Souper Tapit prevails in Eclipse Stakes

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – The favored Souper Tapit flaunted his prowess on the Tapeta by winning the Grade 2 Eclipse Stakes in a heart-stopping finishing over Mr Ritz at Woodbine on Monday.

Mr Ritz was a bit rank while setting quick fractions in the 1 1/16-mile route, while Souper Tapit saved ground in fourth on the backstretch.

Souper Tapit made his way into contention on the far turn. He proceeded to duke it out with Mr Ritz throughout the stretch, prevailing by a nose in a time of 1:42.39, which was just .23 seconds off the synthetic track record.

Are You Kidding Me finished third after a wide trip, in his sixth consecutive appearance in the race. He was followed by Avie’s Mesa, the Kentucky shipper Third Day, and Decorated Soldier.

Patrick Husbands rode Souper Tapit for the red-hot trainer Mark Casse, who swept the three weekend stakes at Woodbine.

“The race set up the way I really wanted it to set up,” Husbands said. “I got a perfect trip. At the bottom of the lane, I thought I had him for sure, but it was a dog fight down the lane.”

Souper Tapit ($5.90) won his only other synthetic track start here in the 2017 Marine Stakes. The son of Tapit earned $105,000 of the $177,100 purse for Live Oak Plantation.