Tip Tap Tapizar, Sonic Mule meet again at longer distance in Sapling

The $100,000 Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park on Sunday will serve as a rematch between Tip Tap Tapizar and Sonic Mule, the third- and fourth-place finishers in the Saratoga Special who were elevated to second and third following the disqualification of runner-up Recruiting Ready.

The Sapling, a one-mile race for 2-year-olds, has drawn a field of seven that also includes Holiday Bonus, a Graham Motion-trained debut winner at Laurel Park who looks like he will appreciate the added real estate of this race.

In the five-horse Saratoga Special, Get Lit N Get Wild, Sonic Mule, Tip Tap Tapizar, and the favored Recruiting Ready lined up on the early lead from the inside out. Entering the far turn, Recruiting Ready angled inward and bumped hard with Tip Tap Tapizar, who then bumped hard with Sonic Mule.

Tip Tap Tapizar, who was 11-1, steadied and dropped back out of the scrum, taking the worst of the collision. He rerallied outside of horses into the stretch but flattened out and was beaten 15 lengths by eventual winner Gunnevera and 14 lengths by Recruiting Ready.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has given the mount to Monmouth’s leading rider, Paco Lopez.

Sonic Mule, trained by Todd Pletcher, remained forwardly placed after the bumping incident in the 6 1/2-furlong Special but had little left for the stretch run and was beaten 18 3/4 lengths as the 2-1 second choice.

Victor Lebron picks up the mount Sunday.

Both Tip Tap Tapizar and Sonic Mule deserve a pass for their Saratoga Special running lines but still must prove their ability around two turns.

Sapling, Race 8

Key Contenders

Tip Tap Tapizar, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 53-65-69

◗ He showed courage to lodge a bid in the Saratoga Special after being bumped and steadied. In his prior starts, he scored a front-running debut win at Churchill Downs in June and was third in the Bashford Manor to Classic Empire – a top contender in Monday’s Hopeful at Saratoga – and Recruiting Ready.

Sonic Mule, by Distorted Humor

Last 2 Beyers: 45-74

◗ Pletcher considered running him in the Hopeful but ultimately settled on this easier spot. Visually, he was not bothered as badly in the Saratoga Special as Tip Tap Tapizar, but the solid bump still may have greatly affected his performance. He won his debut at Monmouth in mid-July.

Holiday Bonus, by Harlan’s Holiday

Beyer: 65

◗ Came from off the pace to win his Laurel debut going away by 2 1/4 lengths. Although he was not explosive in that race, he may benefit from the added distance of this race more than his chief rivals.

Dads Party, by The Daddy

First Beyer: 58

◗ Arkansas-bred rallied from far back to easily win his 5 1/2-furlong debut at Delaware Park.