Stellar Tap Brings Strong Lessons to Breeders' Futurity

Every race is a lesson, particularly for 2-year-olds.

Stellar Tap  heads into the Oct. 9 $500,000 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland armed with some valuable experience gained Sept. 18 in the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs. The Breeders' Futurity is a Breeders' Cup Challenge event for the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by TAA (G1) to be run Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

In the Iroquois, the Tapit   colt's first test around two turns, jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. urged him forward to get into position heading into the first turn and then met some resistance when he asked the gray/roan colt to settle.

"He ran a little green," said David Fiske, racing manager for Winchell Thoroughbreds, which owns Stellar Tap with L and N Racing. "I think with the Tapits, too, when you ask them to accelerate, they want to keep going. Ricardo was trying to shut him down a little, and he wanted to go."

Stellar Tap got a head in front at the top of the stretch but got passed in deep stretch to finish fifth by three lengths behind winner Major General .

"We ask these 2-year-olds to do a lot," Fiske continued. "It was his first time around two turns, first time under lights, first time asked to rate—in these races is where they learn, you can only teach them so much in the mornings."

What is certain about Stellar Tap is his talent. The first foal out of the Medaglia d'Oro   winner Gioia Stella, bred in Kentucky by Moyglare Stud, won his maiden Aug. 7 at Saratoga Race Course by 5 1/4 lengths. Gioia Stella is a half sister to 2011 American Oaks Stakes (G1T) winner Nereid (Rock Hard Ten) and to grade 1 stakes-placed stakes winner Sea Queen (Lemon Drop Kid).

Besides being a first-out win, the colt became winner 9,446 for trainer Steve Asmussen, making the Hall of Fame conditioner the all-time leader by wins in North America. The colt, 9-2 in the morning line, will break from post 3 with Santana back aboard.

Winchell Thoroughbreds also has 20-1 morning-line contender Costa Terra  in the Breeders' Futurity. The homebred son of Winchell's leading freshman sire Gun Runner   also broke his maiden at first asking and was third in his last start, the seven-furlong Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile Stakes Aug. 15, where he got blocked by a wall of horses.

"He found his way into a spot he could not run his way out of," said Fiske. "Really, this colt could be any type. He is another with a world of talent and very fluid movement."

Costa Terra, breaking from post 11, will be ridden by Francisco Arrieta.

The slight morning-line favorite at 4-1 is Double Thunder , one of the most experienced runners in the field and the only one with two stakes wins. Owned by Phoenix Thoroughbred III, the son of Super Saver   won the June 26 Bashford Manor Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs, was off the board in the Saratoga Special Stakes Presented by Miller Lite (G2), and rebounded to win the Sept. 5 Sapling Stakes going a mile at Monmouth Park.

Double Thunder beat Dare To Dream Stable's American Sanctuary  by half a length in the Sapling and will face the son of American Freedom   again in the Breeders' Futurity. American Sanctuary, the only other entry in the Breeders' Futurity with four starts, broke his maiden by 8 1/2 lengths at Prairie Meadows July 18 and is twice stakes-placed.

Double Thunder, who is trained by Todd Pletcher, will leave the gate from post 1 with Paco Lopez in the irons. American Sanctuary as been assigned post 7 and will be ridden by Sophie Doyle, who was aboard in the Sapling.

Four horses in the field come into the Breeders' Futurity off maiden wins.

Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper's Classic Causeway  won first out in his previous start, a 6 1/2-length romp Sept. 4 at Saratoga Race Course. The Giant's Causeway colt is trained by Brian Lynch. He breaks from outside post 13 with Jose Ortiz in the saddle.

WinStar Farm and Siena Farm's Great Escape  became a winner in his second start, a 2 1/4-length win Sept. 18 at Churchill Downs. The son of Midnight Storm  , who is trained by Rodolphe Brissett, will break from post 9 and be ridden by Tyler Gaffalione.

Lucky Seven Stable brings Rattle N Roll , a son of Connect  , to the Breeders' Futurity off a three-length win at Churchill Downs. He breaks from post 6 and will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.

"You know, he came off a really rough race in Saratoga. He got hit in the eye and bolted, which was very unusual. I've never had a horse do that before, but it was indicative of our entire summer up there, which was eventful," said trainer Kenny McPeek, referring to having his barn quarantined for 21 days when a horse with another trainer tested positive for equine herpesvirus-1.

"He came back with a roaring victory at Churchill," McPeek continued. "He has high-level talent and is set up for the two turns. He was so intense in his last race, I was really impressed and think he can take a step forward and has a big shot."

Mr. Bouma, a $370,000 purchase at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by agent Barry Berkelhammer on behalf of Albaugh Family Stables, won by a neck Aug. 28 at Ellis Park in his second career start. The Candy Ride   colt is trained by Dale Romans and will break from post 2 with jockey Corey Lanerie.

Entries: Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1)

Keeneland, Saturday, October 09, 2021, Race 9

• Grade I
• 1 1/16m
• Dirt
• $500,000
• 2 yo
• 5:15 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Double Thunder (KY)	Paco Lopez	122	Todd A. Pletcher	4/1
2	2Mr. Bouma (KY)	Corey J. Lanerie	122	Dale L. Romans	30/1
3	3Stellar Tap (KY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	122	Steven M. Asmussen	9/2
4	4Seal Beach (KY)	Julien R. Leparoux	122	Michael J. Maker	30/1
5	5Don't Wait Up (KY)	John R. Velazquez	122	Anthony W. Dutrow	9/2
6	6Rattle N Roll (KY)	Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.	122	Kenneth G. McPeek	6/1
7	7American Sanctuary (KY)	Sophie Doyle	122	Christopher Davis	12/1
8	8King Curlin (KY)	Christopher A. Emigh	122	Brittany A. Vanden Berg	30/1
9	9Great Escape (KY)	Tyler Gaffalione	122	Rodolphe Brisset	8/1
10	10Mac's Time (KY)	Joseph Talamo	122	Dale L. Romans	20/1
11	11Costa Terra (KY)	Francisco Arrieta	122	Steven M. Asmussen	20/1
12	12Kevin's Folly (KY)	Flavien Prat	122	Thomas M. Amoss	12/1
13	13Classic Causeway (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	122	Brian A. Lynch	5/1