Tapit, will have 2004 debut delayed.
Tapit, winner of the Laurel Futurity (gr. III) and one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), will miss the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (gr. III) due to weather interruption and a shin that trainer Michael Dickinson says is less than 100%.The injury is not serious, and Tapit is still being considered for the Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and Florida Derby (gr. I).Tapit, who is undefeated in two starts, is stabled at Palm Meadows training center, where he breezed six furlongs in 1:13 3/5 on Jan. 26. Since then, however, heavy rains that caused the cancellation of two Gulfstream cards have created havoc with training schedules. Because Tapit was forced to miss his last work over the weekend, Dickinson did not want to take any chances and postponed the colt's debut in the Risen Star.
