Oaklawn Park: Tapiture's win latest feather in El Primero Training Center's cap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tapiture’s win in the Grade 3, $300,000 Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Monday was meaningful for more than one reason, said his trainer, Steve Asmussen. Not only was Asmussen pleased to see the promising 3-year-old win his seasonal debut following some impressive works, but he was also thrilled for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds, which has long sent horses to receive their earliest training lessons at the El Primero Training Center operated by Asmussen’s parents, Keith and Marilyn.

Asmussen noted that the sire of Tapiture (Tapit), Tapiture’s dam (Free Spin), and his dam sire (Olympio) all went through the program at El Primero, which is located in Laredo, Texas.

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“I was in high school when Olympio was at El Primero,” said Asmussen.

In addition, Tapiture and his full brother Retap, a stakes winner who was the first winner for stallion Tapit, are grads of El Primero.

“I’m extremely proud of the win,” Asmussen said. “It means a tremendous amount to me, him being a Winchell homebred. To have one this good, with that much background, of course it’s special.”

Asmussen was also pleased to see Tapiture run back to some of his works leading up to the Southwest. He was based at Fair Grounds for the winter, and his 4 1/4-length front-running win Monday was his first start since taking the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs in November. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 98 on Monday.

“What we saw in his training was true,” Asmussen said. “His works at New Orleans were impressive, and you wanted that to be true and it was.

“He’s matured the way we expected, but you’re not guaranteed. And he’s still a gorgeous mover.”

Asmussen said the Grade 2, $600,000 Rebel at Oaklawn on March 15 is the next stop for Tapiture. The debate, he said, is whether to keep the horse at Oaklawn to train, or send him back to Fair Grounds. Oaklawn lost five days of training earlier this month due to inclement weather in Hot Springs, Ark.

“I would love the opportunity to stay here,” Asmussen said Tuesday at Oaklawn. “Mother Nature, she’s not too concerned with what we want. But the sun’s out, it’s a beautiful day today. Everything looks good.”

Asmussen said another reason he would like to keep Tapiture at Oaklawn is the relatively quick turnaround from the Southwest, run on a Monday in a short month, he noted, to the Rebel.

“I don’t want to send him south and send him back up,” he said.

Strong Mandate, who finished second as the favorite in the Southwest, is also on course for the Rebel, said trainer D. Wayne Lukas. The horse had a tough trip in what was his first start since running third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

“I think he was compromised a great deal from the whole trip,” Lukas said. “The break wasn’t good. The first turn was even worse. Then we had to make a monster move up the backside. I don’t think that I had him probably tight enough to do what we had to do in order to win it, but he ran well.

“We can build off of that, no problem. The Rebel looks like the option, and I felt like we got a very good effort in a very adverse trip. I feel very comfortable where we’re at.”

Ride On Curlin was also hung wide in the Southwest, finishing third. He, too, is headed to the Rebel, said his trainer, William Gowan.

“I thought we had a terrible trip, but I was really impressed with my horse, just for being game,” Gowan said. “And I thought he might get just a little bit tired because he missed some training, but he showed us how much heart he has.

“He looks perfect this morning, and I think we’ll go back in the Rebel with him if everything stays like it is.”