Souper Tapit pointing to Ohio Derby

While trainer Mark Casse is at Belmont Park this week supervising Classic Empire’s final preparations for the Belmont Stakes, his division at Woodbine is working with another 3-year-old of promise.

Souper Tapit showed high-level talent from the first start of his career, which came at Fair Grounds this past winter, and that ability showed through in the Marine Stakes on May 28 at Woodbine, which Souper Tapit won by two lengths. Now, Souper Tapit is going to the Ohio Derby at Thistledown on June 24, Casse said.

Going easily, Souper Tapit ran 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack in 1:43.52 in the Marine Stakes, which was good for a career-best 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

“I’m training him on the dirt training track and going to run him in the Ohio Derby,” Casse said. “That horse is really talented.”

Souper Tapit did a lot of things wrong in his career debut Feb. 18 at Fair Grounds but still won by a neck over Multiplier, who won the Illinois Derby and finished sixth in the Preakness Stakes. Super Tapit could only finish fifth second time out facing older horses in a Fair Grounds allowance race, and then was seventh in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. But Souper Tapit clipped heels early in the Lexington and opened a gash near his ankle that required several stitches to close.

Shortly thereafter, Casse sent Souper Tapit, who still is mentally immature, to Woodbine.

“We’ve had really good luck sending horses up there and getting them to relax,” Casse said.