Tap Back ready for distance challenge in King Glorious

CYPRESS, Calif. – After four sprints, Tap Back runs around two turns for the first time in Sunday’s $100,000 King Glorious Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds going a mile at Los Alamitos.

Trainer Jeff Bonde said he is less concerned about Tap Back’s ability to get the distance after the colt’s seven-length win in the Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita.

“Maybe three months ago I would have been worried, but not after his last race,” Bonde said Friday. “He’s learned how to relax.”

Tap Back, who races for owner and breeder Richard Barton, will be favored in the King Glorious Stakes, the seventh of nine races on Sunday’s program, which begins at 12:30 p.m. Pacific. Sunday is the final day of the two-week winter meeting at Los Alamitos. Santa Anita begins its winter-spring meeting Dec. 26.

Tap Back has won twice and earned $163,100. By Einstein, Tap Back won a maiden special weight at 5 1/2 furlongs at Del Mar in August. He was third in the I’m Smokin Stakes for statebreds there Aug. 30 and a well-beaten fourth after a troubled start in the restricted Capote Stakes on Sept. 21 at Los Alamitos.

In both the wins, Tap Back has led throughout, but Bonde said the colt is not reliant on that strategy.

“I’ve been working him behind horses,” Bonde said. “He’s a big, strong horse and he can make his own luck.”

Tap Back has worked quickly in recent weeks at Santa Anita, notably five furlongs in 59.20 seconds on Nov. 26 and three furlongs in 36 seconds on Tuesday. Sunday’s race will play a role in determining whether Tap Back runs in sprints or longer races in coming months.

“His works have been really nice,” Bonde said. “The weight is good and he looks good. This race gives you direction.”

Two other runners in the six-horse King Glorious have finished second or third in stakes, Dapper and Papster. Dapper, who drew the rail, was second to Raging Whiskey in the Capote Stakes and eighth in the Golden State Juvenile. Dapper was fourth in an optional claimer for statebreds at six furlongs on Nov. 30 at Del Mar.

In Sunday’s race, Dapper will be fitted with blinkers for the first time.

Papster, who will start from the outside, was third to Tap Back in the Golden State Juvenile, closing from 10th in a field of 11 as a 44-1 longshot. Papster, who is based at Los Alamitos with trainer Mike Harrington, is winless after two starts. The colt has worked well leading to Sunday’s race, including five furlongs in 59.40 from the gate Nov. 12.

This will be the stakes debut for Govenor Cinch, who has won his last two starts – a $50,000 claimer for statebred maidens on Oct. 31 at Santa Anita and a starter allowance with a $50,000 claiming option at a mile on Nov. 22 at Del Mar.