Leading international sire Distorted Humor now has a major player on the 2018 Triple Crown trail following Quip’s electrifying victory in the $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G2) on Saturday afternoon (VIDEO).
The winner was bred by WinStar Farm, who co-owns the 3-year-old colt with China Horse Club and SF Racing LLC. Quip is Distorted Humor’s 61st lifetime graded stakes winner and his fifth stakes horse of 2018.
Quip was making his first start since a troubled trip in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) last November at Churchill Downs. Sporting a very quick series of works in the last month, Quip was quick out of the gate to take up right outside of leader World of Trouble. The duo was one-two until the top of the stretch, when Quip began to assert himself. Kept to task late by Florent Geroux, Quip crossed the wire a length in front of Flameaway to finish the 1 1/16-miles in 1:44.72.
“I’ve always thought a lot of him,” said Geroux of the winner. “Rodolphe (trainer Rodolphe Brisset) rides him in the morning, and he said he was doing fantastic. It seemed like he handled the track very well. I’m glad to know Quip was best today.”
Quip earned 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge Series, virtually assuring himself a spot in the gate for the May 5 Run for the Roses.
“We knew he had a lot of talent after he won his first two races, but he got a little lost in the Kentucky Jockey Club,” said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm. “I’m not sure what’s next; we’re going to enjoy this one and go from there.”
Quip has now won three of four starts and banked $282,800. Quip is the first foal out of the Indian Charlie mare Princess Ash, who is a half-sister to Wood Memorial (G1) runner-up Normandy Invasion, who also ran fourth in the 2013 Kentucky Derby.
