West Coast Preview: Tapizar Favored for Robert Lewis Romp at Santa Anita

Easily one of the most impressive break-out stars in the three year-old division this year, the talented Tapizar (Tapit), is set to build on his emphatic Grade 3 Sham Stakes victory as he lines up for the Robert Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita this Saturday. The $250,000 Grade 2 contest looks like the final prep for Tapizar as he gears up for the $1,000,000 Santa Anita Derby in April – a race which will effectively crown the left coast’s prime contender in the run for the roses.

Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, Tapizar’s assistant trainer Scott Blasi declared that connections “love how he’s doing,” after Tapizar worked a half-mile in 52 seconds flat.

Currently campaigned by the Steve Asmussen barn, Tapizar has been a feather in the cap of the world-famous conditioner since he broke his maiden on the fourth attempt at Churchill Downs last year, winning by an impressive ten lengths over his nearest rival. The front-running speedster went gate-to-wire in the Sham without ever really being asked and it looks as though many of the leading contenders in the California three year-old division will be ducking him as he looks set to assert himself again this Saturday.

Santa Anita does boast a speed bias to end all speed biases but the fact that Tapizar scored that ten-length win at Churchill gives lie to his versatility – which likely won’t really be seen until he ships back to Churchill for the big dance or faces Comma To The Top (Bwana Charlie) in the Santa Anita Derby.

Expect six contenders to line up against the son of Tapit with Anthony’s Cross (Indian Charlie) looking to improve on his show-effort in the Sham. Thirtyfirststreet (Good Journey) earned plaudits when he captured the 7f California Breeders’ Champion Stakes which is an ungraded contest at Santa Anita. He ran well on the day and will look to factor here but takes a big step up with both the increased distance and the presence of Tapizar complicating matters. Eddie Logan runner-up Ten Devils (Rock Hard Ten) will be looking to prove his derby ambitions on a switch over from the hillside grass course. The final contender of note is Riveting Reason (Fusaichi Pegasus) was a there-or-thereabouts type during his two year-old campaign on the west coast where he ran second or third in a pile of Grade 1 contests. His switch off synthetic to dirt went completely sideways as he ran 8/10 in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. His last effort was a 5/10 in the Grade 1 Cashcall Futurity. He still hasn’t proven his dirt credentials and has a lot to do here.

Expect Tapizar to go off at a nearly-nothing price as race fans flock to the exotics in a race that looks to be a set'em-up-and-knock'em-down sort of affair for the flashy bay colt. Expect another outing for Santa Anita's bridge jumper(s) as they attempt to grind the show market down to powder.