Taris added to the considerable Derby weekend success for 'TDN Rising Stars' at Churchill Downs, dispatching a quality field for a maiden Grade I success in the Humana Distaff S.
A $90,000 Keeneland September yearling acquisition, Taris was a winner of four of her five starts while trained by Todd Beattie for Commonwealth New Era Racing, earning her Rising Star with an 11 3/4-length maiden score at first asking in December 2013 and capped that stretch with a nine-length tour-de-force in Keeneland's GII Raven Run S. the following October. Purchased by the Coolmore team for $2.35 million at the Fasig-Tipton November sale a few weeks later, she set blazing fractions in the GI La Brea S. but was run down late and subsequently hit the shelf.
Brought back slowly by Simon Callaghan, Taris was a more relaxed sort last year at four, sitting off the pace instead of making it, to post wins in the GIII Rancho Bernardo H. in August before excuse-filled thirds in the GIII L A Woman S. and again in behind Wavell Avenue (Harlington) in the GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint. Victorious in Aqueduct's GIII Go For Wand H. trying a route of ground for just the second time in her career last November, she earned her first win around two turns in the GII La Canada S. Jan. 16, comfortably besting Birdatthewire (Summer Bird) and was narrowly beaten by fellow Rising Star Tara's Tango (Unbridled's Song) when last seen in the GI Santa Margarita S. Mar. 19.
Back to arguably her best trip for this and partnered with Flavien Prat for the first time, Taris was away in good order and was able to secure a stalking position outside of the expected pacemaker Stonetastic and Super Saks (Sky Mesa), who eyeballed each other through fractions of :22.19 and :44.95. Taris bid three wide at the head of the stretch, called upon her superior stamina to outkick Stonetastic into the final furlong and a half and shot clear for an impressive victory.
“There's a little bit of pressure with such a high purchase price, but she deserved it and she deserved it before this,” Callaghan explained. “We couldn't be happier. It was a perfect trip. We thought there would be speed up to the inside and we just got a nice, clean trip and it just worked out perfectly.”
Added Prat, posting the second Grade I of his career, “I had a good trip. It was the trip I was hoping for. I was happy coming into the turn and the pace was what I wanted. When she turned for home, she was gone.”
Comedy is also the dam of Taris's stakes-winning full-sister Stoweshoe and SW & MGSP Theatre Star (War Front). She is represented by a 2-year-old colt of this year by Stay Thirsty, and after selling to Stonestreet Stable for $1.5 million at last year's Keeneland November sale, produced a colt by Tapit earlier this year. (Click for a story on Comedy and the female family from TDN Editor in Chief Jessica Martini).
Saturday, Churchill Downs
HUMANA DISTAFF S.-GI, $300,000, CD, 5-7, 4yo/up, f/m, 7f, 1:21.03, ft.
1–&TARIS, 120, m, 5, by Flatter
1st Dam: Comedy, by Theatrical (Ire)
2nd Dam: Don't Be Silly, by Lord At War (Arg)
3rd Dam: Oh Silly Me, by Quack
'TDN Rising Star' ($90,000 Ylg '12 KEESEP; $2,350,000 3yo '14
FTKNOV). O-Michael B. Tabor, Derrick Smith and John Magnier;
B-Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (KY); T-Simon
Callaghan; J-Flavien Prat. $178,560. Lifetime Record: 13-8-2-2,
$1,086,260. *Full to Stoweshoe, SW; 1/2 to Theatre Star (War
Front), SW & MGSP, $259,750. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: B.
[bullet ad=”darbydan-shell”][bullet ad=”kbif-g1″]2–Stonetastic, 120, m, 5, Mizzen Mast–Special Me, by
Unbridled's Song. ($77,000 Ylg '12 KEESEP). O-Stoneway Farm;
B-Machmer Hall, Carrie & Craig Brogden (KY); T-Kelly J. Breen.
$57,600.
[bullet ad=”machmer-hall-born-and-raised”][bullet ad=”selectsales-shell”]3–Enchanting Lady, 118, f, 4, Tale of the Cat–A. P. Baby, by A.P.
Indy. 'TDN Rising Star' ($90,000 Ylg '13 KEESEP; $650,000 2yo
'14 OBSMAR). O-Kaleem Shah, Inc.; B-Randal Family Trust, R
David & Marylyn A Randal Trustees (KY); T-Bob Baffert.
$28,800.
[bullet ad=”lanni-hillndale-purchased”][bullet ad=”paramount-congratulations”]Margins: 5 3/4, 2, HF. Odds: 3.20, 2.70, 6.40.
Also Ran: Wavell Avenue, Birdatthewire, You Bought Her, Super Saks, Sarah Sis, Kathballu. Scratched: Spelling Again. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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