| Tapit | |
|---|---|
| Sire | Pulpit |
| Grandsire | A.P. Indy |
| Dam | Tap Your Heels |
| Damsire | Unbridled |
| Sex | Stallion |
| Foaled | 2001 |
| Country | United States |
| Colour | Gray |
| Breeder | Oldenburg Farms, LLC |
| Owner | Winchell Thoroughbreds |
| Trainer | Michael Dickenson |
| Record | 6: 3–0–0 |
| Earnings | $557,300[1] |
| Major wins | |
| Laurel Futurity Stakes (2003) Wood Memorial Stakes (2004) | |
| Awards | |
| Leading sire in North America (2014, 2015, 2016) | |
Tapit (foaled February 27, 2001, in Kentucky) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won three of his six races and then became the leading sire in North America in 2014, setting an earnings record that he broke in 2015 and again in 2016. For the 2015 season, his stud fee was raised to $300,000, the highest in North America.[2]
Background[edit]
Tapit is a gray horse. He is heterozygous for the dominant gray gene, which he inherited via his dam, Tap Your Heels. As such, there is a 50-50 chance that any given foal sired by him on a non-gray mare will be gray. His base coat color before turning gray was chestnut.[3]
Tapit was purchased as a yearling in 2002 for $625,000 by Verne Winchell, a prominent California owner, under the recommendation of his bloodstock advisor [4]Dr. David Lambert. Winchell died soon afterwards and left the horse to his son, Ron. The manager of Winchell Thoroughbreds, David Fiske, placed the horse in the hands of trainer Michael Dickinson.[5]
Tapit has been described as an attractive, well-balanced, elegant horse whose appearance reflects the Thoroughbred’s Arabian ancestors.[6] He stands 16 hands (64 inches, 163 cm) high.[7]
Racing career[edit]
Tapit raced twice at age two, winning both times. On October 19, he won a one-mile maiden special weight at Delaware Park by 7 3/4 lengths. He then won the Grade III Laurel Futurity Stakes on November 15 by five lengths, earning a Beyer Speed Figure of 98. Veteran sportswriter Andrew Beyer wrote, "No 2-year-old in America had looked more impressive."[5]
His return to the racetrack was delayed due to lingering shin problems.[5] He made his 3-year-old debut in the Florida Derby on March 13 and finished sixth in the Grade 1 race, but his poor finish was later explained by the discovery of a lung infection. He bounced back in April, coming from last to win the Grade I Wood Memorial Stakes by half a length over Master David. “I was dreading the race, because I knew he wasn’t fit,” trainer Michael Dickinson said. “He’s a very generous horse, and he has such a big heart. I felt I was putting him into battle unprepared. And if anything had happened I would have blamed myself. But the horse carried me through, and I’m indebted to him. He’s such a generous horse and we love him dearly.”[8]
Tapit was the 6–1 third betting choice in the 2004 Kentucky Derby and finished ninth behind Smarty Jones.[9] He was scheduled to race in the 2004 Belmont Stakes but was scratched due to a return of the lung infection. In his last race, the Sept. 6, 2004, Pennsylvania Derby, he finished ninth.[6]
Stud career[edit]
Tapit was retired to stud at Gainesway Farm in Lexington, Kentucky in 2005 for a stud fee of $15,000. His first foals were of racing age in 2008 and he made an immediate impact, making him the leading freshman sire that year. His first crop was led by champion 2-year-old filly Stardom Bound, winner of the 2008 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, and included 15 stakes winners overall.[6]
His next few crops were not as strong but he was still third on the 2009 second-crop sire list (including 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Tapitsfly), and third on the 2010 third-crop sire list. In 2011, he was third on the general sire list. His leading performer, Hansen, won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and was named champion two-year-old. Tapit finished fourth on the general sire list in 2012, and seventh in 2013.[6]
In 2014 Tapit led the sire list for North America, setting an earnings record in the process. His top performers of 2014 were Untapable and Tonalist. Tonalist became Tapit's first American Classic winner when he won the 2014 Belmont Stakes; Untapable won the Kentucky Oaks and Breeders' Cup Distaff, and was named champion 3-year-old filly.[10]
In 2015, Tapit led the sire list for the second time, breaking his own earnings record. Top performers that year included Tonalist and Frosted. In 2015, he also led North America by number of winners with 174. He was the leading sire in every "black-type" category tracked by Thoroughbred Daily News, with 23 Black-Type Winners, 47 Black-Type Horses (meaning that 47 of his foals finished first, second or third in qualifying stakes company), 16 Graded/Group Stakes Winners, 29 Graded Stakes Horses, five Grade I/Group 1 winners and 10 Grade/Group 1-placed horses.[11]
