Insights: Well-Related, Expensive Tapit Colt Debuts in Big Easy

[Wandering Eyes]

3rd-FG, $43K, Msw, 3yo, 6f, post time: 2:26 p.m. ET

Pedigrees don’t get much bigger than the one possessed by SECLUSIVE (Tapit), the $1.05-million second highest-priced weanling at the 2016 Keeneland November sale. A May 6 foal–who fetched the same price, but was unsold at KEESEP–the dark bay is the latest to make the races from SW Serena’s Cat (Storm Cat), the dam of five winners from as many to race, including the champion MGISW, Lane’s End stallion and ‘TDN Rising Star’ Honor Code (A.P. Indy); MGSW Noble Tune (Unbridled’s Song), a sire in South Africa; and SW Declarationofpeace (War Front), himself a $2.6-million KEENOV acquisition in 2015. His third dam is the irrepressible Serena’s Song (Rahy), the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old filly of 1995 and 11-time Grade I winner who produced the likes of G1SW Sophisticat (Storm Cat) and GSWs Grand Reward (Storm Cat) and Harlington (Unbridled). “He’s a big good looking horse,” trainer Joe Sharp said. “He’s big and heavy and it’s taken a while with him. We’ve been real patient as far as getting him there. Every work has gotten better as we’ve gotten closer. I think he might be a horse that needs a start or two to get it all together, but his last couple of works from the gate have been pretty encouraging and he’s outworked his company.” Get the Prize (Candy Ride {Arg}), a $125K KEESEP yearling turned $410K OBS March breezer (work) is out of a half to GSW & MGISP Nothing But Fun (Dixie Union) and hails from the deeper female family of champion Ajina (Strawberry Road {Aus}). Allen Paulson’s fingerprints are also all over the family of Hitch (Tapit), a $370K KEESEP RNA and $500K OBSAPR grad (work) whose SW second dam Tenga (Mr. Prospector) produced GISW Startac (Theatrical {Ire}). TJCIS PPs

City Zip Colt Looks ‘Worth’ It…
3rd-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, 7f, post time: 1:05 p.m.
FORT WORTH (City Zip) has been pegged as the slight 9-5 morning-line favorite debuting for Bass Racing LLC and trainer Todd Pletcher. The New York-bred, produced by a MSP half-sister to GSP Flatter Than Me (Flatter), was sold in utero for $65K at KEENOV in 2015 and repaid that bill when hammering for $150K at FTKNOV a year later. A $300K purchase out of the 2017 FTSAUG sale, the chestnut drilled a furlong in :10 flat and was purchased by agent Steve Young for $550K (1/12) at OBSMAR last spring. Bandon Woods (Uncle Mo) made $180K as a KEENOV weanling and turned a nice profit when hammering for $700K at FTSAUG the following summer. His GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff-winning third dam Unbridled Elaine (Unbridled’s Song) bred GSWs Etched (Forestry), Emotionless (Ire) (Shamardal) and Out of Bounds (Discreet Cat). TJCIS PPs

Another Pricey OBS Grad Gets Going…
4th-GP, $50K, Msw, 3yo, f, 7f, post time: 1:35 p.m.
SMOOTH WITH A KICK (Candy Ride {Arg}), a daughter of MSP Minesave (Mineshaft), realized $270K as a KEESEP yearling before being knocked down to agent Mike Ryan for $650K at OBSAPR after covering a quarter-mile in a slick :21 1/5. Her SW & GSP second dam Jaramar Rain (Thunder Gulch) was responsible for MGSP Imperial Council (Empire Maker). The chestnut, who worked a bullet five-eighths at Payson Park in late January, is the 5-2 morning-line choice breaking from the rail for trainer Chad Brown. TJCIS PPs

What’s Not to Like?…
1st-SA, $55K, Msw, 3yo, f, post time: 3:00 p.m ET
Ontario-bred HARD NOT TO LOVE (Hard Spun) summoned $400K at the 2017 KEESEP sale and is out of Loving Vindication (Vindication), whose ‘TDN Rising Star’ daughter Wonder Gadot (Medaglia d’Oro) was the Sovereign Award-winning 2-year-old filly of 2017 and is a near slam dunk to follow up as champion of her generation last season on the strength of her victory in the Queen’s Plate as well as placings in the GI Kentucky Oaks and GI Cotillion S. south of the border. The May foal’s second dam was the very speedy GSW & GISP Chimichurri (Elusive Quality). TJCIS PPs

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