Tapwrit (Tapit–Appealing Zophie, by Successful Appeal), winner of last year's GI Belmont S., has been retired from racing and will take up stud duties at Gainesway next year. He will stand his initial season at a fee of $12,500.
Purchased by Bridlewood Farm, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, and Robert V. LaPenta for $1.2 million at the 2015 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga sale, Tapwrit captured the Pulpit S. at Gulfstream Park as a 2-year-old. At three, he set a new stakes record when winning the GII Tampa Bay Derby and, after a troubled sixth-place effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, was a two-length winner of the Belmont. On the board in six of 13 starts, the gray won four times and earned $1,362,402.
“Tapwrit always showed a great deal of ability, but in the Belmont S., he demonstrated the class and competitiveness you need to win a Classic race,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “With his outstanding physical and pedigree, Tapwrit certainly has the credentials to be a top sire.”
Eclipse president Aron Wellman added, “Tapwrit gave our partners one of the greatest highs a racehorse owner can have when he won the Belmont S. Tapwrit remains the most expensive yearling Eclipse has ever acquired and formed a partnership for–a strong, well-made, beautiful yearling by champion sire Tapit out of a Grade I-winning 2-year-old. He rewarded our confidence in him, and I look forward to him rewarding breeders in his new career at stud.”
Tapwrit is out of Appealing Zophie, winner of the 2006 GI Spinaway S., and he is a half-brother to graded stakes winner Ride a Comet (Candy Ride {Arg}).
He is available for inspection at Gainesway from 1-2 p.m. daily.
“We are excited to be standing a Classic-winning son of Tapit,” said Gainesway president Antony Beck. “Physically, Tapwrit is as impressive of a stallion as you will find. He's going to have beautiful yearlings and make a tremendous sire.”
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