WinStar Farm‘s Tappan Street Punches Kentucky Derby Ticket With Florida Derby Victory
Tappan Street captured the $1.02 million Curlin Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park Saturday, securing his spot in the Kentucky Derby with an impressive victory over favored Sovereignty.
Making just his third career start and first since a runner-up effort in the Grade III Holy Bull Stakes on February 1, the Into Mischief colt delivered a commanding performance that validated his connections’ patient approach.
“He really ran like we thought he would,” said Elliott Walden of WinStar Farm, which owns the colt in partnership with CHC, Inc. and Cold Press Racing. “We’ve given him the time after the Holy Bull because we thought he was this type of horse, and it was nice for him to show up. He’s going to be a very live horse going into the Kentucky Derby.”
The $1 million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale purchase broke sharply under jockey Luis Saez, securing a favorable position as Madaket Road set early fractions of :23.37 and :47.22. Tappan Street made a decisive move on the far turn, taking command in the stretch to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:49.27 for the 1 1/8 miles.
“Everything went to plan,” said Saez. “He broke from there pretty well. He was in good position. The whole way I had a lot of horse. We knew the speed was inside and we followed the speed. When he came to the top of the stretch, I knew it was going to be tough to catch us.”
Trainer Brad Cox acknowledged the risk of the eight-week layoff between races but expressed confidence in the colt’s intelligence and training progress.
“Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it’s always a concern,” Cox said. “But this is a very smart horse. He’s intelligent. I thought he would break very, very well today the way he was training, and he did.”
Godolphin homebred Sovereignty, the 8-5 favorite coming off a win in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes, rallied for second under jockey Manny Franco.
“He came with his run,” trainer Bill Mott said of Sovereignty’s effort. “He ran well. He had a pretty good trip. He got a little wide going into the first turn, but he got in and got a pretty good trip. This doesn’t have to be his best race. Sometimes you can look at it and say, maybe that’s a good thing.”
Cox indicated Tappan Street would ship to Churchill Downs early next week to begin preparations for the Kentucky Derby, now just five weeks away.
“We have to make sure he comes out of it in good order, first and foremost,” Cox said. “I think he’s going to get a tremendous amount out of this. This is a step forward today. His numbers his first two starts were really good.”
Tappan Street becomes the 83rd graded stakes winner for his sire, Into Mischief, joining an impressive roster that includes Grade I Breeders’ Cup winner Life is Good, multiple Grade I winner Practical Joke, and last year’s champion juvenile Citizen Bull.
The bay colt is out of graded-placed Virginia Key, a Distorted Humor mare who is a half-sister to Grade I winner Grace Adler. Virginia Key has a 2-year-old colt by Curlin, a yearling filly by Quality Road, and was bred to Cody’s Wish last year.
Neoequos finished third at odds of 11-1, with Madaket Road holding on for fourth after setting the early pace.
🌹 #9 TAPPAN STREET ($6.80) secures a spot in the Kentucky Derby with an impressive victory in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby (G1) at @GulfstreamPark! The colt by @SpendthriftFarm's Into Mischief was piloted by @luissaezpty for @bradcoxracing. @WinStarFarm @Chinahorseclub pic.twitter.com/b2YQqVrsd0
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing)
🌹 #9 TAPPAN STREET ($6.80) secures a spot in the Kentucky Derby with an impressive victory in the $1,000,000 Florida Derby (G1) at March 29, 2025
