Pope Savoring Shot at Derby Glory with Tapit Trice

The road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) has been a long one for Mandy Pope. With more than 30 years in the industry in which she has raced and bred horses, this year marks her second time with a challenger in the race.

Under her Whisper Hill Farm banner, Pope's Charge It  finished 17th last year, 28 lengths behind surprising winner Rich Strike . 

But she's back again with the 5-1 second choice behind Forte  (3-1), Tapit Trice . She co-owns the 3-year-old with Gainesway Stable, who bought into the colt after consigning him at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. It was there that Pope brought the hammer down at $1,300,000 for her Derby entrant. 

"He was physically very impressive looking. Not too big, just a good size that looked like he could grow out into a nice physical horse," she recalled. "Excellent mind. Good walk to him, always behaving, didn't do anything wrong. I loved his strut."

She built a reputation buying broodmares including a $10 million purchase of Havre de Grace at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale. But she has shifted her approach to include colts.

"We kind of came around to it," she said. "I would mainly keep the fillies and sell the colts. But we would buy the colt when we saw something we really liked. Everyone agreed on (Tapit Trice), that's what we did."

Tapit Trice, like Charge It, is by Tapit   who happens to be a favorite sire of Pope. It's not hard to see the appeal in Tapit's progeny. He is the all-time leading sire by earnings and tops among active sires in grade 1 winners and graded stakes winners. 

Tapit Trice is 4-0-1 from five starts with earnings of $883,650 and made his own path to Churchill Downs by winning the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and then the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).

And like Charge It, Tapit Trice is trained by two-time Derby-winning (Super Saver, 2010 and Always Dreaming, 2017) trainer Todd Pletcher. 

Pletcher, with eight Eclipse Awards and induction in the Hall of Fame to his name, has worked with his fair share of owners. He praised Pope and her approach. 

"She has a very patient approach, cares greatly about her horses, and always wants to do the right thing by them and give them time when time is needed," he said. "From that perspective, she's very easy to train for. Always puts the horses' interest first."

Obviously, winning would be a dream come true for any owner no matter how many times they've been able to make the first Saturday in May theirs. But there is always something special about that first one.

She enjoys the atmosphere at Churchill Downs, especially in the days leading up to the race. Pope relishes the opportunity to be around everyone—the horses, trainers, grooms, exercise riders, and of course, friends. 

"You really want to get here. It's an experience that can't be outdone. It's great," she said. 

Except if Tapit Trice crosses the wire first Saturday. Then all bets are off. 

Frank Angst contributed to this story.