HOT SPRINGS - The first meeting went to Strong Mandate. But the rematch was all Tapiture.
Tapiture, under strong handling from Ricardo Santana Jr., took the lead down the backstretch and rolled to a 41/4-length victory over heavily favored Strong Mandate in the $300,000 Grade III Southwest Stakes for 3-year-olds Monday afternoon at Oaklawn Park.
Tapiture, who provided trainer Steve Asmussen with his second Southwest victory, recorded the second-largest margin of victory in the race in the past decade.
Tapiture had finished second to Strong Mandate, beaten 4 1/2 lengths, in his Aug. 17 career debut at Saratoga in upstate New York.
The rematch before a season-high crowd of 25,622 on an unseasonably warm, breezy afternoon was more like a mismatch.
“It was a big step forward for him,” Asmussen said. “I was impressed with what he did.”
Strong Mandate finished six lengths clear of Ride On Curlin, who was followed, in order, by Coastline, Tanzanite Cat, Bourbonize, Walt,Fire Starter, Son of Dixie, Paganol, Kendall’s Boy and Louies Flower.
Tapiture, the 5-1 second choice, paid $13, $4.80 and $3.20. Strong Mandate paid $3.40 and $2.60. Ride On Curlin paid $3.80.
Tapiture, who had been training this winter at Fair Grounds in New Orleans, hadn’t started since breaking his maiden in the $150,000 Grade II Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
The Southwest marked Tapiture’s second victory in five career starts and increased his earnings to $320,838.
The 1 1/16-mile Southwest was worth 17 points in the Kentucky Derby eligibility system, which is used to determine starting preference if more than 20 horses enter.
Tapiture earned 10 points for the victory and now ranks No. 1 overall with 22. Tapiture won’t actually turn 3 until May 3, the same day the Kentucky Derby is run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
Asmussen said there is still grow-up potential for Tapiture, a chestnut son of Tapit who races for his breeder, Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ron and Joan Winchell).
“He never really relaxed a lot,” Asmussen said. “With that being said, you’re extremely happy with the outcome. Very pleased with the ability that he has, but I still think he’s going to have to turn off a little bit to go farther.”
Tapiture, who broke from the rail, was one of several horses in the field who were eager early in the race.
Tapiture dueled with Ride On Curlin and Tanzanite Cat through a modest half-mile of :47.92 and shook clear in the three path turning for home.
Strong Mandate, who had a wide trip much of the way under Joel Rosario, collared Ride On Curlin on the outside in the upper stretch, but wasno threat to the winner while weaving in the final furlong.
Trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, Strong Mandate was making his first start since finishing third in the $2 million Grade I Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 2 at Santa Anita in suburban Los Angeles.
“We had wanted to be more forwardly placed, but he got bumped leaving the gate and was actually wide the whole trip,” Lukas said. “The winner ran exceptional.”
Santana, Oaklawn’s leading rider last year, put Tapiture to a right-handed whip just past the three-sixteenths pole and the colt responded by pulling clear of the field.
Tapiture, who drifted out late, covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.95. He carried 119 pounds.
“When we got to the straight, he showed all his class,” Santana said.
Asmussen said Tapiture will be pointed for the $600,000 Grade II Rebel Stakes on March 15. The Rebel is the final major local prep for the $1 million Grade I Arkansas Derby on April 12.
Asmussen swept both races in 2007 with another chestnut colt, Curlin.
“I saw some things we need to improve, and he’ll have to continue to improve with the races coming up,” Asmussen said of Tapiture. “I think the series sets up really well for him.”
By the numbers 41/4◊lengths Margin , for of Tapiture victory, in Odds on Tapiture 5.50-1◊10◊Points earned by Tapiture in the Road to the Kentucky Derby standings 101/4◊arating Margin, winner in lengths Tapiture , sepfrom third-place Ride On Curlin 31/2◊ing Margin third , in -place lengths Curlin , separat from - ninth-place finisher Son of Dixie 12◊Horses entered in Southwest Stakes 15◊Date in March when the Rebel Stakes, the next leg in Oaklawn’s Derby prep series, will be run 72◊High temperature Monday in Hot Springs 25,622◊Season-high attendance at track $1.53◊million◊Money wagered on track for race $5.41◊million◊Money wagered on 10-race card
Sports, Pages 17 on 02/18/2014