Victory for Vets struck the front in mid-stretch and rolled to a 4 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $100,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Derby at Sam Houston Park, the first stakes win for the 3-year-old Tapiture colt [WATCH RACE].
Tapiture, who had six black type winners in 2023, has already accounted for three stakes winners, and two more stakes horses, to date this year.
Victory for Vets, who was making his two-turn main track debut in the TTA, settled just behind the leaders in a good fourth-place stalking spot as the field rounded the first turn. He held his spot down the backstretch and on the final bend as well. He split horses in upper stretch and soon took the lead, drawing off smartly in the final strides to win by daylight.
The winner is owned by James Stodola and has earned $113,846 from a record of 2-1-1 in six starts. The chestnut colt was bred by AsmussenEquine.com.
