If the opening-day $400,000 FanDuel Tapit Stakes is an indication, Kentucky Downs is in for a tremendous meet. The Tapit, at a mile and 70 yards, is restricted to horses that haven't won a stakes race in 2022. But that doesn't mean the horses aren't accomplished.
The 15 horses entered (three are also-eligibles) include the winners of last year's Keeneland Turf Mile (G1T): In Love, who also won the TVG Stakes; Santa Anita Mathis Mile (G2) winner Law Professor; and Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Like the King.
The Brazilian-bred In Love, who drew post 12, is trained by Paulo Lobo for owners Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I, which also teamed to win last year's $1 million Calumet Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs with Imperador. In Love finished a respectable seventh, beaten a total of 3 1/4 lengths, in last fall's FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF (G1T) at Del Mar. He was eighth in his two starts this year, both grade ones.
A homebred for Randy Gullatt's Twin Creeks Racing Stables, Law Professor will be making his first start for trainer Rob Atras after previously being with Southern California-based trainer Michael McCarthy. Law Professor hasn't run since finishing last of nine in the $400,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses on dirt April 2 at Oaklawn Park.
Atras said he received Law Professor in June after the 4-year-old Constitution gelding was freshened at Kentucky's WinStar Farm following a troubled trip in the Oaklawn Mile, his first start outside California.
Law Professor has made three starts on grass, winning a mile allowance optional claiming race last November at Del Mar and finishing fifth in the $500,000 Frank E. Kilroe Mile Stakes (G1T) March 5 at Santa Anita Park. Sandwiched around those two races was a victory in the $200,000 off-the-turf Santa Anita Mathis Mile Stakes (G2) for 3-year-olds Dec. 26 at Santa Anita.
Law Professor was the 9-2 second choice in the Oaklawn Mile, but never a factor after having to check on the first turn under Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez.
Julien Leparoux (47 victories) is the second-winningest rider in the history of Kentucky Downs, an undulating, non-symmetrical 1 5/16-mile European-style grass venue that opened in 1990 as Dueling Grounds.
"I'm glad Julien Leparoux is riding him," Atras said. "He knows the course. He's done really well on it. Kentucky Downs, the track's kind of got some hills, up and down, and the stretch is long. Definitely a track I'm not familiar with. I'm glad we got an experienced rider that knows the track, where to be, when to make your move, and all that kind of stuff. I think it's very important, especially at Kentucky Downs."
Atras said Law Professor, who drew post 9 and is 10-1 on the morning line, figures to be his lone starter this year at the FanDuel Meet at Kentucky Downs.
"Hoping that this goes well and maybe it will open the door to other opportunities down the road," Atras said.
Other prominent horses in the Tapit include Megacity, Peace Achieved, Ramsey Solution, Souper Dormy, and Shadow Sphinx.
Twelve horses can start in the Tapit, with Spanish Kingdom, Bakers Bay, and Newsworthy needing scratches from the also-eligible list to start.
The Kentucky Thoroughbred Development Fund accounts for $200,000 of the purse, for which only registered Kentucky-breds are eligible.
Kentucky Downs, Thursday, September 1, 2022, Race 9Entries: FanDuel Tapit S.
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Ramsey Solution (KY) Edgard J. Zayas 122 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1 2 2Souper Dormy (KY) Declan Carroll 122 Mark E. Casse 12/1 3 3Like the King (KY) Florent Geroux 122 Mark E. Casse 15/1 4 4Peace Achieved (KY) Adam Beschizza 122 Norm W. Casse 20/1 5 5Atone (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Michael J. Maker 4/1 6 6Floriform (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 William I. Mott 9/2 7 7Shadow Sphinx (KY) Joseph Rocco, Jr. 126 Peter Miller 20/1 8 8New Year Surprise (KY) Jose L. Vega 122 Gennadi Dorochenko 30/1 9 9Law Professor (KY) Julien R. Leparoux 122 Rob Atras 10/1 10 10Skyro (KY) James Graham 122 Brian A. Lynch 15/1 11 11Megacity (KY) Ricardo Santana, Jr. 122 Michael J. Maker 5/1 12 12In Love (BRZ) Alex Achard 122 Paulo H. Lobo 7/2 13 13Spanish Kingdom (KY) Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. 122 Joe Sharp 12/1 14 14Bakers Bay (KY) Colby J. Hernandez 122 Claude R. McGaughey III 12/1 15 15Newsworthy (KY) Ferrin Peterson 122 William I. Mott 10/1
