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Tapit Trice goes last-to-first in G2 Woodward

by Mary Eddy

Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway Stable’s Tapit Trice splashed home to a three-quarter-length victory under a well-timed ride from Dylan Davis in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward, a nine-furlong route for 3-year-olds and up, at Belmont at the Big A.

Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, Tapit Trice notched his second graded score of the year and rebounded from an even fourth last out in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup on September 1 at Saratoga Race Course. The 4-year-old son of Tapit returned from an 11-month layoff in July to capture the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup at its namesake track, adding to scores as a sophomore in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland and Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby at its namesake Florida oval.

"It was a big run from him today,” Pletcher said. “I was hoping there would be an honest pace. I was a little bit concerned about that, looking at the race on paper. It seemed like it took him about 100 yards to get his legs under him, but then he got into a comfortable rhythm and really closed resolutely to get it done. He was determined today."

Tapit Trice emerged a step slow from post 3 in the compact four-horse field as post-time favorite Skippylongstocking broke sharpest of all from the inside post under Manny Franco. The favorite’s advantage was short-lived as Kendrick Carmouche coaxed longshot Masqueparade from the outside post to take command entering the first turn, marking an opening quarter-mile in 23.36 seconds over the muddy and sealed footing.

Tapit Trice trailed in last behind stablemate Crupi as an eager Skippylongstocking settled behind Masqueparade and the quartet raced in an even line down the backstretch. Masqueparade bounded through the half-mile in 47.05 and Davis made his move aboard Tapit Trice, sending him up the inside of Crupi as Irad Ortiz, Jr. angled the latter to the three-path.

Skippylongstocking was given his cue midway through the final turn as Masqueparade tired to his inside, causing the progressing Tapit Trice to steady and for Davis to angle him out for his bid after three-quarters in 1:11.87.

Crupi put in a mild run widest of all at the top of the lane, but was already in an all-out drive as Skippylongstocking was still well clear at the eighth pole. Despite the favorite seeming to draw off to a sure victory, Tapit Trice refused to yield and dug in with every stride to close the gap in the final eighth with the mile elapsed in 1:37.31. A leg-weary Skippylongstocking gave his all under left-handed encouragement from Franco, but could not fend off the rush of Tapit Trice, who reached the wire first in a final time of 1:50.09.

It was 13 1/4 lengths back to Crupi in third with Masqueparade completing the order of finish. Kay Army was scratched.

Davis, aboard Tapit Trice for the first time in the afternoon, said the gray colt found his best stride once in the clear.

"Great performance. Thank you to the Pletcher team. I thought I was going to be more forwardly placed out of the gate, but he was not. So we had to go to ‘Plan B.’ I was just riding the rail, getting him into a good rhythm, and he got into a good stride there into the second turn,” Davis explained. “Then I had to move him out a little bit and keep him going - he was in between horses and wasn't feeling that. So once he was able to get through and I switched him to the outside, he really started thriving. The distance did not affect him at all. He is a nice-moving horse so hopefully I can continue with him, but I'm very happy with this performance today."

Tapit Trice has made three outings at the 10-furlong distance, finishing third in last year’s Grade 1 Travers at the Spa in addition to his last-out fourth in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and a rallying seventh in last year’s Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Pletcher said it is likely he’ll make his next start at that distance in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 2 at Del Mar.

"We've always felt he was a Classic-type horse, so I'll talk to the Whisper Hill team about it,” Pletcher said. “We were certainly going into this hoping to run a race that would earn his way in. It certainly looked like he did that today."

Pletcher added St. Elias Stables and Repole Stable’s graded stakes-winner Crupi appeared to dislike the wet going.

"It didn't seem like he had that same kick that he's been having,” said Pletcher. “It certainly seemed like he was spinning his wheels down the lane a little bit. It's unfortunate that he caught a surface he didn't appear to care for today.”

Bred in Kentucky by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Tapit Trice is out of the graded stakes-placed Dunkirk mare Danzatrice, a half-sister to 2018 Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Jaywalk. He banked $220,000 in victory while improving his lifetime record to 12-6-0-3 and returning $6.80 on a $2 win wager.

Franco said the Saffie Joseph, Jr.-trained Skippylongstocking, who entered from a repeat win in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic on August 23, gave his all.

"I was planning to go. I saw a horse sending it, so I just let him go. After that, I ran my race from there, but was just second best,” Franco said. “He was running. He never quit - the winner just kept grinding. I have to give credit to him, too."

Live racing resumes Sunday at the Big A with a nine-race card, featuring the Grade 2, $250,000 Gallant Bloom in Race 2 and the Grade 2, $200,000 Miss Grillo – a “Win and You’re In” for the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – in Race 8. First post is 1:05 p.m. Eastern.

America’s Day at the Races will present live coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A fall meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the broadcast schedule and channel finder, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule/.

NYRA Bets is the official wagering platform of Belmont at the Big A, and the best way to bet every race of the fall meet. Available to horse players nationwide, the NYRA Bets app is available for download today on iOS and Android at www.NYRABets.com.