In addition to Tapit, Read the Footnotes, Master David, Friends Lake, Sir Oscar, The Cliff's Edge, and Value Plus are all listed as probables for the nine-furlong million Florida Derby, which offers a $1 million purse.
The lineup for the March 13 Florida Derby (gr. I) has gained another stakes-winning contender as Tapit's connections have announced they will enter the colt for the race. Tapit hasn't raced since winning the Nov. 15 Laurel Futurity (gr. I), but he recently worked 7 furlongs in 1:29 3/5 at Laurel Park in between races. With Tapit's addition to the list of probable starters for the race, that brings the total to seven, all of which are stakes winners except Value Plus, who finished second to Cuvee in last year's Futurity (gr. I). Tapit, a gray son of Pulpit, is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds. David Fiske, the operation's racing manager, signed the $625,000 ticket for the colt at the 2002 Keeneland September sale. He is undefeated in two starts. Michael Dickinson trains Tapit at his Tapeta Farm in Maryland. Dickinson is expected to name a rider to his colt later this week.
