Tapit Trice determinedly passes final Kentucky Derby test in Blue Grass

Apr 08, 2023 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Tapit Trice overcame a wide trip and ran down Verifying to
post a neck win in Saturday’s $998,125
Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, confirming himself as a serious Kentucky Derby (G1)
contender. Winner of the March 11 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) in his stakes debut, the
surging gray colt recorded his first fourth consecutive win and provided Todd
Pletcher with his third triumph in a major Kentucky Derby qualifier over the
last three weekends.

The two-time Kentucky Derby-winning conditioner captured the Florida Derby (G1) with Kentucky Derby favorite Forte a
week earlier, and Pletcher sent Kingsbarns to a wire-to-wire score in the Louisiana Derby (G2) on March 25. All three races delivered
100 points to the winner as part of the Road to
the Kentucky Derby series, and Tapit Trice will bring a serious late kick
to the Churchill Downs stretch on May 6.

Luis Saez rides the son of Tapit, a $1.3 million yearling
purchase, and Tapit Trice left the Blue Grass starting gate as the 1.64-1
favorite. He broke last of 12 in the Tampa Bay Derby, commencing a stirring rally
from far back on the far turn, but Tapit Trice showed more from the starting
gate in his second two-turn start Saturday, establishing midpack positioning in
the 11-horse field in the opening quarter-mile.

Guided off the inside on the first turn, Tapit Trice
advanced to be a wide fourth along the backstretch, racing within a few lengths
of Clear the Air through a half-mile in :48.04. Verifying, the 2.35-1 second,
tracked in second and engaged the pacesetter entering the far turn.

“He didn’t jump well, but then he gained a little momentum,”
Pletcher said. “It got a little hairy going into the first turn, but when he
was able to secure that spot Luis was able to take him out in the clear down
the backside. That was the position we hoped to get into, and once he got into
that stride I thought we were in good shape.”

Verifying took a short lead into the stretch, but Tapit
Trice made up ground on the far turn to reach a threatening position turning
for home. Verifying dug in gamely, holding a slight edge with a sixteenth of a
mile remaining, but Tapit Trice eventually wore down his rival nearing the
wire, finishing the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:50.

“Yeah (slow out of the gate), that’s him,” Pletcher added. “We’re
not going to make him into a quick horse. The distances, as they stretch out,
we always felt like would make him better. I think (the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky
Derby distance) is right in his wheelhouse.”

The top two brushed in deep stretch, and Tapit Trice had to
survive a jockey’s objection from Tyler Gaffalione on Verifying, but it was
disallowed by stewards.

Points were awarded on a 40-30-20-10 for second-through-fifth,
and Verifying likely guaranteed his Kentucky Derby participation with the
runner-up finish, increasing his points total to 54 points on the Kentucky
Derby leaderboard.

It was nearly six lengths back to 6-1 third choice Blazing
Sevens, who got up by a half-length over Sun Thunder in fourth, and
late-running Raise Cain rounded out the top five. Mendelssohns March, Hayes
Strike, Classic Car Wash, Scoobie Quandro, Major Blue, and Clear the Air
completed the order.

Owned by Mandy Pope’s Whisper Hill Farm and Anthony Beck’s
Gainesway Farm, Tapit Trice finished third in his career debut at Aqueduct last
November. He broke his maiden six weeks later and followed with an entry-level
allowance win over a one-turn mile at Gulfstream in early February. Tapit Trice
increased his career earnings to nearly $900,000.