Tapalo romped to a seven-length victory in Sunday’s $100,000 Laz Barrera S. at Santa Anita to give the 3-year-old Tapiture colt his first stakes win.
After finishing a good second in the Feb. 10 El Camino Real Derby, Tapalo endured a rough trip in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), prompting his trainer John Sadler to bring the bay sophomore back to seven furlongs in Sunday’s race.
Tapalo responded with a stellar effort. He broke on top and had a one-length lead after a quarter-mile. He began to widen on the turn and came into the stretch with a four-length advantage. He continued to open up on the field and came home an easy winner in 1:21.86, earning a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 101.
“He got eliminated in the Santa Anita Derby and I was thinking about giving him a little more time, but he had such a good work last weekend,” Sadler said. “I said, ‘He’s ready to go back.’ I thought this was a good distance for him. Anywhere from seven to a mile, a mile and an eighth might be okay.”
Tapalo is owned by Hronis Racing LLC and is now 2-2-1 in seven starts and has earned $137,020. He was bred in New York by Saratoga Glen Farm LLC.
A perennial a leading sire of winners, in 2024 Tapiture has surpassed the $30 million mark in progeny earnings and now has more than 60 stakes horses lifetime. He stands this year for $7,500 S&N.
