Tappan Street wins the Florida Derby (Coglianese)
Will Ship to Churchill Downs Saturday
Neoequos Breezes for Derby Start
David Joseph/Gulfstream Park
INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Curlin Florida Derby (G1) hero Tappan Street breezed five furlongs in company in 1:01.40 Friday morning at Payson Park Training Center, pleasing trainer Brad Cox with his next to last workout for a scheduled start in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1).
“Overall, very pleased. (He) continued on around the turn very nicely and galloped out strong,” Cox said. “He looked great coming off the track. He’s been very consistent, and it seems like with his works: the further, the better. He’s in a good spot right now.”
Tappan Street, who is owned by WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., and Cold Press Racing, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs Saturday morning after completing his winter season at the Indiantown, FL training century Friday morning. Tappan Street worked in company with stablemate Rapture for a second straight week.
“We were looking to kind of stretch his legs and have a nice gallop out and I thought we got what we were looking for,” Cox said. “He looked like he got a little blow out of it, and I think it’ll set him up well.”
Tappan Street launched his most promising career at Gulfstream Park Dec. 28 with a rallying 1 ¾-length debut victory at seven furlongs before finishing second behind Burnham Square in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3). The son of Into Mischief turned in a thoroughly professional effort under Luis Saez in the March 29 Curlin Florida Derby, getting the jump on Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Sovereignty to win by 1 ¼ lengths.
Cox’s first winter season at Payson Park has been quite productive.
“It’s been good. Will the Florida Derby bring us back next year? It’s a little bit different for me. It’s taken some adjusting, but I like training here, I like being here myself. I like the way the horses, first and foremost, how they come out of here. And how they’ve run other places,” he said. “Keeneland, shipped to New York, shipped to California, shipped to Oaklawn, shipped to Fair Grounds. We’ve used it as kind of a satellite to wherever. The Middle East. It’s worked really well.”
Cox prepared Hit Show at Payson Park for his victory in the $12 million Dubai World Cup (G1) April 5.
“I think just based off what we’ve seen, a horse went to the Middle East and won the World Cup. It doesn’t mean they’re going to win, but they’re going to be ready. If they can’t get them ready over this track, you’re not going to get them ready over any track,” Cox said.
Later Friday morning at Gulfstream Park. Neoequos, who finished a distant third in the Curlin Florida Derby, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.51 in company for a planned start in the Kentucky Derby.
“It was a solid work. He sat a bit off his workmate and finished up decent,” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’s a horse that once he makes the lead he kind of doesn’t really go on much once he goes by the horse. That’s something that we’ve been working on and will continue to work on.”
Neoequos, who also finished third in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth, currently sits 22nd on the Kentucky Derby standings based on qualifying points and would need defections to be included in the 20-horse field..
“Right now, we’re going to the Derby. The distance is still a question mark, but he keeps running well enough and fast enough on the figures to keep going and try,” Joseph said.
Neoequos, who out-worked stablemate Mr. Narcissistic, is expected to breeze one more time at Gulfstream Park prior to shipping to Churchill Downs..
“Right now, I’m probably leaning toward working him one more time and then head to Churchill,” Joseph said. “He might work next Thursday. Either Thursday or Friday next week. Probably next Thursday and then ship in (Friday).”
