Favored at 8-5, Whisper Hill Farm and Gainesway’s TAPIT TRICE (c, 3, Tapit–Danzatrice, by Dunkirk) was forced to make several runs, but in the end outgamed perfect trip Verifying (Justify) to take out Saturday’s GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. Under a hustling ride early from gate one by Luis Saez, the $1.3-million Keeneland September graduate was consigned to a midfield trip around the first turn as Verifying set up shop a couple of lengths behind longshot pacesetter Clear the Air (Ransom the Moon). Steered out into the clear down the backstretch, Tapit Trice improved into a forward position but was four wide at the five-eighths and continued to chart a wide course into and around the turn. Floated a bit wider by Verifying into the the stretch, Tapit Trice joined that one in earned a furlong from home and got the better of a good battle for a first Grade I victory. It was the second winner of the Blue Grass in three years for Tapit, whose multiple champion son Essential Quality decisioned a game Highly Motivated (Into Mischief) in a finish reminiscent of Saturday’s.
Saturday, Keeneland
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $998,125, Keeneland, 4-8, 3yo,
1 1/8m, 1:50.00, ft.
1–TAPIT TRICE, 123, c, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Danzatrice (MSW & GSP, $312,145), by Dunkirk
2nd Dam: Lady Pewitt, by Orientate
3rd Dam: Spin Room, by Spinning World
1ST GRADE I WIN. ($1,300,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP). O-Whisper Hill
Farm, LLC and Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck); B-Gainesway
Thoroughbreds Ltd. (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Luis Saez.
$573,500. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-1, $883,650. Werk Nick
Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click
for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Verifying, 123, c, 3, Justify–Diva Delite, by Repent.
($775,000 Ylg ’21 KEESEP). O-Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier,
Jonathan Poulin, Derrick Smith and Michael B. Tabor; B-Hunter
Valley & Mountmellick Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$185,000.
3–Blazing Sevens, 123, c, 3, Good Magic–Trophy Girl, by
Warrior’s Reward. ($140,000 Ylg ’21 KEEJAN; $225,000 Ylg ’21
FTSAUG). O-Rodeo Creek Racing, LLC; B-Tracy Farmer (KY);
T-Chad C. Brown. $92,500.
Margins: NK, 5 3/4, HF. Odds: 1.64, 2.35, 6.18.
Also Ran: Sun Thunder, Raise Cain, Mendelssohns March,
Hayes Strike, Classic Car Wash, Scoobie Quando, Major Blue,
Clear the Air.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs.
VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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