Asmussen Record-Breaker a Rising Star

In an effort befitting the record-setting 9,446th training victory in the Hall of Fame career of Steve Asmussen, L & N Racing & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Stellar Tap (Tapit) cruised through the Saratoga stretch to earn the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction on the GI Whitney S. undercard at Saratoga.

The 11-2 chance, wearing the silks of longtime Asmussen client Winchell Thoroughbreds and campaigned in partnership with another loyal owner, L & N Racing, jumped straight into the bridle and argued the pace outside of 6-5 chalk Brigadier General (Street Sense). Traveling the better of the two as they neared the stretch, the $250,000 Keeneland September acquisition, who previously RNAd for $385,000 at Keeneland November, responded when set down by Asmussen's go-to jockey Ricardo Santana, Jr. and rocketed clear to take it by 5 1/4 impressive lengths. Keepcalmcarryon (Union Rags), a debut runner-up to 'Rising Star' and next-out GIII Sanford S. hero Wit (Practical Joke) closed off well to complete the exacta.

Stellar Tap is out of a half-sister to SW & GISP Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid) and to GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten), the dam of SW & GSP Figarella's Queen (Medaglia d'Oro). Gioia Stella is also the dam of a yearling filly by Speightstown, a filly foal by Curlin and most recently visited Speightstown once again. Stellar Tap is bred on the same cross over El Prado (Ire) that is responsible for GISW Laragh and GSW White Rose.

5th-Saratoga, $100,000, Msw, 8-7, 2yo, 7f, 1:23.82, ft, 5 1/4 lengths.
STELLAR TAP, c, 2, by Tapit
1st Dam: Gioia Stella, by Medaglia d'Oro
2nd Dam: Dowry, by Belong to Me
3rd Dam: Sea Jamie Win, by Dixieland Band
Sales history: $385,000 RNA Wlg '19 KEENOV; $250,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $55,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Click for the free Equineline.com catalog-style pedigree.
O-L & N Racing LLC & Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Moyglare Stud Farm Ltd (KY); T-Steven M Asmussen.