Tapwater's future on the line in Santa Barbara

ARCADIA, Calif. – Tapwater will try to stretch her speed and extend her career when she enters uncharted territory Saturday at Santa Anita – a mile and one-half on turf in the Grade 3 Santa Barbara Stakes.

The $100,000 marathon marks the first time Tapwater has raced beyond one mile on turf, and trainer Richard Mandella is confident she will stay.

“She’s a big-striding filly that should probably run all day,” Mandella said. “I’m trying it because I’m interested to see if [the distance] might even be better for her.”

It might postpone her transition from racehorse to broodmare. Tapwater, who has won 3 of 9 and earned $154,940, has not won a stakes race but her pedigree appeals to breeders, including her owner and breeder, LNJ Foxwoods. She is sired by Tapit and her dam, Fiji Moon, is a sibling to the stallion Malibu Moon.

Mandella said the future for 5-year-old Tapwater “probably depends on how she runs” in the Santa Barbara.

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If she runs as well as she did last out in the Grade 2 Royal Heroine at one mile, Tapwater will be tough to beat in the Santa Barbara. Tapwater finished a close fourth in the Royal Heroine, the best performance of her career.

Tapwater faces seven rivals in the Santa Barbara, including Neige Blanche, a Group 3 winner in France seeking her first U.S. win; Rideforthecause, a Grade 2 winner last year in Canada; and second-level allowance winner Go Big Blue Nation. Others are Catch the Eye, Carpe Vinum, Star of Africa, and $5,000 maiden-claiming winner Dynapower.

Tapwater figures to set the pace under Flavien Prat. If she gets comfortable, she could be gone for a hot stable. Mandella’s last 14 stakes starters produced six wins and five seconds.

Others in the Santa Barbara field are closely matched. Neige Blanche’s recent fourth in the Grade 3 Santa Ana at 1 1/4 miles was her first start in three months, and trainer Leonard Powell expects the Grade 1-placed filly to improve second start back.

“She kind of ran evenly,” Powell said. “Her coat looks better; I think she can improve a couple lengths.”

Powell’s last four California wins were at six furlongs or less. He was jokingly asked if he can train a horse to win at a mile and a half.

“I should be able to,” Powell laughed. “My first stakes win in the U.S. was going a mile and seven-eighths in the Hasta La Vista Handicap.” That was Balustrade, gate to wire at Turf Paradise on May 22, 2005.

Go Big Blue Nation moves up in class after winning a second-level allowance at a mile and one-quarter. Rideforthecause was prepping last out when seventh in the Royal Heroine. She benefits by the longer distance of the Santa Barbara.

Tapwater and Rideforthecause exit the Royal Heroine, won by local female turf-division leader Charmaine’s Mia, who runs in the Grade 1 Gamely on May 31. Royal Heroine third-place finisher Warren’s Showtime is expected to be favored Sunday in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine for Cal-bred fillies and mares.