Tap the Gavel Update

Kent Sweezey joined Tappy on the track this morning to give us an update on how our 3-year-old colt is doing since getting back to training following his race last week. We still have a couple of weeks before deciding upon our next race and will update you once one has been pinpointed.

Tap the Gavel Update

Tap the Gavel came out of the race in good order and is back on the track galloping daily. Tappy ran a 71 Beyer Speed Figure, which is on par with his previous races. No race has been identified as a target just yet, but Kent Sweezey said that we will be looking at tracks in the MId-Atlantic region, including Delaware Park, Laurel Park, and Colonial Downs, in addition to Monmouth Park.

Tap the Gavel Race Recap

Tap the Gavel ran a bit flat-footed today at Monmouth Park while finishing 8th in his first start against winners, which is always a tough assignment. He was defeated 4 3/4 lengths by the winner, Starting Over.

With veteran rider Jose Ferrer in the irons, Tap the Gavel raced off the pace in the 1 1/16-mile turf race. Ferrer told trainer Kent Sweezey he had a ton of horse under him down the backstretch, but the colt didn’t follow through when asked to get into gear.

Sweezey remarked to our East Coast Racing Manager, Harry Rice, he was not discouraged by the effort and said he was happy to see the 3-year-old try today, even if didn’t come through with an impactful punch at the finish.

We will check in with Kent in the coming days and will report back with how Tappy exited his race.

Tap the Gavel Race Overview

Tap the Gavel showed that he was a fan of the Jersey Shore when winning by three-quarters of a length last out at Monmouth Park. Facing winners for the first time, Tappy will have veteran jockey Jose Ferrer aboard when breaking from post 6 of 10. The duo has been assigned morning-line odds of 8-1. The 1 1/16-mile turf event has been carded as the ninth race on the day with a post time at approximately 3:59 p.m. ET.

After shipping to Monmouth Park at the beginning of May, Tap the Gavel had two decent works that led to his maiden victory at the same distance as this race. A horse that has proven to get better as he matures, Tappy put it all together in his second race on the lawn. Since that victory, Kent Sweezey said that our 3-year-old colt has really come into himself, acting like the big man on campus. Even though Tappy may be feeling that way, one of the toughest assignments for a horse is facing winners for the first time. A good note is that Kent Sweezey boasts a 25% win percentage with maiden winners last out on the turf wheeling back. We have a tough field here, but if Tappy continues to mature, he should be able to pick up a placing, or even a win.

Heavy rains are forecasted for today and if the race were to be taken off the turf, Tap the Gavel would scratch. Kent gives us an explanation above as to why we would scratch if it were to come off the grass.

About the Competition (in post position order):

Larger Than Life (8-1) is no stranger to the distance, having broken his maiden at the distance back in September. Third off a layoff is sometimes a horse’s best effort, but against this tough field, he’s not a top pick. Additionally, he is unlikely to run if this race is off the turf based on his only effort on an off track.

Due Vini (20-1) looks to be lost in what he wants to do. His best races came in his debut and against state-breds in Florida. Would back him if this were to come off the turf.

American Forces (12-1) tries the turf for the first time today. A son of American Pharoah, whose progeny have been effective on the lawn, should handle it with no issue. This is another horse that could stay in with weather in the forecast as his dirt tries have been useful.

James Jones (3-1) ran lights out during Derby Week at Churchill while breaking his maiden for trainer Chad Brown. He followed up with a subpar performance in stakes company, but drops back to find his friends. If the pattern he has run so far with Beyer Speed Figures continues, we can expect an 80+ BSF. The dam’s lone win came on good to soft turf overseas, so soft ground could help. The one to watch.

Starting Over (10-1) has yet to win since being claimed in 2019 from Jonathan Thomas. From a family that hasn’t been very productive, would avoid.

Magia Nera (8-1) also tries the turf for the first time today. Broke maiden going long on an off track and is likely entered hoping for that outcome. Kelly Breen may be known as a leading trainer at Monmouth Park, but when switching from dirt to turf there, he only finds success 6% of the time.

