Tapit, winner of last year's Laurel Futurity (gr. III) in brilliant fashion, became one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) after capturing the Wood Memorial in only his second start of the year; the first being the Florida Derby. In the Derby, he never seemed to get hold of the sloppy track, finishing ninth.
Wood Memorial (gr. I) winner Tapit had his first breeze Tuesday since withdrawing from the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), due to a recurrence of a lung ailment that has plagued him since the Florida Derby (gr. I).The son of Pulpit breezed five furlongs in 1:07 2/5 on the dirt at trainer Michael Dickinson's Tapeta Farm in North East, Md."He's doing great, and we have the Travers (gr. I) in mind," said David Fiske, racing manager for owner Ron Winchell. "The plan is vague at the moment, but we're hoping to get a race in him the last part of July or early August as a prep for the Travers. He's had a nice rest, and hopefully we have everything straightened out. As of now, everything looks to be on schedule."