Live Oak Plantation's Souper Tapit (Tapit) demonstrated a world of potential in an eye-catching last-to-first score on debut at the Fair Grounds Feb. 18, earning 'TDN Rising Star' status, and the chestnut realized that potential Sunday with a convincing score in the GIII Marine S. at Woodbine. Sitting a perfect trip behind a pair of battling pacesetters, the chestnut finished strongly to hold off a pesky Channel Maker (English Channel) and prevail by two lengths.
“We've really liked him all along,” said Kathryn Sullivan, assistant trainer to winning conditioner Mark Casse. “He's been really high on our list of three-year-olds right from the start. He does have his challenges. He has a mind of his own sometimes, but he was great today. We're really happy going forward with him.”
Winner by a neck over subsequent GIII Illinois Derby winner Multiplier (The Factor) on debut, Souper Tapit was a surprisingly punchless fifth in a salty optional claimer facing older horses in New Orleans Mar. 20. Last seen in Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. Apr. 15., he was eager early and steadied before fading to seventh in the wake of subsequent GI Preakness S. third-place finisher Senior Investment (Discreetly Mine).
The sailing was far smoother Sunday, as the Live Oak colorbearer settled into a nice rhythm in third behind contested fractions of :23.17 and :47.67. He mounted a strong four-wide bid on the far turn, seized control into the stretch and braced for a menacing challenge from Channel Maker to his outside. Souper Tapit found more in midstretch, however, and turned back that one's bid in the final furlong.
“He's extremely talented,” said winning rider Florent Geroux. “We just tried to keep him quiet and when he's that way, he can perform very well. He's not very easy. His last race was not very good. Mark and his staff did a great job with him. They put a lot of work and effort into him and I'm glad I was able to deliver the nice win for them today.”
Pedigree Notes:
A Live Oak homebred, Souper Tapit hails from a tremendous female family that the farm tapped into when they purchased GI Selene S. winner Zoftig (Cozzene) for $1.5 million in foal to Hard Spun at the 2008 Fasig-Tipton November sale. Zoftig's first foal would turn out to be Zo Impressive, winner of the GI Mother Goose S. in 2012 and the dam of Souper Tapit, as well as an unraced 2-year-old Speightstown colt named Zo Zo Souper. Zo Impressive is herself a half-sister to GI Acorn S. winner Zaftig (Gone West), who sold for $1.4 million as a broodmare at Fasig-Tipton November in 2011. Live Oak parted ways with Zoftig in 2013 after she sold for $1.1 million at Keeneland November, but Zo Impressive remains part of their coveted broodmare band.
Sunday, Woodbine
MARINE S.-GIII, C$134,250, WO, 5-28, 3yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:43.52, ft.
1–#@SOUPER TAPIT, 117, c, 3, by Tapit&log=">Tapit
1st Dam: Zo Impressive (GISW, $439,800), by Hard Spun
2nd Dam: Zoftig, by Cozzene
3rd Dam: Mrs. Marcos, by Private Account
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Live Oak Stud (FL); T-Mark E. Casse;
J-Florent Geroux. C$75,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-0, $82,468.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick
Rating: F.
2–Channel Maker, 117, g, 3, English Channel–In Return, by
Horse Chestnut (Saf). ($57,000 RNA Ylg '15 KEESEP). O-Joey
Gee Thoroughbreds, Wachtel Stable & Gary Barber; B-Tall
Oaks Farm (ON); T-William I. Mott. C$30,000.[bullet ad=”bsw-bloodstock-purchased-privately”][bullet ad=”ontario-bred”]3–Malibu Secret, 117, c, 3, Malibu Moon–Ain't No Tellin', by
Dynaformer. O/B-Sam-Son Farm (ON); T-Malcolm Pierce.
C$16,500.[bullet ad=”ontario-bred”]Margins: 2, 5 3/4, 3/4. Odds: 1.95, 4.20, 3.45.
Also Ran: Megagray, Minister's Strike, Conquest Lemonraid, Montu. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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