Bye Bye J, Tapit Star account for Arkansas-bred stakes

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Bye Bye J has emerged as one of the most exciting Arkansas-breds competing at the current meet at Oaklawn. She accounted for her second victory in as many starts over the local strip Saturday when she won the $100,000 Rainbow Miss in hand by 1 3/4 lengths over Tiger Bait. It was another 1 3/4 lengths back to All About Clara in third.

The Rainbow Miss was one of two Arkansas-bred stakes on the card for 3-year-olds. Tapit Star ($3.20) won the $100,000 Rainbow. Both races were run over six furlongs.

Bye Bye J, who was a private purchase in February following a second-place finish in the Grade 3 Forward Gal at Gulfstream Park, first won at Oaklawn on March 14. She rolled by 8 1/4 lengths in an optional $25,000 claiming sprint for fillies and mares bred in Arkansas.

In the Rainbow Miss, Bye Bye J ($2.60) broke well and was content to stalk the pace in fourth as Tiger Bait set fractions of 22.59 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.20 for the half-mile. Bye Bye J advanced on the turn, came four wide into the stretch, and asserted herself coming to the eighth pole. She went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:11.70.

Ricardo Santana Jr. was aboard the winner for trainer Ron Moquett.

Bye Bye J races for Alex and JoAnn Lieblong, who purchased her in part because they liked that she was a daughter of Uncaptured. The stallion stands alongside the couple’s The Big Beast at Ocala Stud.

“Uncaptured, he’s been throwing some nice horses,” Alex Lieblong said. “He’s been getting some pretty good runners.”

Bye Bye J earned $60,000 for the win, which was her fourth from six starts. She has now earned $221,605.

In the Rainbow, Tapit Star broke sharply and settled just off pacesetter Rusty Cage, who set fractions of 22.17 seconds for the opening quarter and 45.74 for the half-mile. Tapit Star overtook that one past the eighth pole and went on to cover the distance on a fast track in 1:11.31.

Walter De La Cruz was aboard the winner for trainer Burl McBride.

Tapit Star was the first stakes winner for owner Bill Gossage, the deputy chief of staff for Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

“It’s a spectacular feeling,” Gossage said.

“I will have this picture up in my office in the governor’s office.”

Tapit Star is a son of Double Irish. He earned $60,000 for the win, which was his second from five starts. He has now earned $145,470.

The ontrack attendance on a sunny afternoon when the infield was open was an estimated 12,000.