Triple Tap a ‘Rising Star’ at Santa Anita

Triple Tap, a half-brother to 2015 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year American Pharoah, was the easiest of winners in his debut Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

The chestnut 3-year-old strolled home a 4 1/4-length winner in the seven-furlong contest after taking over the lead while in hand approaching the quarter-mile mark. The facile win earned Triple Tap a TDN Rising Star tag and a Beyer Speed Figure of 83.

“It went well and he rated kindly,” Bob Baffert said of the regally-bred colt. “When [jockey Flavien] Prat asked him to go, he took off. He looked like he was in control of the race and Flavien worked him the other day for me and he really loved him. When he came back, he said it was nothing for him, he was just getting going here in the end, so that’s good sign.”

Given his pedigree, Baffert was asked about the possibility of running in the Santa Anita Derby (G1).

“It’s going to be a little difficult, the thing is, we don’t have to rush him, so we’re not even thinking about that right now,” Baffert said. “I want to get this race out of the way and then we’re gonna talk about it and figure out what we’re gonna do. He won nice, it looks like he can go two turns easily, I just like what I saw today.”

Triple Tap is owned by his breeder, Jane Lyon’s Summer Wind Farm. Out of Littleprincessemma, Triple Tap’s siblings include Starlet S. (G1) winner Chasing Yesterday and Grade 1-placed American Cleopatra, both of whom Baffert also trained.