Saturday, Tampa Bay
FLORIDA OAKS-GIII, $100,000, TAM, 2-2, 3yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:39 3/5, fm.
1--#@TAPICAT, 116, f, 3, by Tapit
1st Dam: Zealous Cat, by Storm Cat
2nd Dam: Trail Robbery, by Alydar
3rd Dam: Track Robbery, by No Robbery
($725,000 yrl '11 KEESEP). O-Besilu Stables; B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC & Gainesway Thoroughbreds LTD (KY); T-William I Mott; J-Joel Rosario. $60,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-1, $118,100. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.


2--Kitten's Dumplings, 120, f, 3, Kitten’s Joy--Granny Franny, by Grand Slam. O/B-Kenneth L & Sarah K Ramsey (KY); T-Michael J Maker. $20,000.
3--Wave Theory, 116, f, 3, Smart Strike--Glimmering (Ire), by Sadler's Wells. ($130,000 yrl '11 KEESEP; $275,000 2yo ‘12 KEEAPR). O-Martin S Schwartz; B-Hertrich/McCarthy Livestock LLC, John D Fielding & W S Farish (KY); T-Chad C Brown. $10,000.

Margins: 2 3/4, NK, 2. Odds: 0.90, 8.10, 2.50.
Also Ran: Rusty Slipper, Raven's Rockette, Floral Sky, Cindys Casino, Cotton Pickin, Caraquista, Mariel n Kathy.
Scratches: Jadira, Toasting.
Click for the brisnet.com chart or the brisnet.com PPs. VIDEO.
   Besilu Stables' "TDN Rising Star" Tapicat, produced by a mare closely related to GI Breeders' Cup Classic hero Cat Thief, did not have the most alert of beginnings in this one, but was in front passing the judge for the first time, set a good pace doing what she does best and was more professional in the stretch en route to an easy victory. "We really love her," winning owner Benjamin Leon commented. "We look for excellent pedigree, conformation and racing ability, and she has all three. We expected her to do well. She is an unbelievable filly." Favored when third in a single start over the main track at Belmont Oct. 28, Tapicat switched to the turf and got two turns for the first time when besting recent "TDN Rising Star" Tokyo Time (Medaglia d'Oro) by 3/4 of a length at Gulfstream Park Dec. 2. She became a "TDN Rising Star" in her own right in her last visit to the races, a front-running 5 1/4-length success in an entry-level allowance in Hallandale Jan. 9, despite racing greenly. Confidently handled here by Joel Rosario, riding for the first time at Tampa, Tapicat cruised along on an uncontested lead through fractions of :23.60 and :47.15, was well clear into the lane and was never in serious trouble. Trainer Bill Mott added, "She’s had three races this winter and I kind of planned on not running her right back. I supposed we will have to consider if we want to take a chance on the synthetic in the [GI] Ashland at Keeneland."