Tam Tam stays perfect on turf in Sanibel Island
?q=100)
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Tam Tam, who has improved dramatically since making the switch from dirt to turf at the beginning of her 3-year-old campaign, remained perfect on the grass after rallying to a neck victory over Connect the Stars in Saturday’s $125,000 Sanibel Island for 3-year-old fillies at Gulfstream Park.
After going winless in three main track outings to begin her career, twice as the post-time favorite, trainer Phil Bauer opted to try Tam Tam on the turf in her local debut on Feb. 7. The well-bred daughter of Medaglia d’Oro, who fetched nearly $1 million as a yearling in August of 2024 at the Fasig Tipton Sale, responded with a game three-quarter-length maiden win. That performance gave Bauer the confidence to jump her right into stakes company in the 7 1 /2-furlong Sanibel Island.
As was the case in all her previous starts, Tam Tam raced forwardly placed from the outset off a rapid pace set by a somewhat rank Laigina, who was sent postward the tepid 2-1 favorite. Tam Tam gradually cut into the leader’s advantage upon entering the stretch, ultimately overtaking the tiring Laigina nearing the wire, holding safe Connect the Star’s belated rally.
Connect the Stars trailed for nearly six furlongs before finishing full of run down the center of the course only to fall just shy with her bid. It was another length farther back to Laigina, who finished third.
Tam Tam gave jockey Junior Alvarado his second stakes win on the card after covering the distance over a firm course in 1:27.42 seconds. She paid $7.80.
“She was so naturally talented in her works in the morning as a 2-year-old but you could tell when she came off the bridle she was searching for something. And I’m glad when we put her on the grass, it was there when she needed it and she was able to take a step forward,” said Bauer. “We were pretty confident off that race to try this group, although you always have reservations when taking on winners for the first time. Especially in a stakes.”
Bauer also praised Alvarado, who rode Tam Tam for the first time on Saturday.
“I don’t know if anybody’s been riding better than Junior the last couple of years and I’m always confident when we have him riding for us,” said Bauer, who mentioned the Grade 2 Edgewood Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 1 as the logical spot for Tam Tam’s next start.
Sand Springs
Sweet Rebecca kept her record unblemished over the Gulfstream Park turf course after rallying to a popular half-length victory over Hang the Moon in the $175,000 Sand Springs Stakes for older fillies and mares. Maggie Go rallied mildly to finish third.
Sweet Rebecca had captured her two previous starts locally, a one-mile maiden race making her career debut two years earlier and a third-level allowance/optional-claiming event returning from a seven-month layoff here earlier this winter.
Tyler Gaffalione, who has been aboard Sweet Rebecca for four of her five lifetime victories including the Memories of Silver Stakes at Aqueduct during the spring of 2024, orchestrated the winning trip in the Sand Springs for trainer Brendan Walsh.
A 5-year-old daughter of American Pharoah owned by Resolute Racing, Sweet Rebecca covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:39.81 and paid $5.40.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.