Triple Tap (Tapit), the 3YO half-brother to US Triple Crown winner and emerging sire American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile-Littleprincessemma, by Yankee Gentleman), won on debut over 1400m at Santa Anita on Saturday.
Bloodhorse.com reports that the Summer Wind Equine homebred was sent out at short odds and duly won by 4.25-lengths.
“It is agonizing because every step he takes, every time he works, my heart is in my throat because I’m far too emotionally attached to him. I really am. But it makes it so wonderful when a day like this happens,” acknowledged Jane Lyon from Summer Wind Equine.
The 3YO colt is trained by Bob Baffert who said, “It went smooth. He broke well, he rated off that horse kindly, and when (Prat) asked him to go he pushed the button, he accelerated. We were always pretty high on this horse.”
Bob Baffert – excited
Baffert revealed, “It just took a while to get him to the races because Jane is very patient and they’re her babies… I was explaining to her, ‘I think you’re OK,’ but it’s exciting. You got ‘Pharoah’s’ brother and he can really run, and that’s a big plus.”
Summer Wind purchased American Pharoah’s dam at auction in 2014 for $1.2 million after American Pharoah was a dual Gr1 winner at two.
Apart from eight-time Gr1 winner American Pharoah, Littleprincessemma has left Gr1 winner Chasing Yesterday (Tapit), Gr1-placed winner American Cleopatra (Pioneerof the Nile), and group placed winner St Patrick’s Day (Pioneerof the Nile).
