Souper Tapit Keeps Casse Barn Rolling in Eclipse Stakes
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Photo: Michael Burns
Souper Tapit (outside) wins the Eclipse Stakes at Woodbine
The celebrations for trainer Mark Casse's barn continued May 20 when Live Oak Plantation's homebred Souper Tapit returned to Woodbine, the site of his first graded score, and came out on top of a photo finish in the $175,000 Eclipse Stakes (G2).
While Casse's moment from the weekend was War of Will's victory in the May 18 Preakness Stakes (G1), the conditioner swept the Woodbine stakes with Qatar Racing's Federal Law winning the May 19 Queenston Stakes and Gary Barber's Power Gal notching the Selene Stakes (G3) ahead of the Preakness. In total, Casse had 10 winners since May 16.
In the Eclipse, a 1 1/16-mile feature for older horses on the Tapeta surface, Mr Ritz squeezed through the rail to take the lead from Decorated Soldier heading into the first turn. Third Day settled in third ahead of Souper Tapit, three-time Eclipse Stakes winner Are You Kidding Me, and Avie's Mesa.
Souper Tapit, the 9-5 favorite, was guided by Patrick Husbands and sat off opening fractions of :24.11, :47.39, and 1:10.75 set by Mr Ritz. The 5-year-old son of Tapit drew even with Mr Ritz in the stretch, but the pacemaker would not be put away without a fight. As the two bobbed heads, hitting a mile in 1:35.77, it came down to a photo finish as the pair crossed the finish line together in 1:42.39.
The victory went to Souper Tapit by a nose. Mr Ritz was 1 1/2 lengths in front of Are You Kidding Me, followed by Avie's Mesa, Third Day, and Decorated Soldier.
"He gave me everything he wanted to give me and the other horse (kept going to) the wire and I just got lucky getting there first," Husbands said. "The race set up how I wanted it to set up because in the morning my horse is so aggressive. This is the first time I rode him in a race and I knew I could be on the lead and then he came out and he was so relaxed I was like, this is not the same horse. But I got a perfect trip and, at the bottom of the lane, I thought we had him for sure, but it was a dogfight down the lane."
Souper Tapit won the Marine Stakes (G3) two years ago over the same track and distance, defeating eventual grade 1 turf winner Channel Maker. He kicked off this year with a victory in the Jan. 19 Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes for Florida-breds at Gulfstream Park. The Eclipse brings his career record to 5-3-4 in 18 starts with $394,560 in earnings.
The chestnut horse is the first foal out of the Hard Spun mare Zo Impressive, another Live Oak homebred. Zo Impressive won the Mother Goose Stakes (G1) and placed second in the TVG Acorn Stakes (G1) and TVG Coaching Club American Oaks (G1). She foaled an Uncle Mo colt in February this year.