Oaklawn Park: Tapiture much the best in Southwest

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Now it’s a rivalry.

Tapiture, who finished second to Strong Mandate in a maiden special weight race last August at Saratoga, reversed that order of finish on Monday at Oaklawn Park, when he strode to a 4 1/4-length win over the even-money favorite in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest Stakes.

It was the second time the pair had met, and both are now on course for a third showdown, in the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel on March 15.

[ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays]

The Southwest was the first major race in Oaklawn’s series for 3-year-olds, and it was worth 17 Kentucky Derby preference points to the first four finishers, with Tapiture earning 10; Strong Mandate, 4; Ride on Curlin, 2; and Coastline, 1.

Tapiture ($13) was always prominent under Ricardo Santana Jr., prompting Tanzanite Cat, then Ride on Curlin, through respective fractions of 23.45 seconds for the opening quarter and 47.92 for the half-mile. Tapiture poked a head in front through six furlongs in 1:13.06, and then began to increase his advantage while covering 1 1/16 miles on a fast track in 1:44.95.

The Southwest was Tapiture’s first start since winning the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs on Nov. 30.

“He was working really nice,” Santana said. “I was so excited for this race. The horse is a really nice horse, been training really good.”

Steve Asmussen, who trains Tapiture for Winchell Thoroughbreds, said depending on the weather in Arkansas, the horse would remain with his local division to prepare for the Rebel. He said he was well-pleased with effort from Tapiture, but noted the horse’s eagerness Monday.

“I wish he would have settled a little better,” Asmussen said. “He never really dropped the bridle. He never really relaxed a lot. Having said that, we were extremely happy with the outcome; very pleased with the ability that he has. But I still think he’s going to have to turn off a little bit to go further.”

Strong Mandate had a less than ideal trip in what was his first start since finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“He broke a little slow,” said Joel Rosario, who was aboard for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. “In the first turn want to get in position, but I can’t. I have to hold him a little bit, a couple of horses box him around, in and out, and in out. I had to grab him. He’s the kind of horse you have to let him run free. He still ran good.”

Lukas said the horse would be pointed for the Rebel.

Tapiture earned $180,000 for his win in the Southwest, his second career victory from five starts. He has now earned $320,838. Tapiture is a May foal by Tapit and was bred in Kentucky by Winchell Thoroughbreds.

Strong Mandate finished six lengths clear of third-place finisher Ride on Curlin. The remaining order of finish was Coastline in fourth, Tanzanite Cat, Bourbonize, Walt, Fire Starter, Son of Dixie, Paganol, Kendall’s Boy, and Louies Flower.

Oaklawn handled $5.4 million on its 10-race card from all-sources on Monday, with the ontrack crowd of 25,622 betting $1.4 million of that amount.