A record-breaking three-time leading sire, and the all-time leading North American sire by earnings, Tapit is now making a notable mark on the next generation through his sons and daughters.
He's already represented by no less than 37 stakes winner-siring sons, most notably Constitution (whose own son, Tiz the Law , is prominent among the leading freshmen of 2024), and has several others in the formative stages of their careers, that group headlined by the superlative Flightline . Tapit also earned honors as leading broodmare sire in 2023, and is the top United States-based horse on the same table in 2024, behind King Kamehameha, who stood in Japan, and Galileo, who spent his stud career in Ireland.
Tapit's success as a broodmare sire was further underlined last Saturday when in that role he was represented by four individual black-type scorers. Three were juveniles: Tenma, previously successful in the Del Mar Debutante Stakes (G1), took the Starlet Stakes (G2); and, in New York, Poster and Muhimma captured the Remsen Stakes (G2) and Demoiselle Stakes (G2), respectively. Ballerina d'Oro, who was second in the Demoiselle, also is out of a Tapit mare.
Poster and Muhimma are particularly interesting since both are by Munnings , and therefore bred on an identical cross. The Remsen and Demoiselle are both run at nine furlongs, and generally the winners are set on a path toward the classics. That makes them a little different from the general run of the best performers for Munnings. He did get I'm a Chatterbox, who scored one of her three grade 1 victories in the 10-furlong Delaware Handicap (G1), but of his other grade 1 scorers—Jack Christopher , Kimari, Eda, El Deal, and Howard Wolowitz—only Eda scored beyond a mile, taking the Starlet Stakes (G1) and Santa Ysabel Stakes (G3) both at 1 1/16 miles, before reverting to sprints at 4.
As a racehorse, Munnings, a son of 2004 champion sprinter Speightstown, appeared best over six or seven furlongs, recording wins in the Woody Stephens Stakes (G2) and Tom Fool Handicap (G2) at 3 and the Gulfstream Park Sprint Championship Stakes (G2) at 4. Munnings did show a capacity for high-class performance over middle distances, taking third in the nine-furlong Haskell Invitational Stakes (G1). In the 2009 Haskell, he led through an opening three-quarters in a rapid 1:09.92 but finished seven lengths behind winner Rachel Alexandra, but only a length behind the runner-up and that year's champion 3-year-old colt, Summer Bird.
In the Remsen, Poster took his record to 3-for-3 in his main-track debut, holding off Aviator Gui (another out of a Tapit mare) by a nose. He'd won a maiden special weight at Ellis Park, and a mile allowance at Keeneland, both on the turf. He's the second winner for his dam, Pin Up, a winning half sister to 2006 champion 3-year-old colt Bernardini (by Tapit's grandsire, A.P. Indy). Pin Up is also a half sister to Ile de France, dam of the Personal Ensign Handicap (G1) and Zenyatta Stakes (G1) victress Love and Pride (another by A.P. Indy) and to Lovely Regina, dam of two-time graded stakes winner Thiskyhasnolimit (by Sky Mesa , a son of Tapit's sire, Pulpit).
Muhimma is similarly undefeated in three outings, having previously tallied in a maiden special weight and an allowance/optional claimer at Churchill Downs. She is out of Princesa Carolina, who set a course record for 10 1/2 furlongs when capturing the Dueling Grounds Oaks. She also placed in four other graded stakes, including a third in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T).
Princesa Carolina's dam, Pure Clan, was a top-class performer who captured six graded stakes, including the American Oaks Invitational Stakes (G1T) and Flower Bowl Invitational Stakes (G1T), and also took second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T). Pure Clan is a half sister to Greater Good, whose trio of graded successes include the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2); to stakes-placed Gather the Day, the granddam of Madison Stakes (G1) heroine Finley'sluckycharm; and to Swift Girl, the dam of Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Sky Diva (by Sky Mesa) and stakes-winning and grade 1-placed Quick Little Miss. Swift Girl also is the granddam of graded scorer Shotgun Hottie.
Muhimma's third dam, Gather the Clan, won the Violet Handicap (G3) and is a daughter of What a Summer, the champion sprinter of 1977, in an era before distaffers had their own division championship.
The victories of Poster and Muhimma bring the total of stakes winners by Munnings out of mares by Tapit to four, the duo being preceded by other grade 2 winners Finite and Bonny South, and from just 16 starters. The key is likely the relationship between Munnings' broodmare sire, Holy Bull, and Tap Your Heels, the dam of Tapit.
Holy Bull is by Great Above, who is by a son of Rough'n Tumble out of twice champion sprinter Ta Wee, who was by Intentionally out of Aspidistra, and Holy Bull's dam is by a son of The Axe II.
Tap Your Heels is by Unbridled, whose sire, Fappiano, is out of a mare by Dr. Fager (by Rough'n Tumble out of Aspidistra, so closely related to Great Above). Unbridled's second dam, Charedi, is by a son of Intentionally out of a daughter of Aspidistra, so closely related to Ta Wee. Tap Your Heels' second dam, Moon Glitter, adds to the mix as she is by a son of Intentionally out of a mare by The Axe II.
