Douglas Scherbauer’s Tap Into This, priced at $4.20, took full advantage of the extended distance from 7 furlongs to 1 1/16 miles and secured a half-length victory in Friday’s $135,000 The Coach Overnight Stakes at Oaklawn. The event, held to honor the late Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lucas, was exclusive to 4-year-old horses without any open stakes wins.
Tap Into This, a son of Tapit who was purchased for $525,000 at auction, claimed his fourth win in 10 career starts with an impressive early pace of 3.3 seconds. The trophy and winner’s share of $78,975 brought his total earnings to $378,145. Guided by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, the even-numbered favorite found himself trailing by five and a half lengths early on but made a powerful late surge, overtaking the leader to win with a final time of 1:43.28. After being last early, the horse steadily advanced, crossing the first six furlongs at 1:11.96 before dominating the stretch.
Part 1, who led midway through the race, finished second, two and a half lengths ahead of Amorosa in third. The remaining finishers were Zero Sugar, Best Friend Rocket, and Royal Bro. The winning horse was conditioned by trainer Steve Asmussen.
Racing continues on Saturday at Oaklawn with an 11-race card beginning at noon CST, highlighted by the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes for 3-year-olds, the $150,000 Renaissance Stakes, and the $135,000 Commodore Overnight Stakes. The Smarty Jones Stakes is the first of four preparatory races on Oaklawn’s Derby trail, offering 21 points toward Kentucky Derby qualification.
Fan Take: This thrilling win by Tap Into This showcases the depth of talent in up-and-coming horses, emphasizing the importance of stamina and strategy in longer races. For horse racing fans, these developments hint at an exciting season ahead as contenders begin to emerge on the road to the Kentucky Derby, promising intense competition and unforgettable moments.
