Steve Asmussen Declares Tapizar “The Best Thing I’ve Seen”

Sham Stakes winner Tapizar (Tapit) quickly rose to prominence after his emphatic score in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes – a victory that has prompted leading conditioner Steve Asmussen to declare that the bay colt is “the best thing I’ve seen – him and Uncle Mo.” The switch to dirt at the Great Race Place prompted Asmussen to take on a California stable this year and he already looks well in the mix for the big dance if Tapizar continues his two-turn dominance.

The Grade 2 Robert B Lewis stakes is the next step for this talented contender, with an eye firmly fixed on the $1,000,000 Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby in April.

While Tapizar has shown the ability to perform off of a stalking trip, he will likely be sent to the front once again – probably with an eye on Crown of Thorns’ (Repent) record time of 1:40.76. If Tapizar can put in a shift similar to his Sham performance where he clocked a 45.2 half-mile and still won going away.

Race fans can expect Tapizar at odds-on for a race that his connections are clearly already looking beyond. Asmussen declared “We’re pleased with his effort, looking for bigger things.” With a score in the two-turn Lewis stakes, even getting up for a slice of the Santa Anita Derby would likely be enough for the son of Tapit to have a go at Churchill Downs – a track he broke his maiden on by 10 ½ lengths.