Ky Derby Points: Tappan Street Charges To Florida Derby Win

TAPPAN STREET and SANDMAN won big on the weekend and are in the top three Kentucky Derby contenders by points earned in qualifying races. Canadian racing fans are sure to be cheering for Sandman since the pretty grey colt is trained by Woodbine’s perennial leading conditioner MARK CASSE. Casse has not won a Kentucky Derby (G1) yet, but the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner he trains for D.J. Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds, St. Elias Stables and CJ Stables of Charles Sonson seems to be one of his best chances yet.

In Florida, Tappan Street looked the part in the post parade for the Florida Derby (G1) and ran to it. A strapping bay colt by Into Mischief and, like Sandman, out of a Distorted Humor mare, Tappan Street had a professional 1 ¼-length victory over Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Sovereignty.

After finishing second in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3), Tappan Street was withheld from the March 1 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream in favour of returning eight weeks later in the 74th running of the 1 1/8-mile tradition-rich Triple Crown prep.

Scroll to continue with content

Curlin Florida Derby starters have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby 25 times while collecting 60 victories in Triple Crown races. Tappan Street earned his way into the 20-horse field for the May 3 Kentucky Derby with his victory in the Curlin Florida Derby, which offered Kentucky Derby qualifying points on a 100-50-25-15-10 scale to the first five finishers, respectively. Three major prep races remains for the Derby, the Blue Grass, Santa Anita Derby and Wood Memorial.

Tappan Street, who scored a debut victory Dec. 28 at Gulfstream before coming up a little short in the Holy Bull, was Saturday’s second-betting choice at 2-1 behind last-to-first Coolmore Fountain of Youth winner Sovereignty, who was sent to post as the 8-5 morning-line favourite in a field of 10 assembled for the Curlin Florida Derby, which closed out a 14-race program with 10 stakes, five graded, in grand fashion.

Owned by WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc. and Cold Press Racing, the $1 million yearling purchase stalked the pace of Madaket Road and Neoequos and powered around rivals into the stretch on his way to a handy win..

Tappan Street, who ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.27, will be Kentucky-bound in the next week. His Beyer Speed Figure, according to Daily Racing Form, was 94.

“This is a step forward today. His numbers in his first two starts were really good. I felt like the two-month lead-up to the Florida Derby would propel him forward,” Tappan Street’s trainer Brad Cox said.

Tappan Street was the last horse purchased by the late Anthony Manganaro of Siena Farm. The name of the colt comes from the street in Boston where Manganaro grew up.

Bonnie Baskin’s Blue Heaven Farm bred Tappan Street, who is out of stakes-placed Virginia Key. Second dam Our Khrysty, winner of the Grade 3 Turnback the Alarm stakes, is the dam of Grade 1 winner Grace Adler and Grade 3 winner Pyrenees.