Prairie Meadows: Tapajo takes Goldfinch on opening night

Tapajo, rated kindly by jockey Alex Birzer, found an opening at the furlong marker and surged clear to take the $60,000 Goldfinch Stakes, a six-furlong sprint for 3-year old fillies on Friday, opening night of the Prairie Meadows meeting.

Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, Tapajo scored by 1 1/4 lengths over pacesetting second choice Nurse Goodnight. Appealing Susan chased the leaders throughout and finished a length farther back in third. Tapajo paid $5 as the favorite.

Tapajo, a Tapit filly, stopped the clock in 1:10.14. She earned $36,000.

The victory marked Birzer's third on a card.

In the fourth race, apprentice rider Garrett Steinberg won aboard the first mount of his career. Bullfighter ($70.40) scored in a waiver claiming event.