Tap Dance Fever won a stretch-long duel in Saturday’s Wayward Lass S. at Tampa Bay Downs to give the daughter of Tapiture her first career stakes win.
Tapiture, who was last year’s leading Fourth-Crop sire by both winners and wins, has gotten off to a hot start in 2023, accounting for two stakes winners and three stakes horses in the first two weeks of the year.
Tap Dance Fever, ridden by Jose Ferrer, was allowed to settle in fourth as the field was through a half-mile in :47.10 by Pass the Champagne. Tap Dance Fever began her sustained run going into the final turn and entered the homestretch on nearly even terms with Pass the Champagne. The duo were side-by-side until the final few strides, when Tap Dance Fever edged clear to win by a head in 1:44.09 for the 1 1/16-miles on a fast track.
“He (Ferrer) breezed her last week and told me she was better today than for her last race (an allowance/optional claiming victory here on Dec. 17),” trainer Gerald Bennett said.
Tap Dance Fever’s win made the 5-year-old 5-3-3 in 20 starts with earnings of $185,525. She is owned by J.P.G 2 LLC, Mr Pug LLC, Winning Stables Inc. and Mary Thomas.
The winner was bred by John Penn and is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Fast and Accurate.
