It was a well-deserved first stakes win for TAPIT’s Signator on Saturday when he stayed undefeated in 2025 with a win in the Listed Henry S. Clark Stakes.
Looking for his second win in two starts this year, the entire was racing one mile on the turf against nine other horses. The big field saw him race with just a few horses beat over five lengths off the leader between horses. He took advantage of a rail spot racing into the far turn, moving slightly closer with just over a quarter to run to set him up for a strong stretch effort.
Shifted to the outside again coming into the stretch, Signator was determined to get the victory and closed strongly to face the leader late. That one wasn’t winning to give up the lead easily, but Signator wasn’t going to take no for an answer and took command before pulling away to win by half a length.
#6 SIGNATOR ($11.00) surges to win the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes at @LaurelPark. This is the first stakes win for the five-year-old horse by @Gainesway's Tapit. @JOCKEYSMARIN was in the irons for @Claudemcgaughey.
@westpointtbred @woodfordracing pic.twitter.com/iUpytdnueM
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 19, 2025
Trained by Shug McGaughey, for West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Gainesway, Phipps Stables, Ken Langone, Edward and Lynne Hudson, and Lane’s End Racing, the Gainesway-bred has won five of his 14 starts.
A $1.7 million 2-year-old purchase, Signator is a full brother to Grade 2 winner Thoughtfully and half-brother to Grade 2 winner Annual Report, stakes winner Giant Payday, and stakes placed Flores Island.
His second dam is the Grade 1 winner Furlough, who is one of three Grade 1 winners for her own dam alongside Dancing Spree and Fantastic Find. This is also the family of TAPIT’s Horse of the Year Flightline.
It’s been another big week for TAPIT, who also had a $1 million session topper at the OBS April 2-Year-Olds In Training Sale.