Tapit Trice , a horse bred and sold with races like the Kentucky Derby (G1) in mind, took a big step toward that May 6 classic when he prevailed over Verifying in a stretch duel to win the $998,125 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) April 8 at Keeneland.
The extended drama of the stretch duel even carried after the finish as the stewards reviewed an objection from Verifying's jockey Tyler Gaffalione before deciding to keep the order of finish, upholding the neck win by Tapit Trice.
"I think he's improving all the time," Pletcher said. "We always felt like more distance would be good for him. We were happy to get him out to a mile-and-an-eighth today and we feel like a mile-and-a-quarter is going to be even better for him."
Co-owner Mandy Pope is looking forward to her third Derby, and after finishing fifth in 2013 with Mylute, who she co-owned with GoldMark Farm, and off the board with the solely campaigned Charge It last year, this time she will be arriving with a horse that figures to be one of the top two or three favorites.
"It seems like everything you throw at him, he takes it all in stride," said Pope, who co-owns Tapit Trice with breeder Gainesway Stable. "He doesn't get overly mental about anything. He just goes and does it with a lot of energy and thoughtfulness. He's not going to do anything stupid. He listens to (jockey Luis Saez) and does what he's supposed to. He's proud of himself."
Tapit Trice would flash both his steady improvement and his intelligence in Saturday's test. After racing seventh as longshot Clear the Air powered through a quarter-mile in :23.32 while tracked by Verifying, Saez made a smart move on his smart horse. Saez pushed a bit closer into contention into fourth on the outside as his push-button horse responded.
"The pace was a little slow and we knew the horse we had to beat was just in front of us, so we moved up to follow him," Saez said. "He's very intelligent. He doesn't break up near the front but that's OK because he knows how to win the race at the end. He comes running when you ask him to."
Tapit Trice did just that Saturday, as he ranged up next to Verifying to duel for the lead in midstretch. He would prevail by a neck, completing the 1 1/8-mile race in 1:50, after the two brushed then bumped in the stretch. On the head-on video replay, it appeared that Verifying came out toward the winner.
"I just feel like the other horse came out on us," Saez said.
Jockey Tyler Gaffalione acknowledged he didn't feel strongly about the incident but wanted the stewards to review it.
"The other horse was a little green and bumped into mine," Gaffalione said. "Hats off to the winner. They both ran a huge race down the lane."
Brad Cox, Verifying's trainer, liked the effort by the son of Triple Crown winner Justify , a half-brother to 2019 champion older female Midnight Bisou who was making his first start since finishing fourth in the Rebel Stakes (G2) Feb. 25 at Oaklawn Park. Cox said he hopes to move forward to the Derby. Verifying appeared solidly in the field with 54 points.
Last year's Champagne Stakes (G1) winner, Blazing Sevens , rallied wide to finish third but never threatened the top two. His 46 Derby qualifying points ranked 17th at the end of Saturday's races and will ensure him a spot in the classic if his connections opt to move forward.
Tapit Trice, who paid $5.28 to win, picked up his fourth straight victory. He entered off a two-length score in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), an effort that Saez said provided needed experience for Saturday's tussle. With the win, Tapit Trice earned the top Equibase Speed Figure of his career at 103, the culmination of a largely steady improvement of 84 in his debut followed by 96, 96, and 98.
Seeing Tapit Trice graduate Saturday thrilled his connections. Under her Whisper Hill Farm banner, Pope has made a big investment in the sport, buying a number of high-priced broodmares. With Tapit Trice she made a similar investment in a yearling colt, going to $1.3 million to land him at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway consignment. Antony Beck's Gainesway subsequently bought back in as a partner.
"He's absolutely outstanding," Beck said. "It's wonderful to be partners with Mandy Pope. It's a great friendship."
Tapit Trice is out of the grade 3-placed multiple stakes winner Danzatrice, a daughter of 2009 Belmont Stakes (G1) runner-up Dunkirk. Danzatrice is a half sister to 2018 champion 2-year-old filly Jaywalk, a two-time grade 1 winner.
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