Tapizar dances to victory in San Fernando

Tapizar started his four-year-old campaign with a stylish win in the San Fernando (Benoit Photos)

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC’s homebred Tapizar took command of
Saturday’s Grade 2, $150,000

San Fernando Stakes at Santa Anita entering the first turn and never
looked back en route to a 3 1/2-length victory under jockey Corey
Nakatani. The Steven Asmussen-trained son of Tapit was sent off the near
even-money favorite and returned $4.20, $3.60 and $2.60 for finishing up
the 8 1/2-furlong, fast-track contest in 1:41 4/5.

Tapizar found himself running four wide rounding the turn as Prayer
for Relief, Riveting Reason and Irish Art raced in tandem. Pulling his
way to the front, the bay colt established splits of :23, :46 2/5, 1:10
4/5 and 1:35 3/5 while chased by Prayer for Relief and Riveting Reason.
He kept on motoring through the stretch, easily holding the game rally
of Balladry, who nosed out Prayer for Relief for the place.

“He’s a really big and muscular horse. He’s huge,” Nakatani said.
“When you get him in that high cruising speed he just seems to do it so
easy. Steve (Asmussen) and I just wanted to get him to relax and run his
race, and that’s what he did. Forty-six and change is cruising speed for
him. He’s a horse that just has so much natural raw ability.

Nakatani gave Tapizar a congratulatory pat following victory in the San Fernando (Benoit Photos)

“He’s a nice horse. I’m glad he’s back at a venue that shows who he is,”
Asmussen said. “Hopefully we won’t get off track with him this year. We’re very
pleased with today’s race and hopefully he’ll come out of it good.

“This horse has always showed a lot of talent. We’re very proud of the horse
and how he ran today. We’re happy for the Winchells and what they’ve meant to
our stable. We’d really like to see this horse reach the next level and be a
top-class horse all year long.”

Asmussen indicated Tapizar could try to sweep the last two legs of the Strub
series, with the Grade 2 Strub Stakes on February 4 up next. The San Fernando is
the second leg of the series, which began with the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at
December 26.

“You’ve got a very good (Strub) series out here at Santa Anita,” the horseman
noted. “He’s run two good races over the course now so we’ve just got to do our
job and point him in the right direction. Hopefully we’ll have a lot to say
about the rest of the meet.”