By Jessica Martini
Mike Tarp had high expectations when his homebred filly Go Maggie Go (Ghostzapper) went postward for the first time in Sunday's fifth race at Gulfstream Park. Still, the filly's powerful four-length victory was a surprise.
“We were pretty high on the filly, so we thought she would do reasonably well,” Tarp said from his Calgary home Sunday. “But we didn't think she would win as easily as she did. It's unusual for a first-time starter to win off like that.”
Go Maggie Go is out of Magibel (Tale of the Cat), who Tarp purchased for $260,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Florida Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale in 2002. While the filly failed to find the winner's circle in five starts, she did produce Wallyanna (Langfuhr), who won the 2014 GII National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame S.
“Go Maggie Go was her last foal, unfortunately,” Tarp said of Magibel. “She was a good mare and has produced some pretty nice horses through the years. And this one being her last one, so far, it looks like we've got ourselves a pretty nice filly here. So we are pretty excited about her and hopefully we can carry on and go onwards and upwards.”
Tarp, owner of a Chrysler dealership based in Calgary, has been in the racing game for some 12 years now. Currently with nine horses in training with Romans, he has campaigned Tarpy's Goal (High Cotton), winner of the 2012 OBS Sophomore S. and third in the 2011 GII Futurity S. and American County (Gibson County), winner of the 2008 Sunshine Millions Oaks and third in the 2007 GIII Debutante S.
“For me, it's a hobby,” Tarp commented. “It's not a business. It's an expensive hobby, but I'm having fun with it, so that's the main thing.”
American County is now Tarp's sole broodmare.
“She just gave birth to a Shackleford filly,” Tarp said of the mare. “She's doing well and no doubt I'll be looking forward to racing the filly.”
Go Maggie Go's impressive debut has Tarp dreaming big for the filly's next start.
“It looks like Dale will put her in a stakes race next and we'll go from there,” Tarp said of the filly's next start. “That will be Dale's decision, but most likely it will be a graded stakes race. I don't tell him where to put any of my horses. He has carte blanche, but if you want my opinion on it, that's probably what he's thinking. But it's a fragile sport, so you never know.”
While he was unable to make it to Gulfstream Sunday, Tarp is confident he'll be making it to Go Maggie Go's next start.
“There is no doubt in my mind that I'll make it there, wherever it might be,” he laughed.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
