Dataman was the ninth stakes winner of the year for TAPIT on Sunday with a Bald Eagle Derby victory at Laurel Park.
Racing over 1 3/16 miles on the turf, Dataman raced in third early on when rated by Jorge Ruiz behind the two leaders. Ruiz moved him closer down the backstretch so he was within striking distance around the turn and ready to pounce as they turned into the stretch.
Moved out a few paths, Dataman was ready when asked to go and determinedly chased down the longtime leader down the stretch. He got there with just over a sixteenth left to run and switched leads as he pulled away to a three-quarter length victory.
A homebred for Wertheimer and Frere, the Graham Motion trainee has won his last two starts and has finished in the top two in four of eight starts for $135,910 in earnings.
Dataman is one of three stakes winners out of Soldata, who also produced Grade 2 winner Alignment and stakes winner and Grade 1 placed Alda among her six winners.
A winning Maria’s Mon mare, Soldata is a full sister to multiple graded stakes winner Exhi and half-sister to stakes winner Diluvien. The gelding’s fourth dam is the great racemare and broodmare Fanfreluche.
TAPIT’s stakes winners are led by seven graded stakes winners with 15 stakes performers overall.