dream Supreme competed in 13 straight graded stakes, winning six, finishing second in two, third in two and fourth in two. She earned $1,007,680.

   In the sixth race on the Tampa Bay Downs Derby program Saturday, the eighth of Dream Supreme's 10 foals turned up racing in the colors of Lanes End Racing and Kinsman Stable. The 5-year-old is named Gold Shield, by Medaglia d'Oro, and he came into the optional claimer on the turf with a record of 2-3-2 in 12 starts and earnings of $136,005. He had been racing in New York for most of last year and won at Belmont Park on the grass in May, which was his last visit to the winner's circle. Idle since Oct. 6, Gold Shield drew the 10 post for trainer Shug McGaughey with rider John Velazquez, who had been aboard for the victory in May.

    And the talented veteran did it again, giving Gold Shield his third victory, and adding $15,500 to his bank account. 

    THE OLD COLLEGE TRY - Two races later, millionaire Stanford made his second start of the year in the $100,000 Challenger and not only overwhelmed the opposition, but broke the track record for a mile and one-sixteenth that McCraken had set a few weeks earlier in the Sam F. Davis Stakes. The 5-year-old by Malibu Moon was clocked in 1:41.75, again under Velazquez, while posting his sixth career victory and surpassing the $1.3 million mark in earnings. Stanford had been sitting on the tote board at 1/5 for much of the wagering, but "soared" to 1/2 by post time and paid $3. Many felt like it was a steal.   

    There wasn't a parking spot to be found when the first race at Tampa went off Saturday, and the crowd of 10,079 wagered $865,204 on-track. The total all-sources handle reached $12,123,021. But the two major Frank Stronach tracks stole the day, as Santa Anita's total was $18,379,346, and Gulfstream Park's $15,460,422. Aqueduct took a back seat with a handle of $8,287,237, while Oaklawn Park wound up a tad under $4 million.

    WHO WOULDA THUNK IT? - In one of the biggest disgraces in the continuing downturn of the former St. Pete Times, now the Tampa Bay Times, there wasn't one advance word about the track's major attraction in the Saturday paper. This, despite the many thousands of bucks TBD spends on advertising. Word around the track is that the once-revered paper, which for some unknown reason bought the Tampa Tribune and before that spent a reported $20 million to name the home of the Tampa Bay Lightning "the St. Petersburg Times Forum," is in deep trouble.       

    

    

 

comments powered by Disqus