Tapit Three Ways in Japan

It was a productive Saturday afternoon by any measure for the all-conquering Tapit at the tracks of the Japan Racing Association. The Gainesway-based stallion was responsible for a sensational American-bred winner, another winner sired in the U.S., but foaled in Japan, and he also appeared as the broodmare sire of a fashionably bred third scorer on the day.

The Alexander-Groves-Matz-bred 3-year-old filly Rabbit Run, a $750,000 Keeneland September graduate, made an immediate impression in Japan by blasting home a 7-length winner of her debut at Kyoto last November, but was switching to the turf for the first time Saturday. Outposted in the field of 16, she was eased back to the tail and was quietly ridden before picking up some ground on the turn. Switched out in upper stretch, she unleashed a furious rally from a seemingly impossible position to be along late for a half-length success at odds of 7-1 (video). That Rabbit Run might take to the grass was not entirely surprising on pedigree, as half-siblings Kindergarden Kid (Dynaformer), Rainha da Bateria (Broken Vow) and Assateague (Stormy Atlantic) had each recorded important wins over the surface.

Tapit also featured as the sire of the Japanese-bred sophomore filly Menuett (Jpn), who was sent off the 4-5 favorite to break her maiden in her seventh career trip to the post at Hakodate. The grey dipped at the break from the six hole, but recovered relatively quickly to sit in fifth for the run around the first turn. Asked for some speed with about three furlongs to travel, she came three wide into the stretch, bid three abreast at the 200m and was pushed out to score by a cozy half-length (video). Menuett is a daughter of Spinning Wildcat (Hard Spun), a $600,000 acquisition by K. I. Farm out of the 2013 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Spinning Wildcat's dam was Hollywood Wildcat (Kris S.), the Eclipse Award-winning 3-year-old filly of 1993, and dam of Spinning Wildcat's close relative, GI Breeders' Cup Mile hero War Chant (Danzig).

Laragh (El Prado {Ire}) was one of two U.S.-based Grade I winners from Tapit's first crop of runners in 2008, having annexed the Hollywood Starlet S., and was purchased by Shadai Farm for $850,000 out of the 2009 FTKNOV sale. Glenmacnass (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) became the mare's first foal to win when proving 1 1/4 lengths too strong as the 3-5 chalk in an 1800m maiden at Hakodate. Allowed to settle midfield from post 10, Glenmacnass lobbed along three deep along the back and was five wide while moving into contention at the quarter pole. Put to a drive, the 3-year-old colt came calling for the lead at the furlong marker and edged away to score nicely (video).

The sire of 61 graded winners–including 22 top-level scorers–and 98 black-type winners overall, Tapit has now been represented by 23 horses (from 25 starters) which have annexed at least one race in Japan, including G1 February S. hero Testa Matta.