Tap to It shows talent and grit in debut

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Exaggerator drew rave reviews for his victory in Sunday’s Grade 2 Saratoga Special. But the most talked about 2-year-old performance on the card might have been that of Tap to It, a daughter of Tapit who overcame all sorts of trouble to win her debut in impressive fashion for owner Mandy Pope and trainer Ralph Nicks.

Tap to It broke slowly from the rail in the six-furlong race for 2-year-old fillies, steadied briefly near the five-eighths pole, and was shuffled back to last along the inside. She took plenty of kickback while progressing on the turn, eased out for the drive, then finished full of run to wear down leader Shayna Lady and win going away.

“I guess you’d have to say, performance-wise, she was outstanding,” Nicks said on Monday. “First-time starters, young or old, just don’t overcome what she did. Break slow, check, stop, take dirt, run inside and out. She got four races worth of education yesterday all rolled up in one.”

Nicks said he knew Tap to It had a world of talent and was fit, although he admitted he was worried when she drew the rail for her debut.

“We’ve worked with her a lot at the gate, and I was concerned when she got the rail because she hadn’t been that quick away from the gate,” said Nicks. “She wasn’t exhausted in the winner’s circle, and she had a good appetite last night.”

Nicks said he’s got many options for Tap to It’s next start, including the Spinaway Stakes here on the final weekend of the meet, the Pocahontas at Churchill Downs, the Alcibiades at Keeneland, or the Frizette at Belmont Park.

“In a perfect world, she’ll have one more race and go on to the Breeders’ Cup,” he said. “We’ll just let her tell us where to go.”