11/3/12 - Tapizar Wins Dirt Mile Confidently; Rail Trip Second

Shipped west for only the third time, four-year-old TAPIZAR (Tapit) showed his affinity for Santa Anita Park on the world's stage Nov. 3 when he turned in a fantastic performance to win the $1 million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) over eight other older horses. The Seattle Slew great-great-grandson was followed across the finish line by seven-year-old Rail Trip (Jump Start), a great-grandson of Seattle Slew, for a one-two finish of Seattle Slew progeny.

Tapizar broke to the outside of favored Emcee (Unbridled's Song), who is also a great-great-grandson of Seattle Slew and most recently romped to victory in the Forego Stakes (G1), and the pair had to hustle forward from their near outside starting positions. Rail Trip, meanwhile, started from the inside gate position — appropriately given his name — and was away quickest of all. After securing his position on the inside, Rail Trip relaxed off the quick pace developing to his outside. Emcee had charged to the lead and was in front of Tapizar by a half-length after the opening quarter in :22 3/5. The pacesetter would get no break from Tapizar as the pair raced down the backstretch. Emcee clocked a half-mile in :46 2/5 with Tapizar still running right to his outside. As the pair headed into the far turn, Tapizar turned up the heat on Emcee and then swept to the front before the two entered the final turn. Tapizar had a half-length advantage after six furlongs in 1:22 4/5 and wouldn't be caught down the stretch. The bay colt drifted out slightly at the top of the lane then straightened out and drove toward the wire, maintaining his advantage. He galloped under the line 2 1/4 lengths in front, stopping the clock in 1:35 1/5 for one mile around the fast main track. Rail Trip, who was shuffled back in the compact racing pack for the opening six furlongs, found running room at the three-sixteenths pole to outfinish all but the winner.

Tapizar now boasts six wins from 14 starts and has earned more than $970,000. After breaking his maiden in a smashing debut performance at Churchill Downs as a juvenile, Tapizar shipped to Santa Anita where he won the Sham Stakes (G3) in his second start and by more than four lengths in a front-running performance. Asked to run farther in his next start, the colt missed the board. He then suffered an injury that knocked him off the Triple Crown trail and out of training for several months. He returned to the track last year in October, taking a rich allowance at Belmont Park, and then ran fifth in last year's Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs. Given a short breather, he returned to Santa Anita again this January, where he easily won the San Fernando Stakes (G2) and then ran fourth in the Strub Stakes (G2). On his way back east, Tapizar finished second in the Razorback Handicap (G3) and then earned a break. He captured the West Virginia Governor's Stakes in his return and then showed his displeasure for an off track at Belmont in the Kelso Handicap (G2).

"The Kelso was a bad race," said trainer Steve Asmussen. "We threw it out, and he sure performed great today. He acted the day after the Kelso like he hadn't run. His success at Santa Anita allowed us to think about this race to begin with, especially off such a bad race in the Kelso. He trained as good as ever out here, looked a picture of health and ran well today."

Foaled in Kentucky, Tapizar was produced from Winning Call (Deputy Minister). The broodmare is also the dam of the unraced two-year-old colt Zanizar (Zanjero), an unnamed yearling colt by Zanjero (Cherokee Run) and a weanling full sister to Tapizar. Zanjero, like Tapit, is a great-grandson of Seattle Slew.

The Slew Crew congratulates Tapizar and his connections — owner and breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds, trainer Steve Asmussen, jockey Corey Nakatani and the rest of the colt's team — on winning at the Breeders' Cup. We wish you continued success.


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