Tapit sibling commands $1 million

Gainesway, home of the red-hot sire Tapit (Pulpit), teamed up with partners

Mt. Brilliant and Robert LaPenta to purchase his three-quarter brother for $1

million at Monday's Keeneland April Two-Year-Olds in Training Sale. Like Tapit,

the colt is by an A.P. Indy stallion -- in his case, Malibu Moon -- and out of

the stakes-winning Unbridled mare Tap Your Heels.

Consigned by Niall Brennan Stables, agent, as Hip No. 55, the Kentucky-bred

chestnut became the first juvenile to bring seven figures at this sale since

Azeri's son, Take Control, commanded $1.9 million in 2009. The April 29 foal had

worked one furlong in :9 4/5 at Thursday's under tack show.

"He moved over the ground really well," said Gainesway's Antony Beck, who

signed the ticket. "He just skipped along effortlessly. He had great action and

he's a large horse so hopefully he'll win some stakes for us."

Beck added that the sale topper would be trained by Chad Brown.

Tapit, an unbeaten juvenile who captured the 2003 Laurel Futurity (G3), later

scored his signature win at three in the 2004 Wood Memorial (G1). Prominent on

the leading sires list, the 13-year-old stallion is having a banner year, with

Florida Derby (G1) winner Constitution, Arkansas Derby (G1) contender Tapiture

and Fair Grounds Oaks (G2) romper Untapable among his headliners. Tapit has also

sired 2008 champion two-year-old filly Stardom Bound, 2011 champion two-year-old

male Hansen, 2009 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf heroine Tapitsfly, 2012

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile victor Tapizar, and such fellow Grade 1 winners as

Joyful Victory, Careless Jewel, Zazu and Japan's Testa Matta.

The two-year-old colt is also a three-quarter brother to Home From Oz

(Pulpit), dam of last year's Japan Dirt Derby runner-up A Shin Gold (Medaglia

d'Oro), and a half-brother to the multiple stakes-placed Overandabeauty (Grand

Slam).

Cataloged as Hip 61, the bay blitzed a quarter-mile in a bullet :20 on

Thursday, setting the stage for a pinhook triumph. The February 3 colt

originally fetched $140,000 from Bradley Thoroughbreds, agent, as a Keeneland

September yearling, and was offered by Eddie Woods, agent, here.

"He's got

some speed on the bottom,"  LaPenta's Racing Manager John Panagot said.

"He's obviously by Medaglia d'Oro, one of the boss's favorites, and out of a

stakes-winning mare that can fly."

Victory Ride, winner of a trio of stakes led by the 2001 Test (G1), is also

responsible for the Grade 2-placed Magical Ride (Storm Cat). Magical Ride is in

the news as the dam of Triple Crown nominee Ride On Curlin (Curlin). Third in

the Champagne (G1), Street Sense, Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2), he seeks a

breakthrough in Saturday's Arkansas Derby.

Herself a half-sister to Grade 1-winning sire River Flyer (Riverman), Victory

Ride descends from the influential matron Bourtai (Stimulus), via her champion

daughter and noted producer Bayou (Hill Prince).

Freshman sire Tale of Ekati had a colt from his first crop, TALE OF VERVE,

sell to Six Friends Syndicate for $440,000. First bought by trainer Dallas

Stewart for $150,000 at Fasig-Tipton Saratoga last August, the pinhook success

came from the consignment of Wavertree Stables (Ciaran Dunne), agent.