Tap Back rolls at a price in Golden State Juvenile

ARCADIA, Calif. – For trainer Jeff Bonde, the key to Tap Back’s success in the $200,000 Golden State Juvenile was for him to relax rather than necessarily make the lead. When Tap Back was able to accomplish both, it led to a convincing six-length victory over tepid favorite Cali Dude in the seven-furlong dash for California bred 2-year-olds Friday at Santa Anita.

With Victor Espinoza back aboard, Tap Back broke well and quickly sprinted to command near the inside while stalked early by both Cali Dude and Pas de Panique. Tap Back set sharp early fractions of 22.13 seconds and 44.98 for the opening half-mile, settled into the stretch with a comfortable lead and gradually increased his advantage while kept under urging to the end.

Cali Dude, a game winner of his only previous start, was sent postward the tepid 3-1 choice in the Golden State Juvenile. After breaking a bit tardy, he recovered to chase the winner from nearest the inside and, while no match down the lane, continued willingly enough to be second-best, finishing a half-length better than the late-striding Papster.

The win was the second for Tap Back, a son of Einstein, in four career starts. Trained by Bonde for owner Richard Burton, he completed the distance in 1:24.98 over a fast track and paid $30.

“We knew he would be either on the lead or right there,” said Bonde. “In his first few races he’s been real keen, and he got in a lot of trouble in his last start. We had plenty of time to work with him since then, and we kept working him behind horses making him wait and finish. My only instructions to Victor was to get him in a rhythm where he relaxes. And once he did, he just kept going. We always knew he had a lot of talent, but before today it was always mind over matter.”