By Stefanie Grimm
1st-BAQ, 90K, Msw, 2yo, 6 1/2f, 12:35 p.m.
A pair of debuting colts both by Tapit will break side by side to open the card at Belmont's Aqueduct meeting Saturday. AU CONTRAIRE is a Stonestreet-bred son of MGISW Dream Rush (Wild Rush) who sold to Halsey Minor for $3.3m at FTKNOV in 2007. Her progeny include MGSW Dream Pauline (Tapit), SW and sire Atreides (Medaglia d'Oro) while her daughter, GISW Dreaming of Julia (A.P. Indy), has already produced a dual champion in Malathaat (Curlin) along with GSW Julia Shining (Curlin). Stonestreet has tabbed Jena Antonucci to train with Eric Cancel aboard for the debut.
Breaking to that rival's outside is FUN TO TAP who was the fourth-highest price at last year's Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale when selling to Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm for $1.2m. The colt is a half to MGSW/GISP Mr. Money (Goldencents) along with SP Tizplenty (Speightstown) and the family includes G1 Emirates Airline Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed (Tiznow). Kendrick Carmouche gets aboard for trainer Todd Pletcher.
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