Tapit

5th-WO $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1 1/16mT, post time: 3:00 p.m. CRYSTAL PEARL (Curlin) gets his belated start for Gold Standard Racing Stable and trainer Mark Casse. Out of GSW and GISP sprinter Miss Sunset, the now 4-year-old was secured for $1.1 million at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. Working predominantly on the synthetic of late, the bay did post a bullet five-furlong turf work in 1:00 flat (1/24) at Woodbine on May 29. TJCIS PPS   6th-CD $115k, Msw, 3yo/up, 6f, post time: 3:18 p.m. STELLENBOSCH (Tapit) debuts for trainer...

When you're the half-brother to a multiple Grade I winner, expectations are always high, but Leading Change (Gun Runner) took a big first step to filling those shoes with a dazzling debut at Churchill Downs to earn a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' nod. Selling for the princely price of $800,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Keeneland September sale, the son of Gun Runner had a respectable worktab under his belt by the time he was entered for this contest. Drawn to the far outside, the post made...

Spendthrift Farm's Further Ado (Gun Runner), last seen finishing a disappointing 11th as the favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, got some consolation under the Twin Spires with an authoritative victory in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs Sunday. Sent off the 3-5 favorite, Further Ado broke sharply and tracked pacesetting Pavlovian (Pavel) through a moderate quarter in :23.69 and a quickened half in :46.69. Further Ado coasted easily to the lead midway on the far turn and turned for home two lengths in front through three-quarters in...

There was nothing stealthy about her leap into the air at the break but it didn't matter late as the eye-catching Sneakily (Tapit) went last to first to secure the TDN stamp of approval as the newest 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' at Churchill. The grey was debuted at Ellis Park Aug. 18 and had the misfortune of having to close on an uncontested leader. Having spent most of her time near the rear of the field after she broke slowly and was bumped around, Sneakily came home from...

3rd-GP, $68k, Msw, 3yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:54 p.m. ET Godolphin homebred Delightfully (Tapit), a full-sister to two-time champion and promising young sire Essential Quality, kicks off her career for Brad Cox. She is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Cox will also saddle second-time starter Nahla (Authentic), a half-sister to GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. winner Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator). The Shadwell Stable colorbearer and $550,000 KEESEP yearling finished second on debut going two turns at Tampa Feb. 28. TJCIS PPs 6th-KEE, $110k, Msw, 3yo, f, 6f, 3:40 p.m. ET The rail-drawn Mashallah...

The Bill Mott barn was poised for a big Saturday at Oaklawn Park but Stars and Stripes (Not This Time) made sure it was equally exciting for the Keeneland division with a powerful performance in the GIII Ben Ali Stakes. A horse with buzz about him after he dazzled in his June graduation at the Belmont Big A meet last year--a 10 1/2-length masterclass--in start number two, he followed that up with an equally sterling effort in mid-July at Saratoga. Blitzing a field of first-level allowance runners by 7 1/4...

GI Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic (Tacitus) worked Sunday morning at Oaklawn Park and was joined by a fleet of Kentucky Oaks hopefuls as well with preparations continuing on the march to May. The Mark Casse trainee worked an easy half-mile over a fast track Sunday morning with regular rider Cristian Torres in the irons. Clocking an opening quarter-mile in :24.80, he covered the four furlongs in :49.40 (26/58) before galloping out five panels in 1:02.80 and six in 1:17.60. It was his final local breeze before shipping out to...

So Like Silk (Tapit), the first foal out of her Grade I-winning dam, put in a winning debut on opening day at Horseshoe Indianapolis Tuesday. Purchased by OXO Equine for $925,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September in 2024, the 3-1 second choice drew outside and was caught wide for most of the run in this six-furlong spot. Unable to keep pace with the early sprinters, she had to settle back mid pack in sixth while still well in touch with 13-1 longshot leader Somnambulist (Liam's Map). With that rival...

Keeneland's spring meet has kicked off and the GI Kentucky Derby is less than a month away. Let's take a look back at the recently concluded first quarter of 2026, where we got to enjoy 78 (19%) of the 410 graded races scheduled domestically for this year. Thus far in 2026, the 78 graded races already run can be categorized as six Grade I events, 21 Grade II, and 51 Grade III. Eight tracks across the country hosted graded races, led by Gulfstream Park's 24 and Santa Anita's 22. There...

HOT SPRINGS, Ark.--Legendary college football coach Mike Leach believed fervently in the power of pirate culture. Despite its cut, thrust and swagger image, according to Leach the swashbucklers of old were incredibly democratic, were forced at times to be surprisingly unconventional and they proved time and time again that taking risks could payoff handsomely--rings true for Thoroughbred racing too. Speaking of plundering and pirate treasure, in the 90th running of the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park on Saturday a record 73,000 people watched an invader named Renegade (Into Mischief--Spice...

TAPTASTIC (c, 3, Tapit--Valadorna {GSW & GISP, $670,265}, by Curlin), facing older rivals as the 4-5 favorite in his debut, found running room late to graduate with ease Sunday at Oaklawn. The gray colt was under a hold while racing in tight quarters behind the leaders down the backstretch behind fractions of :23.84 and :48.57. Still waiting for racing room approaching the stretch, Taptastic finally found a narrow opening along the rail and strode to the lead before drawing away to graduate by 1 1/2 lengths over pacesetting Dawn at...

Live Oak Plantation's Souper Landslide (Tapit—Victory to Victory, by Exchange Rate) came from just off the pace to graduate in her career turf debut at Gulfstream Park on Thursday afternoon. Sixth going 1 mile 70 yards over the Gulfstream synthetic in November, she was given a 6-1 chance cutting back to a mile on the sod here. Not particularly in a hurry exiting post 7, the chestnut settled in a three-wide third as Mo Java (Mo Town) and 8-5 choice Role Play (Uncle Chuck) led through an opening quarter in...