In 2016, he once again headed the sire list, with top performers including Frosted and 2016 Belmont Stakes winner Creator.[12] Two fillies sired by him dead-heated in the Grade I Spinaway Stakes, the two being Pretty City Dancer and Sweet Loretta. He also sired two Grade I winners on the turf, Ring Weekend and Time and Motion. David Firsk, the stallion manager of Winchell Stable, said, "The versatility he has and everything else, I mean, you could subtract his turf earnings from his total ... and he'd still be the leading sire. Turf runners are like a hobby for him."[13]
In 2017, his son Tapwrit won the Belmont Stakes, marking the third time a son of Tapit had won the race in four years.[14] His other leading performers included Cupid (Gold Cup at Santa Anita), Actress (Black-Eyed Susan), and Unique Bella (American Champion Female Sprint Horse, Las Virgenes, Santa Ysabel Stakes, La Brea Stakes).[15]
With his record of siring winners, his stud fee steadily increased, from the original $15,000 to $80,000 in 2011, $125,000 in 2013,[16] and to $150,000 in 2014. For the 2015 breeding season, his fee was doubled to $300,000, and in 2017 was the highest in the United States.[17] In 2014, a single share in Tapit, providing a guaranteed breeding right for the rest of his career, was sold for $2.8 million. This made his total value an estimated $140 million.[18]
Tapit has produced the most successful foals from mares that "nick" or complement the genetic strengths in his pedigree. Tapit is inbred to Nijinsky, a son of Northern Dancer, and many of his best offspring are out of mares who also carry Northern Dancer breeding, but via different lines.[19] Frosted is an example of how Tapit crosses well on mares that carry the bloodlines of Seattle Slew.[20]
Statistics[edit]
| Year | North American Rank | Winners | Black-Type Winners | Graded Stakes Winners | Chief Earner | Earnings† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #1 first-crop | 24 | 3 | 2 | Stardom Bound | $2,811,337 |
| 2009 | 28 | 70 | 11 | 4 | Careless Jewel | $5,187,086 |
| 2010 | 12 | 111 | 12 | 5 | Concord Point | $6,521,662 |
| 2011 | 3 | 121 | 13 | 7 | Hansen | $9,229,483 |
| 2012 | 4 | 140 | 10 | 6 | Tapizar | $9,305,068 |
| 2013 | 7 | 139 | 11 | 6 | Joyful Victory | $9,184,624 |
| 2014 | 1 | 156 | 17 | 12 | Untapable | $16,813,536 |
| 2015 | 1 | 175 | 23 | 16 | Frosted | $18,397,691 |
| 2016 | 1 | 149 | 21 | 15 | Frosted | $19,245,888 |
| 2017 | 5 | 152 | 19 | 11 | Tapwrit | $12,909,191 |
| 2018 | 5 | 152 | 15 | 7 | Unique Bella | $12,864,700 |
| 2019 | 3 | 147 | 26 | 13 | Tacitus | $14,335,769 |
| 2020 | 2 | 113 | 14 | 11 | Tacitus | $11,825,591 |
† Prior to 2015, the Leading Sire Lists published by The Blood-Horse excluded earnings from Hong Kong and Japan due to the disparity in purses. Starting in 2015, earnings from Hong Kong and Japan are included on an adjusted basis.[22]
Notable progeny[edit]
His major stakes winners include:[23][24]
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
| Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
| 2006 | Careless Jewel | f | Alabama Stakes, Cotillion Handicap |
| 2006 | Laragh | f | Hollywood Starlet Stakes |
| 2006 | Stardom Bound | f | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies, Santa Anita Oaks, champion 2yo filly |
| 2006 | Testa Matta | c | Japan Dirt Derby, February Stakes |
| 2007 | Tapitsfly | f | Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf |
| 2008 | Joyful Victory | f | Santa Margarita Stakes |
| 2008 | Tapizar | c | Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile |
| 2008 | Tell a Kelly | f | Del Mar Debutante Stakes |
| 2008 | Zazu | f | Lady's Secret Stakes, Las Virgenes Stakes |
| 2009 | Dance Card | f | Gazelle Stakes |
| 2009 | Hansen | c | Breeders' Cup Juvenile, champion 2yo colt |
| 2011 | Constitution | c | Florida Derby, Donn Handicap |
| 2011 | Ring Weekend | g | Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes |
| 2011 | Tonalist | c | Belmont Stakes, Jockey Club Gold Cup (twice), Cigar Mile Handicap |
| 2011 | Untapable | f | Breeders' Cup Distaff, Kentucky Oaks, Mother Goose Stakes, Apple Blossom, champion 3yo filly |
| 2012 | Frosted | c | Wood Memorial, Metropolitan Handicap, Whitney Stakes |
| 2013 | Creator | c | Arkansas Derby, Belmont Stakes |
| 2013 | Cupid | c | Gold Cup at Santa Anita |
| 2013 | Time and Motion | f | Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes |
| 2014 | Dream Dancing | f | Del Mar Oaks |
| 2014 | Pretty City Dancer | f | Spinaway Stakes |
| 2014 | Sweet Loretta | f | Spinaway Stakes |
| 2014 | Tapwrit | c | Belmont Stakes |
