Regally Bred Tapit Colt Green, but Extremely Good at Belmont; Named Rising Star

[Wandering Eyes]

RUGBYMAN (c, 3, Tapit—Zaftig {GISW, $408,700}, by Gone West) might still have some growing up to do, but there’s no questioning his talent and promise after a Sunday romp at Belmont worthy of the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. A late-on-the-scene third first up going seven furlongs at Keeneland Apr. 13, the regally bred grey was backed down to 6-5 with an additional furlong to work with. Falling out of the gate, the hulking colt tugged Jose Ortiz through rivals all the way up to second. He pressed $520,000 firster Dominant Strategy (Bernardini) through splits of :22.92 and :46.14, and was scrubbed on to come to even terms with the pacesetter leaving the bend. In front past the quarter pole, he required a bit of extra attention from Ortiz to maintain a straight path in upper stretch, but once he had figured it out he was wrapped up and allowed to canter home some 12 lengths clear. Dominant Strategy held on for second. The winner follows in the hoofsteps of his dam, who was named a ‘TDN Rising Star‘ herself for a second-out romp before eventually annexing the 2008 GI Acorn S. with a gaudy 113 Beyer Speed Figure. Zaftig is out of GISW Zoftig (Cozzene), and a half to fellow Grade I winner Zo Impressive (Hard Spun). Zo Impressive in turn is the dam ofgraded stakes-winning ‘Rising Star‘ Souper Tapit (Tapit). The Wertheimers paid $1.4 million for Zaftig in foal to Candy Ride (Arg) at the 2011 Fasig-Tipton November sale. She has a2-year-old colt named Spinoff (Hard Spun) with three recent breezes at Palm Beach Downs, and a yearling filly named Lasy W (War Front). She was most recently barren to Ghostzapper. Lifetime Record: 2-1-0-1.
O/B-Wertheimer et Frere (Ky). T-Graham Motion.

 

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