Tempted to Tapit pleases Klesaris

Tempted to Tapit was back on the track at Gulfstream for the first time Wednesday since his second-place finish behind Discreetly Mine in Saturday's Risen Star at Fair Grounds. The start was the first for Tempted to Tapit since he won his maiden at Aqueduct five weeks earlier.

"I was definitely pleased with the effort," said trainer Steve Klesaris. "For a horse moving up off a maiden win, I thought he took a giant step forward. Leaving the backstretch I thought we might have had more horse than the winner, but he ran big and had something left for the drive. The best thing is he came out of the race fresh. I was really happy to see that."

Klesaris said he would look at all his options before deciding on Tempted to Tapit's next start but pretty much ruled out the March 20 Florida Derby.

"I think the Florida Derby comes up a little quick," said Klesaris. "He's the type of horse that needs that extra week between races. Five weeks is great timing for him, which makes the Louisiana Derby and Sunland Park Derby the following weekend as probably our most likely options."