TDN RISING STARS

October 14, 2022 - Belmont at Aqueduct, Race 1, Msw, USD $95,000, 1M

Signator, C, 2, 2020 by Tapit

1st Dam: Pension, by Seeking the Gold
2nd Dam: Furlough, by Easy Goer
3rd Dam: Blitey, by Riva Ridge

Owner: West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, LLC, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Phipps Stable, Langone, Ken, Hudson, Jr., Edward J. and Lane's End Racing
Breeder: Gainesway THoroughbreds, Ltd. (KY)
Trainer: Claude R. McGaughey III

Signator (Tapit) earned the 'TDN Rising Star' tag with a good-looking score at second asking at Belmont at the Big A. A $1.7-million OBSAPR acquisition after breezing in :20 4/5 for Eddie Woods, he finished up well to be second on debut going six panels at this oval Sept. 16 and was hammered down to 3-5 favoritism to go one better here. Away a beat slow from his inside stall, the gray tugged his way up the fence, sitting near the back of the tightly bunched group. Saving ground off a modest half-mile in :48.73 over a muddy surface, Signator was patiently handled under a smart ride from Javier Castellano, who didn't panic behind a wall of horses turning for home and got the opening he was looking for at the top of the lane. Signator dove through and rolled clear for an impressive 4 1/2-length score over Weekend Tizzy (Bernardini).

Signator is the 50th 'TDN Rising Star' for his perennial leading sire Tapit. He is a full-brother to $900,000 FTSAUG buy and GSW Thoughtfully. He is also a half to GSW Annual Report (Harlan's Holiday) and MSW Giant Payday (Giant's Causeway). His second dam is GISW Furlough (Easy Goer) and this is also the family of top-level scorers Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find and Finder's Fee. Signator also shares the same female family as GSW Feathered (Indian Charlie), dam of unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit).