Breeders' Cup Juvenile: Tap It Rich eager to run

ARCADIA, Calif. – Trainer Bob Baffert used equipment known as “rings” on Tap It Rich for his final workout Monday before Saturday’s $2 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Tap It Rich, under jockey Rafael Bejarano, worked five furlongs in 1:00.57 over Santa Anita’s main track, and it was evident that the horse wanted to do more. Tap It Rich had his head cocked to the left around the far turn during the work but kept it straight down the lane. The rings, through which the reins are slid, are designed to keep a horse from getting his head up high.

Tap It Rich went the final quarter of his workout in 24.07 seconds and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.82 and seven-eighths in 1:27.28.

“He had rings on; he was fighting the rings,” Baffert said. “I told Bejarano, ‘Do not let him run.’ The other day I worked him, he got a little rank on me and got a little bit out of control.”

Tap It Rich will enter the Juvenile having had just one race. But it was a terrific performance, as he broke slowly, was wide entering the first turn, and galloped home a 4 1/4-length winner.

“You see how far he reaches?” Baffert said. “He jumps a long way.”

[BREEDERS’ CUP 2013: Fields with DRF odds and comments]

Tap It Rich was to be entered Monday in what was expected to be a 14-horse field for the Juvenile, which, if all were to run, would make that the largest Juvenile field since 2006.