Tap the Wire continues great story with Graduation Stakes

DEL MAR, Calif. – Tap the Wire’s introduction to racing has gone a lot smoother than his introduction to training.

He is now 2 for 2 following his 3 1/2-length victory Saturday at Del Mar in the $98,000 Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds.

Tap the Wire was one of the survivors of the devastating fire at San Luis Rey Down last December 7. He had come into trainer Daniel Dunham’s barn just one week prior to the fire to begin training. He was turned loose that chaotic morning. It wasn’t until the next day, Dunham said Saturday, that Tap the Wire was found at an adjacent ranch. No burns. No scratches.

“We got lucky. He was OK,” said Dunham, who trains Tap the Wire for his breeders, John and Allegra Ernst.

“Then he ended up training here,” Dunham said, referencing that San Luis Rey Downs residents spent the next four months at Del Mar, “only because of unfortunate circumstances.”

Everything has gone right since for Tap the Wire. He won a maiden race at Santa Anita on May 5, and then Dunham awaited Saturday’s state-bred stakes race.

Tap the Wire ($8), under Drayden Van Dyke, raced right outside of Luck’s Royal Flush during the early going, put that rival away entering the lane, and kicked clear. Luck’s Royal Flush held second, three-quarters of a length in front of Oliver.

Carnivorous was fourth, and 8-5 favorite Our Silver Oak was last in the field of five. Bea’s Boy and Grab the Munny were scratched earlier in the day.

Tap the Wire covered 5 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track in 1:05.48.

The stakes win was the second of Dunham’s career, the prior one coming 14 years ago at Fairplex in Pomona. He trains 40 horses out of San Luis Rey Downs, six owned by the Ernsts.

“It’s special to win at Del Mar, and to win a stake is even more special,” Dunham said.

Tap the Wire, a colt by Eddington, earned $57,000 on Saturday and now has earned $89,400.