Vai, a 2-year-old filly by first-crop sire Tapizar, found the winner’s circle for the second time in as many starts Oct. 6 when taking a six-furlong allowance race at Santa Anita. Vai’s win gives Tapizar his third repeat winner; no freshman sire has more.
Trained by Mark Glatt for Dan Freeman, Tanya Freeman, and William Strauss, Vai was bred in California by Richard Barton Enterprises. She shrugged off her Cal-bred status when debuting against open fillies Aug. 28 at Del Mar, going wire to wire in a 5½-furlong maiden special weight to win by 2¼ lengths. Meeting state-breds for the first time Thursday, Vai was bet down to 1/5 favoritism. The bay filly rated just off the pace, easily made the lead at the top of the stretch, and had her nearest rival measured by a half-length at the wire to remain unbeaten (VIDEO).
Vai was a $47,000 purchase at the 2015 Barretts October yearling sale with Glatt signing the ticket. The trainer indicated Vai will make her stakes debut Nov. 4 in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile Fillies over six furlongs at Santa Anita.