It was a 54th Thoroughbred Daily News Rising Star for TAPIT on Friday when Our Moonlight impressed at Santa Anita.
Making her debut in this start, the Dean Pederson trainee motored to the lead early in the six furlong race before quickly being overtaken by the favorite. Content to sit behind that one for much of the run, Our Moonlight showed a bit of greenness around the turn when uncomfortable between horses.
Jockey Tiago Pereira was able to get her confidence back in the stretch and Our Moonlight collared the leader in the final sixteenth. Our Moonlight pulled away from there to win by 2 ¾ lengths and earn the title of ‘Rising Star.’
Owned by Lawrence and Ann Jett, the Stonestreet Thoroughbreds-bred was a $325,000 Keeneland September purchase by Gayle Van Leer.
Her Grade 3-placed dam Mannerly is now the dam of two winners from two named foals. Mannerly is a half-sister to the stakes placed Johannesbourbon and out of a half-sister to three stakes performers herself.
The TAPIT x Unbridled’s Song cross has been a successful one with the cross also including dual champion Unique Bella with Unbridled’s Song granddaughters also producing horses such as TAPIT TRICE, Tacitus, and Scylla.