When last seen under colors, Frank Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly was scoring a hard-fought half-length victory in the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita on Nov. 6, 2009 for trainer Dale Romans. After more than 14 months on the sideline, the now 4-year-old homebred filly was entered to make her long-awaited return in a Jan. 12 allowance race at Gulfstream Park.
Jockey Julien Leparoux is named to ride Tapitsfly in the one-mile turf feature. The roan/gray daughter of Tapit won three of seven starts as a 2-year-old with two seconds and a third racing in Kentucky and New York before the Breeders’ Cup when she scored at 9-to-1 under jockey Robby Albarado. Tapitsfly had a chip removed from an ankle early last year and had additional setbacks that required more time, according to Romans.
Tapitsfly drew post six in the field of 12 drawn for Wednesday’s 'three-other-than’ optional/allowance, with grade I winner Miss World the most accomplished of her rivals.
Another Breeders’ Cup winner will be back in action at Gulfstream next week as well. Harold Queen’s 4-year-old Florida homebred colt Big Drama is set to enter the $100,000 Mr. Prospector Handicap (gr. III) next Jan. 15, after posting a bullet work Jan. 8.
Big Drama was timed in :47 3/5 for trainer David Fawkes, fastest of 70 timed for the distance Saturday morning at Calder Casino & Race Course. The son of Montbrook is among the three finalists for Eclipse Award champion sprinter of 2010 as he prepares for his first start since his wire-to-wire score in the $2 million Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Nov. 6.
Also likely for the Mr. Prospector is Custom for Carlos , who drilled five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 Saturday morning at Palm Meadows for trainer Eddie Kenneally, fastest of 38 clocked at the distance. Custom for Carlos will make his first start since capturing the Count Fleet Handicap (gr.III) at Oaklawn Park on April 9. The son of More Than Ready won the Mr. Prospector last year.
