Tapalo to stay on synthetic in Jeff Ruby Steaks

ARCADIA, Calif. – Stakes-placed Tapalo is the latest California 3-year-old targeting an out-of-state stakes. Stronghold won in New Mexico, Slider runs Saturday in New York, and now Tapalo is heading to Kentucky for the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby Steaks on March 23 at Turfway Park.

John Sadler trains Tapalo, the better-than-looked runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 10 at Golden Gate Fields. Both tracks, Turfway and Golden Gate, have synthetic surfaces.

Tapalo “is kind of an under-the-radar horse,” Sadler said. “I thought he ran great [in the El Camino Real]. He was a little unlucky, and the winner, who is a good horse, had the perfect trip.”

Tapalo finished 1 1/4 lengths behind multiple graded winner Endlessly after being floated wide on the first turn and forced to make an early move.

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Owned by Hronis Racing, Tapalo is a Tapiture colt whose figures are on an upward pattern. He earned an 85 Beyer Speed Figure last out. Sadler ran Tapalo at Golden Gate off a maiden sprint “to get away from front-line horses” at Santa Anita. Sadler thought Tapalo would handle synthetic because he breezed well on a synthetic surface prior to being purchased for $55,000 at a March sale.

Tapalo could be among the top contenders in the Jeff Ruby; the field will solidify after the John Battaglia Memorial on Saturday at Turfway. Tapalo will try to follow the path of California-based Blended Citizen. Third in the 2018 El Camino Real, he won the Jeff Ruby one month later. The Jeff Ruby has recently been a productive Kentucky Derby prep – 2023 Derby runner-up Two Phil’s won the Jeff Ruby; 2022 Derby winner Rich Strike finished third in the Jeff Ruby.

Although the Jeff Ruby offers 100 Kentucky Derby points to the winner and 50 to the runner-up, Sadler does not have Derby fever yet.

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“Too far ahead,” he said.

Tapalo has won 1 of 5 starts for Sadler, whose 3-year-olds also include Slider and Scatify. Slider runs in the Gotham Stakes on Saturday at Aqueduct. Scatify is nominated to the San Felipe on Saturday at Santa Anita.

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