The latest achievements for Gainesway and our roster of stallions
Tapizar colt American Pastime cruised to his third career victory Aug. 19 at Del Mar. The 3-year-old Bob Hess Jr. trainee defeated older horses in a six-furlong allowance by 2½ lengths.
Gainesway and Whisper Hill Farm have acquired interests in Belmont Stakes (G1) winner and Travers Stakes (G1) contender Tapwrit and will join Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert V. LaPenta in racing the son of Tapit.
Tapizar colt Mr. Crow broke on top and increased his margin at every call in the July 22 Saratoga opener, winning by 11½ lengths in a sharp 1:09.44 to post the year’s highest Beyer Speed Figure by a 3-year-old.
American Pastime, the promising 3-year-old Tapizar colt who earned “TDN Rising Star” status for his 4½-length debut victory March 11, returned to the Santa Anita winner’s circle June 11 after a similarly impressive allowance score.
Gainesway’s champion sire Tapit reached another milestone June 10 when his son Tapwrit won the 149th Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park. For the third time in four years, a son of Tapit has won the “Test of the Champion.”
Tapizar debutante Firefoot, a Keeneland September Book 1 graduate, overcame a slow beginning to score impressively in her unveiling June 4 at Gulfstream Park.
With his dominating 3¼-length victory in the $500,000 Gold Cup at Santa Anita, Cupid became the 21st Grade or Group 1 winner by Gainesway’s three-time leading sire Tapit and earned a 106 Beyer Speed Figure.
A colt from the second crop of Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1) winner Tapizar brought $250,000 during the May 23 session of Fasig-Tipton’s Midlantic sale of 2-year-olds in training.
Gary and Mary West’s 3-year-old Tapit filly Actress made a splash, literally and figuratively, when she broke her maiden in the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico May 19, her third career start.
The dream did indeed come true for the owners and connections of Always Dreaming in the 143rd Kentucky Derby. As the appropriately-named 3-year-old powered to a decisive 2¾-length triumph May 6 at Churchill Downs, it was a career-defining achievement for a colt whose preeminent classic sire line keeps finding roses.