Burgeoning star for Alter

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Just when Happy Alter decided to retire his best horse of recent years, Curlin’s Approval, the loquacious owner-trainer might well have one to take her place along his Gulfstream shed row.

Alter said he has been inundated with high-dollar offers to buy all or part of Tapit’s Princess, who led all the way to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race by nine lengths here in her second start on Jan. 17. The gray 3-year-old filly was sired by Tapit and produced by Lady of Fifty, who won the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch in 2013 in her final start.

“This filly has all kinds of pedigree and potential, and my phone’s been ringing night and day,” said Alter. “I’m going to hold off selling her for the time being and run her next in a graded race.”

Alter said he intends to have Curlin’s Approval bred to Tapit or Justify in the coming weeks. The 6-year-old mare is a multiple Grade 2 winner who earned $654,725 from 21 starts.

Keywords: Gulfstream, Happy Alter, Tapit’s Princess, Curlin’s Approval

Description: Just when Happy Alter decided to retire his best horse of recent years, Curlin’s Approval, he might well have one to take her place.

Horse names: Tapit’s Princess, Curlin’s Approval

◗ Jorge Navarro, who is threatening to end the 15-year reign of Todd Pletcher as the leading trainer at Gulfstream, is closing in on the 1,000-win mark. Through Sunday, Navarro had won 994 races in a career that began in 2008. Into Monday, Navarro held a 21-20 lead over Pletcher at the championship meet, which began Dec. 1 and runs through March 31. Pletcher has topped the standings here every winter since 2004.