It was another impressive winner for the TAPIT x Close Hatches cross after Scylla earned Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ honors in her debut at Keeneland.
The Juddmonte homebred trained by Bill Mott broke a step slowly in the six furlong Maiden Special Weight and hung out near the rear of the field before swinging wide around the turn. In midstretch she let her presence be known as she confronted the leader. Scylla had control of the race in the final sixteenth and pulled away to a 2 ½ length victory with the third placed runner 9 ¼ lengths behind the winner at the end.
The 6th race at Keeneland went to the royally-bred #9 SCYLLA, a full sister to Tacitus out of Eclipse champion Close Hatches! @jjcjockey up for Bill Mott and @JuddmonteFarms.
This clip includes the @JockeyCam too @PDJFund pic.twitter.com/sui3kG1Ghk
— TVG (@TVG) April 15, 2023
Scylla is the 52nd TDN Rising Star for TAPIT, who has sired all three of champion Close Hatches winners. That group includes Grade 2 winner and Grade 1-placed Tacitus. Close Hatches is a three-quarter sister to dual Grade 1 winner Siskin and half-sister to stakes winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Lockdown in addition to TAPIT’s stakes placed Hail.
Close Hatches has a juvenile TAPIT colt named Batten Down to come.
TAPIT is the sire of 28 winners in 2023, including four stakes winners and 10 stakes performers, led by Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice.