WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., and Cold Press Racing’s Tappan Street stamped his Kentucky Derby (G1) ticket with a rousing win in Saturday’s Florida Derby (G1).
Tappan Street has 110 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Challenge Series, tying the colt for third place on the list. The top 20 horses are guaranteed entry into the May 3rd Run for the Roses.
Tappan Street, who was second in last month’s Holy Bull S. (G3), was the second choice in Saturday’s 1 1/8-mile race, behind Sovereignty, who won the Fountain of Youth S. (G2) on March 1.
Breaking from post nine in the 10-horse field, Tappan Street broke well and was fourth through the first half-mile. As the field entered the far turn, Tappan Street began to cut into the lead, with Sovereignty following him while four-wide. Both colts came into the stretch full of run and Tappan Street stormed to the lead with a furlong to go and held off Sovereignty by 1 ¼-lengths.
“Everything went to plan,” said winning jockey Luis Saez. “He broke from there pretty well. He was in good position. The whole way I had a lot of horse. We knew the speed was inside and we followed the speed. Everything came out perfect. He was traveling professionally today. I saw [Sovereignty] and I let my horse go a little bit more, and he gave me a good turn of foot. When he came to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch [us].”
Saturdays’ win was the first stakes score for Tappan Street, who is 2-1-0 in three starts and has earned $649,600.
