The Road: Feel Like a Million?
Image:
Description:
Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Tapit Trice, a $1.3 million purchase as a yearling, is entered in the Kentucky Derby
For those on the auction side in the racing industry—especially the selling side—a Kentucky Derby (G1) victory by Tapit Trice would figure to be popular.
Should Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Tapit Trice secure a victory in the Derby May 6 at Churchill Downs the son of multiple leading sire Tapit would become just the second seven-figure horse to win the 1 1/4-mile classic. The previous seven-figure horse to win the Kentucky Derby is 2000 victor Fusaichi Pegasus, who sold for $4 million at the 1998 Keeneland July Yearling sale.
Mandy Pope's Whisper Hill Farm went to $1.3 million to secure Tapit Trice at the 2021 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Antony Beck's Gainesway. After the sale, Gainesway came back in for an ownership percentage.
Tapit Trice is listed as the second-choice on the Derby morning line at 5-1 off the strength of his back-to-back victories in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) and Blue Grass Stakes. Pope said she and trainer Todd Pletcher could see plenty of potential in Tapit Trice when they purchased him as a yearling.
"He's a Tapit, so we always like the Tapits and physically he was very impressive looking—not too big, just a good size that looked like he could fill out and grow into a nice physical horse," Pope said. "He has an excellent mind and a good walk to him. He was just always behaving and didn't do anything wrong."
While there only has been one seven-figure horse to win the Derby, high-priced sale horses have enjoyed some success in recent editions of the race. In 2018 Justify , a $500,000 yearling purchase at Keeneland September, held off runner-up Good Magic , a $1 million purchase at that same sale. Instilled Regard , a $1,050,000 purchase at the Ocala Breeders' Sales' March 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, finished fourth that year.
Tapit Trice will be the 23rd horse to sell for $1 million or more to start in the Derby.
Of course, the value of the dollar has changed over the years. Majestic Prince, the 1969 Derby winner, topped the 1967 Keeneland July Yearling sale when he was landed for a then-record $250,000. Translated to 2023 dollars, that sale price would register at about $2.26 million.