Tapsasional goes a one-turn mile for first time
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Tapsasional will be trying something new Friday at Gulfstream Park, where he will be racing at a one-turn mile for the first time in his career. He goes in the fifth race, a $50,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up that carries first-level allowance conditions. There’s also a $50,000 claiming option, and it’s being used by Golden Juan.
Tapsasional won at a mile in December and won over 1 1/16 miles in May. Both races came around two turns, and in an ideal world, he would remain at that configuration. But often the perfect race is not available for a horse, noted his trainer, Kathleen O’Connell.
“It’s not like Burger King,” she said. “You can’t always have it your way.”
Tapsasional has been a consistent performer, and both his honest nature and natural speed should serve him well on the cutback to one turn Friday. He will break from the rail under Chantal Sutherland.
“He likes to be forwardly placed,” O’Connell said. “He’s doing really good. I like the horse. I’m hoping he’ll handle the one-turn mile.”
Tapsasional enters Friday’s test off a third-place finish as the favorite in a first-level allowance June 11 at Gulfstream. He set a contested pace to the top of the stretch going 1 1/16 miles. Tapsasional was coming off a win at the same distance in a Florida-bred allowance May 8 at Gulfstream.
“As an individual, he’s just a pleasure to be around, very professional,” O’Connell said. “The race, it is a little tough. He always shows up.”
O’Connell trains Tapsasional, a 4-year-old by Tapiture, for Josie Gump. The horse is from the female family of Grade 3 route winners Watch, Prime Meridian, and War Thief.
R Private Jet could set the pace Friday. He is picking up distance off back-to-back sprint wins at Gulfstream Park. His most recent came in a May 22 allowance in which he set all the fractions and covered six furlongs in 1:08.77. R Private Jet earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 83, the best last-race number in the field Friday.
Edgar Perez has the mount from post 3 for trainer Rohan Crichton.
Khozy My Boy won a first-level allowance for Florida-breds going a one-turn mile May 27 at Gulfstream. Khozy My Boy might get an ideal stalking trip when he breaks from the outside post in the field of seven Friday. Leonel Reyes has the mount for trainer Diane Morici.
Friday’s eight-race card also includes a first-level allowance for Florida-bred fillies and mares at one mile and a $35,000 starter allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta.