Tap Into This rallies to win inaugural The Coach Stakes
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE?q=100)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tap Into This closed through the stretch for a half-length win over First Division in Friday’s inaugural running of The Coach, a $135,000 overnight stakes that Oaklawn Park put on in honor of the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. It was another 2 1/4 lengths back in third to Amorosa.
Lukas, who was a regular at Oaklawn, died in June at the age of 89. Trainer Dallas Stewart, a former assistant to Lukas, made the trophy presentation Friday to Steve Asmussen, the trainer of Tap Into This who has longtime family ties to Lukas.
Tap Into This ($4.20) has now won four of his last five starts. He broke slowly in The Coach and trailed early on as Zero Sugar and Amorosa dueled through fractions of 23.19 seconds for the opening quarter, 46.77 for the half-mile and 1:11.96. First Division made first run at the leaders, struck the front in the stretch, and then was caught in the late stages by Tap Into This. The winner covered the 1 1/16 miles for 4-year-olds on a fast track in 1:43.28.
Joel Rosario was aboard Tap Into This for owner Doug Scharbauer. Tap Into This, a son of Tapit and a half-brother to Extra Anejo, a Grade 3 winner of more than $600,000, has now won 4 of 10 starts for earnings of $378,145.
On Saturday, Oaklawn will run a Kentucky Derby points race, the $250,000 Smarty Jones. The 11-race card has a special first post of 12 p.m. Central.
:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.