Tapizar, too good for the San Fernando field at Santa Anita
Winchell Thoroughbred’s strapping homebred, Tapizar, sent as the heavy favourite in the Grade 2, $150,000 San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita drew away in the stretch, unthreatened and made it look very easy in the field of seven on 14 January, 2012.
The winning son of Tapit, out of mare Winning Call by Deputy Minister, Tapizar broke under jockey Corey Nakatani from the far outside gate and merged with the leaders right after. Tapizar tilted a little outside in search of a little room because the intention was to break free from the lot and go all out.
The second choice Bob Baffert’s trainee, Prayer for Relief, got himself into good positions time and time again, and looked to be beautifully set up to run past his opponents on the far turn, but Tapizar, sent off at 11 to 10 odds floated a bit wide into the club house turn after dictating the pace.
That little move gave Tapizar the option to settle into a nice stride, as he snatched the lead from Prayer for Relief, Riveting Reason and Irish Art.
Corey Nakatani told Tapizar to take it easy after taking the lead, which allowed Prayer for Relief to come a little closer, but Tapizar had his breather and took off where he left from.
The situation eased out for Tapizar, as he opened up a considerable gap and kept to his task in the final furlong.
Joe Talamo’s ride, Balladry, out of nowhere from sixth position came haring for Prayer for Relief, and rallied gamely to nose out the second choice runner, as Tapizar posted a 3 ½ length victory to win the 1 1/16 mile test with a winning time of 1 minute and 41.94 seconds on the Santa Anita’s fast track.
“He’s a really big and muscular horse," Nakatani said.
"He’s huge. When you get him in that high cruising speed he just seems to do it so easy. Steve (Asmussen) and I just wanted to get him to relax and run his race, and that’s what he did. Forty six and change is cruising speed for him. He’s a horse that just has so much natural raw ability.
"He ran a tremendous race today, and with his athletic ability, he’s such an amazing horse.”
Trainer Steven Asmussen hopes that Tapizar would keep it going for the rest of the meet, as the bay colt figures to be the favourite for the Grade 2 Strub Stakes and ultimately the major contender for the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap.
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