| 2014 | Unique Bella | f | La Brea Stakes, Beholder Mile, Clement L Hirsch Stakes, champion female sprinter in 2017, champion older female in 2018 |
| 2016 | Chasing Yesterday | f | Starlet Stakes |
| 2016 | Valiance | f | Spinster Stakes |
| 2018 | Essential Quality | f | Breeders' Cup Juvenile, champion 2yo colt |
Pedigree[edit]
Tapit is by Pulpit, who stood at Claiborne Farm. Pulpit is by A.P. Indy, the 1992 Horse of the Year and an outstanding sire. A.P. Indy is by Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, and out of Weekend Surprise by Secretariat. Pulpit's female family traces back to one of Claiborne's foundation mares, Knight's Daughter, the dam of Round Table.[19]
Tapit's dam is Tap Your Heels, a stakes-winning mare by Unbridled. Her dam, Ruby Slippers, also produced champion sprinter Rubiano, and is the third dam of champion Summer Bird. Tapit's third dam, Moon Glitter, was a stakes-winning full sister to important sire Relaunch.[19] Tap Your Heels is inbred to In Reality, a descendant of Man o' War.
| Sire Pulpit (USA) 1994 | A.P. Indy (USA) 1989 | Seattle Slew | Bold Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| My Charmer | |||
| Weekend Surprise | Secretariat | ||
| Lassie Dear | |||
| Preach (USA) 1989 | Mr. Prospector | Raise a Native | |
| Gold Digger | |||
| Narrate | Honest Pleasure | ||
| State | |||
| Dam Tap Your Heels (USA) 1996 | Unbridled (USA) 1987 | Fappiano | Mr. Prospector |
| Killaloe | |||
| Gana Facil | Le Fabuleux | ||
| Charedi | |||
| Ruby Slippers (USA) 1982 | Nijinsky II | Northern Dancer | |
| Flaming Page | |||
| Moon Glitter | In Reality | ||
| Foggy Note |
Tapit is inbred 3 × 4 to Mr. Prospector, 5 × 3 to Nijinsky II and 4 × 5 to In Reality. He has seven strains tracing to the influential broodmare La Troienne.[26]
References[edit]
- ^ "Tapit Profile". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Tapit's Stud Fee Doubles for 2015 Season". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "What Are The Odds? Tapit Produces Four Gray Sons En Route To Kentucky Derby". Paulick Report. 17 April 2016. Retrieved 11 June 2016.
- ^ https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/features/tapits-world-224760
- ^ a b c Beyer, Andrew. "Tapit may be moving too fast, too soon". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Avalyn Hunter. "Classic Winner Emerges From the Mist". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/90474/pedigree-analysis-is-bigger-always-better
- ^ Haskin, Steve. "Looking Back at Afleet Alex and Tapit". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 30 June 2016.
- ^ "Chart of the Kentucky Derby". Equibase. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
- ^ "Tapit: 2014 Leading Sire - Slideshow". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ Oppenheim, Bill. "Tapit Leads All North American Sires". Thoroughbred Daily News. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Tapit Keeps Proving Elite Status". Paulick Report. 14 June 2016. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
- ^ Wincze-Hughes, Alicia. "Tapit Breaks Single-Season Earnings Mark". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Zucker, Joseph. "Tapwrit Edges Favorite Irish War Cry, Wins 2017 Belmont Stakes". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
- ^ "Tapit - Stallion Record". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 29 May 2017.
- ^ "Tapit: Horseracing's top bachelor". Gainesway Farm. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Tapit's Stud Fee Doubles for 2015 Season". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ "Sale of Tapit Share Values Stallion at $140 Million". www.paulickreport.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ a b c Peters, Anne. "The Secret to Tapit's Success". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
- ^ Porter, Alan. "Pedigree Analysis: Frosted". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Leading Sire Lists". www.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 6 January 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Eric. "Sire List Evolution". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
- ^ "Into Mischief on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 18 April 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "Tapit stakes winners". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 18 April 2020. CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
- ^ "Tapit Pedigree". Equineline. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
- ^ "Super Saver Profile". www.winstarfarm.com. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
External links[edit]
- Tapit's World - BloodHorse feature
- TT Tapit
- Gainesway Farms web site
