Tapizar retired, headed to Gainesway
by BRIS
Date Posted: 11/8/2012 7:05:23 PM
Last Updated: 11/14/2012 2:58:04 PM

Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Tapizar will enter stud in 2013 at the Beck family's Gainesway Farm near Lexington, Kentucky, it was announced Thursday. Bred and raced by Winchell Thoroughbreds and trained by Steve Asmussen, Tapizar will become the first Grade 1 winner by top sire Tapit to stand at Gainesway, where he will stand alongside his sire.

Gainesway President Antony Beck expressed his pleasure with the addition of Tapizar to the stallion roster.

"We have been looking for the best son of Tapit to stand at Gainesway ever since it became apparent what an exceptional stallion he is," Beck said. "Tapizar certainly fits the bill. He's the third stallion that we are standing for my good friend Ron Winchell."

Beck further noted Tapizar's precocity and commercial appeal.

"Tapizar broke his maiden by 10 (1/2) lengths as a two-year-old at Churchill, then won his graded stakes debut (in the Grade 3 Sham) despite a testing six panels in 1:08 3/5," Beck explained.

Tapziar is out of the winning Deputy Minister mare Winning Call, and from a family which has been in the Winchell family hands for three generations. This direct  family includes Grade 1 winner Paddy O'Prado, Grade 1-scoring sire Olympio and Grade 1 victor Pyro, each of whom was bred and/or raced by the Winchells.

"We have always felt Tapizar was an elite racehorse," Ron Winchell remarked. "I am very proud that he was able to deservingly fulfill his destiny on the racetrack. I am also very pleased he will be standing at stud next to Tapit at a truly premier farm."

Tapizar retires with a record of 14-6-1-1 having banked $973,632 in his career. In addition to the four-year-old's Dirt Mile and Sham scores, he also captured the Grade 2 San Fernando in January and the West Virginia Governor's Stakes in early August while placing in the Grade 3 Razorback Handicap at Oaklawn Park March.

Tapizar's 2013 fee will be $15,000, stands and nurses. He is available for inspection beginning Friday from 11 a.m. till 3 p.m. (EST).

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