Tapit has emerged as one of the most influential and breed-shaping stallions of the past half-century.
Don Alberto Stable’s 3-year-old Tapit filly Unique Bella threw down a scintillating performance in the Grade 2 Las Virgenes Stakes at Santa Anita Feb. 5, one that has many racing pundits singing her praises as a possible Triple Crown candidate.
Gainesway stallions are well represented among the 418 early nominees for the 2017 Triple Crown.
Topping Book 1 of Keeneland’s January mixed sale was Siren Serenade, in foal to Tapit, marking the third straight major U.S. breeding stock sale a mare in foal to Gainesway’s three-time record-breaking leading sire has been the sale-topper.
Don Alberto Stable’s Unique Bella put the finishing touches on a stellar weekend for leading sire Tapit Jan. 8 at Santa Anita Park when she delivered an outstanding exhibition in the Grade 2 Santa Ynez Stakes. In only her third start, the 3-year-old gray filly earned 10 points toward a berth in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks.
Tapit, who has spent three consecutive record-setting years atop the nation’s leading sire list, is laying the groundwork for a fourth. On Jan. 7 at Gulfstream Park a pair of newly minted homebred 3-year-old fillies won back-to-back races, giving Gainesway’s gray promising boosts to his chances.
Gainesway’s flagship stallion Tapit is on his way to a third consecutive North American leading sire title and has once again set a single-season earnings record. Propelled by the worldwide success of his progeny during Thanksgiving holiday racing, Tapit bankrolled his 2016 earnings to more than $19.2 million.
Foggy Night, the first foal out of Grade 1 winner Champagne d’Oro who had sold for $1.87 million as a yearling, was victorious on his racetrack debut Nov. 12 at Tokyo Racecourse.
Gainesway announced its 2017 stud fees Nov. 10, with leading sire Tapit again headlining the roster and standing for an industry-leading fee of $300,000.
In-foal mares topped buyers’ shopping lists and, as expected, the sales sheets. Through the first two days of Book 1, the current sale-topper is Unrivaled Belle, who sold in foal to Gainesway’s leading sire Tapit.
When the dollars stopped flying at the Nov. 7 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November breeding stock sale, which saw gross, average, and median climb well beyond last year’s figures, a mare in foal to leading sire Tapit topped the auction.