It was a 56th career Thoroughbred Daily News ‘Rising Star’ for TAPIT on Sunday when Sneakily lived up to her name with a dramatic Churchill Downs Maiden Special Weight victory.
Second in her debut, Sneakily was last out of the gate in this 1 1/8 mile turf race and was allowed to settle at the back of the field nearly 10 lengths behind the leader. The gray creeped closer while keeping her back marker spot down the backstretch and still gave herself plenty of work to do around the turn.
In an incredibly eye-catching performance, Sneakily was swung to the outside at the top of the stretch and quickly turned on the jets. In only a few strides she was a clear contender and was quickly to the front soon after.
By the time they hit the line, Sneakily was two lengths in front to get her maiden victory for Wathnan Racing and Brad Cox.
Last-to-first was 𝗦𝗡𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗟𝗬!
After missing the break, @iradortiz gets the 3-year-old daughter of Tapit to bring a late closing kick to break her maiden for trainer @bradcoxracing and owner Wathnan Racing.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/paP299piCB
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) June 7, 2026
Bred by KMN Racing, LNJ Foxwoods, and Gainesway, Sneakily sold for $850,000 through Gainesway at the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale in 2024. She is the first foal to race out of the Grade 2 winning Sneaking Out.
That Indian Evening mare is one of five stakes winners out of the stakes placed Maddie’s Odyssey with her sixth stakes performer being TAPIT’s own stakes placed Personal Pursuit. Maddie’s Odyssey is one of three stakes performers from seven winners out of four-time winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Personal Odyssey.
Sneakily has an OLYMPIAD 2-year-old half sister to come.
It was a big day for TAPIT at Churchill Downs on Saturday with the stallion also seeing his Arkansas Derby (G1) third Taptastic finish third in the Matt Winn S. (G3).