Tapit's early sons finding success in breeding shed

Perennial leading sire Tapit is relatively early in the legacy-building process of becoming a sire of sires. The Gainesway stallion’s oldest foals are 13, the oldest foals by his first sons at stud are 7, and many of his best sons, including his three Belmont Stakes winners, have nascent careers. However, he is already showing promise in this regard, with sons including Tapizar, the sire of champion Monomoy Girl. Tapit has several sons in this year’s deep freshman sire class, and has three of those in the top five on the earnings list, including two who recorded their first stakes winner last weekend.

Multiple Grade 1 winner Constitution, the sire of Grade 3 winner By Your Side, sits third on the freshman sire earnings list through July 14 behind Khozan and American Pharoah. The WinStar Farm sire is represented by four winners. Darby Dan Farm stallion Tapiture sits fourth on the earnings list, and trails only Khozan by winners, eight to seven. Race Day, standing at Spendthrift Farm, is fifth by earnings.

By Your Side, a $240,000 Keeneland September yearling, won his debut at Churchill Downs before winning the Grade 3 Sanford Stakes on Saratoga’s opening weekend. The colt will now target the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes for trainer Eddie Kenneally.

“He came to me at Keeneland in April and just continued on from there,” Kenneally said. “He never did anything wrong. He has a very efficient, long stride, and his pedigree says that he wants to go longer. The way he relaxed will help the horse go longer as well.”

Meanwhile, Race Day also recently recorded his first stakes winner, as Gee She Sparkles captured the Texas Thoroughbred Futurity at Lone Star Park.