Tapitsfly’s late charge helped her secure the Honey Fox Stakes
In the field of nine, 3-year-old and above fillies and mare, Dale Romans trained 5-year-old mare, Tapitsfly, rallied late under jockey Julien Leparoux in deep stretch to land second start of the new campaign in the Grade 3, $150,000 Honey Fox Stakes over
at Gulfstream Park’s firm turf course on 18 March, 2012.
Owned by Frank L. Jones Jr, Tapitsfly was exiting a strong third place finish in the Grade 3, Marshua’s River Stakes, where she was beaten by a head to winner Heavenly Landing on 7 January, 2012, at Gulfstream Park.
"She’s won some good races and we tried her in the (Juddmonte) Spinster (gr. I) last fall thinking she might like the Poly (at Keeneland)," Romans said. "It’s a prestigious race, but didn’t work out. She’ll be strictly turf from now on. She’s learned to
relax and is a better horse this year.”
Tapitsfly landed something of substance yesterday after a huge win in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf back in 2009, where she defeated Rose Catherine in second and House of Grace in third.
By winning the Honey Fox Stakes, the Kentucky bred daughter of Tapit, out of mare Flying Marlin by Marlin, Tapitsfly broke a seven race winless streak, as the gray/roan mare sent off at 5 to 1 defeated the Brian Lynch trained, Bay to Bay by three quarters
of a length, as the runner-up edged past La Reine Lionne by a nose to secure the second position.
Sent as the 3 to 2 favourite, Future Generation had a race to forget, as she never got into contention to win the race, and wilted to finish an embarrassing fourth. Tapitsfly pounced late to take the victory and cover the 1 mile on turf with the winning
time of 1 minute and 34.23 seconds.
“It’s hard to believe that this is her first graded stakes win," Romans said. "The Breeders’ Cup (Juvenile Fillies) wasn’t graded yet when she won. She really deserves this to go along with her Breeders’ Cup."
Lifetime winner of $880,050, Tapitsfly has gone on to improve her career mark to 5 wins in 18 starts with 5 second place finishes and 3 third place finishes.
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