Tapalo headed to New York for statebred stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tapalo, the Southern California-based stakes-placed 3-year-old, could be traveling this spring. Trainer John Sadler said the New York-bred will be considered for statebred stakes this spring and summer. It was reported earlier that the Mark Glatt-trained California-based Ball Don’t Lie also will look toward the New York-bred stakes program.

Tapalo, runner-up to Endlessly in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 10 at Golden Gate Fields, set the pace before finishing a distant fifth last out in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Tapalo “kind of lost it at the start,” Sadler said. “He stumbled bad, didn’t get away, then he rushed him.” Tapalo has won 1 of 6 starts.

Kirstenbosch eyes fall return

Kirstenbosch, the multiple Grade 3 winner trained by Sadler, is two-thirds through a 90-day break following a third-place finish Feb. 3 in the Grade 2 Santa Monica Stakes.

“Aches and pains, she just needed some time,” Sadler said. “She’ll get a break and be back for the fall.”

Owned and bred by Keith Abrahams, Kirstenbosch has won four races and $575,480 from 19 starts. A 5-year-old by Midnight Lute, Kirstenbosch is expected to retire from racing next year to become a broodmare.

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