Tapizar dances to victory in San Fernando

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.

"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."