Bauer Contemplates Next Race for Tam Tam

Tam Tam continued her breakout season Saturday at Keeneland by capturing the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) Presented by Dixiana in gate-to-wire fashion. "Maybe she'll start getting a little more recognition that she deserves," trainer Phil Bauer said. "She's done nothing wrong this year and just keeps getting better." Winner of the Aug. 22 Del Mar Oaks (G1) in her most recent race, the 3-year-old daughter of Medaglia d'Oro broke alertly in the QE II Presented by Dixiana. She led the field of 10 from start to finish, crossing the wire 2 1/2 lengths ahead of second-place finisher Faithful Departed. "She just looked so happy and smooth down the backside with her ears just clicking forward," Bauer said. "The fractions were quick, but she looked like she was doing it so easy. The good ones will do it, and she's pretty special." Following the victory, Bauer said the immediate plan is to give Tam Tam some time to recover before determining her next target. "She looks great. We'll give her a few days off and see where we're at and maybe come up with a plan for that," Bauer said. "There's one more Grade 1 at Santa Anita on the 26th of December (American Oaks-G1), so maybe. But I think we'll also look toward next year and see what would be early and kind of work backwards from there." Bauer said Tam Tam has shown she benefits from spacing between races, a factor that will help shape her schedule moving forward. The goal is to target the biggest opportunities while keeping the filly healthy and happy. "I think at this point, you know, she's a filly that appreciates a little space in her races, and we'll probably target the best ones that we can from here on out," Bauer said. "Obviously plan on running her next year, as long as she's sound and happy." Next Start Undecided for Faithful Departed Trainer Grant Forster was not disappointed when Faithful Departed settled for the runner-up spot behind Tam Tam in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana. "It was fun to run in the QE II, " Foster said about the Yoshida (JPN) filly. "I have always wanted to run in that race. Obviously the goal is to win every race, but she is running against some of the best fillies in the country. She's had some bad luck here and there and had troubled trips and races that didn't set up as we hoped. (On Saturday) it looked like there was more pace on paper but it didn't turn out that way. She's gives her A game every time." Her A game has resulted in finishing first or second in seven of nine races on grass and an overall ledger of 3-4-0 and $646,814 in 10 races. She has always been destined for turf competition in part because her dam, the Heatseeker (IRE) mare Speed Seeker, was a Grade 3 winner on the surface. "Her first race (when unplaced on dirt) was just to get some fitness in her," Forster said about Faithful Departed. Faithful Departed has since excelled while exclusively on turf with a victory in the Regret (G3) at Churchill Downs and second-place finishes in the Belmont Oaks (G1) and the Saratoga Oaks (G2) both at Saratoga this summer. The filly has strong sentimental value to the partnership of Frank Ferrogine, Richard Rendina, Nick Coniglio and Greywood Farms of Joseph Haselton, Britt Haselton and breeder Robert K. Johnson. The group raced her dam along with Frank Coniglio, who died in 2020. Faithful Departed was named to honor Coniglio, who is Nick's father. Forster said a decision will be made soon on whether to race Faithful Departed once more this year. "We might want to just freshen her up for next year," he said. "We think she can be one of the best fillies in the country on grass. Maybe one more race and then a vacation. "There was no shame in losing to Tam Tam. She is a multiple Grade 1 winner and that is what we hope to become." On Nov. 3, Faithful Departed's half-sister Moonshine Dreamer will be offered as Hip 144 in Book 1 of the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale. The 8-year-old Malibu Moon mare is cataloged in foal to Locked, winner of Keeneland's Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1). Plans on Hold for Braida Braida (FR) poked her head out of her stall early Sunday morning, waiting for Antoine Coutier to deliver her well-earned breakfast following her rallying third in the QEII Presented by Dixiana. "She looks good, bright and happy," said Coutier, the work rider for trainer Francis-Henri Graffard who made the trip from France with the filly. Braida came away well from the starting gate and took up a spot in fifth past the finish the first time in the 9-furlong QE II Presented by Dixiana, just behind Tam Tam, Luster, Kensington Lane (IRE) and Faithful Departed. Jockey Vincent Cheminaud kept the daughter of Mehmas in that position around the first turn, up the backstretch and around the final turn, with cover to her outside most the way from Kensington Lane. Braida followed Faithful Departed out of the final turn and passed rivals to her outside. She finished third, 3 1/2 lengths behind Tam Tam and 1 3/4 lengths clear of fourth-place Storm's Wake. "It was a good race for her," Coutier said. "Maybe a little bit too soft (ground) for her." Coutier said plans were on hold for the filly, at least for now. "We'll have to check with the boss to see where she goes next," Coutier said. Luster to Receive Time Off at Gainesway Gainesway Stable and Andrew Rosen's Canadian classic winner Luster finished out of the top three for the first time in her seven career races in the QEII Presented by Dixiana. The daughter of Knicks Go, the 2-1 favorite for the invitational turf stakes for 3-year-old fillies, chased eventual winner Tam Tam in second and to the outside of Faithful Departed for the first 6 furlongs. Braida (FR) and Deep Learning passed Luster on the inside, and Soloist and Storm's Wake went by on the outside turning for home. Jockey John Velazquez didn't persevere from there and Luster finished eighth of 10, beaten 13 1/2 lengths. Luster spent the night in the stakes barn before heading to Gainesway in Lexington Sunday morning for some time off. "She's doing well this morning," said Sue Lorimer, assistant to trainer Josie Carroll. "She jogged up good this morning. She's going to have a few weeks turnout now at Gainesway." Gainesway's Ben Gowans said future plans would be made down the road. "She's had a great year and earned a good rest," Gowans said. "We'll get her to the farm, give her a rest and figure out some plans for a 4-year-old campaign."