It was a juvenile winner at Keeneland for TAPWRIT on Friday when Tapirs Valor won a Maiden Special Weight in his second start.
The juvenile was brushed just out of the gate, but quickly took control of the six-furlong dirt event and kept about a length between himself and the runner up down the backstretch. He was put under some pressure as the field turned from home but refused to bow down.
The horse who had been directly behind him throughout the run kept on persisting down the stretch, but Tapirs Valor pulled away to win by 1 ¾ lengths in the end.
(1) Tapirs Valor flies to the wire in race 2 under @tyler_gaff, followed closely by (5) D Bigalow! (9) Very Bold is third. pic.twitter.com/eU2PdmOK7G
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 18, 2024
Tapirs Valor is trained by John Hancock for John Pashea and was bred by Hurstland Farm.
The colt is the first out of two-time winner Alteration, who is one of five winners from five runners out of a daughter of the stakes winning Turn To Lass, whose runners include Grade 1 third Portfolio Manager.
TAPWRIT is the sire of 53.29% winners to runners, putting him above Justify and Bee Jersey among third crop stallions.