Inflation Adjusted (6-1) is the “other Chad” in the race. An angle that has become infamous among bettors when Chad Brown has two horses entered in the same race, usually bet the one with longer odds. Coming off a long layoff is no worry for Chad as he is striking at 29%. Much prefer over his other entrant as Inflation Adjusted improved nicely from his first to second start.

Future Victory (7-2) looms large with leading jockey Paco Lopez aboard for Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The duo has combined to win 31% of the time at Monmouth over the last year and 30% at all tracks. Future Victory alone is impressive having run an 84 BSF last out second off the layoff. The one to beat.

Dominate Themoment (9-2) has the outside post if we stay on the turf and is making his first start for trainer Robert Mosco. With lack of pace, he could be sent to the front. Mosco is winless at Monmouth so far this season, but is striking at 18%. Could be interesting if the price floats up.

[Main Track Only Entrants]

Stefano (15-1) has two wins that both came in off the turf events and both at the distance. Rory Huston does not win often, but Stefano has proven a decent horse for him. Would use if off turf.

God is Love (12-1) makes his first start for Carlos David who is 29% with first time starters on the year. Form has been empty, but the trainer seems to step horses up.

Tap the Gavel Race Entry

Tap the Gavel has officially been entered in an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Monmouth Park on Saturday, July 2nd. Slated as the ninth race on the day, Jose Ferrer will be aboard as the duo breaks from post six of 10. With scattered thunderstorms in the forecast, three Main Track Only horses have been entered. Along with our paddock lottery, which you can enter here, we still have some tickets to the patio terrace available here.

Tap the Gavel Update

Tap the Gavel came out of his maiden victory in good order. As expected, Tappy was a bit tired Monday morning, but was back to his usual self on Tuesday. Kent Sweezey was very happy with the way Tap the Gavel exited the race, saying that he scoped clean, ate up the night of his race, and only took a day to rejuvenate himself. Additionally, Kent was happy to see Tap the Gavel improve his speed figures by earning a career-top 75 Beyer for his effort. Tappy will return to the track tomorrow morning and will jog for a couple of days until he returns to galloping on Saturday.

Tap the Gavel Win Photos

Monmouth’s track photographer Bill Denver has uploaded Tap the Gavel’s win photo, which can be purchased here. He was kind enough to provide us with instructions on purchasing: Anyone that orders paying the full price will automatically have the name on the order added to the Ownership line. If they have any changes to that name or want to add a spouse, please email him at equiphoto@hotmail.com. If they would prefer a discount, instead of adding a name, use the Coupon MYRACEHORSE for 10% off. Congratulations to all of Tappy’s owners once again!

Tap the Gavel Race Recap

 

Tap the Gavel finished sixth today in his second career start at Tampa Bay Downs. We were hoping that he would build off his second-place finish in his debut in November, but today the colt was never quite comfortable with horses to his outside, according to jockey Samy Camacho, who gives our East Coast Racing Manager, Harry Rice, a full report in the attached video.

Samy said that Tap the Gavel, who broke from the rail and was not able to get in the clear in the field of nine runners going into the first turn, was a bit intimidated by the presence of horses to his outside. When he received some open space to his outside around the half-mile pole, he did some running, but when he was in tight at the three-furlong pole and Samy had to check a little bit, he didn’t kick on and his rider said at that point, “I just took care of him.”

As this was just his second race, the son of Tapit is still learning and we expect the experience will serve him well going forward. We will check in with trainer Bill Mott in the coming days and report back with how our 3-year-old exited the race.

Tap the Gavel Race Overview

Tap the Gavel is headed back to Tampa Bay Downs tomorrow for his second start, after a very good second there to launch his career on November 27th. Running in the eighth race on the 10-race card, Tap the Gavel will break from the rail in the field of 10 newly turned 3-year-olds. Samy Camacho has the return ride for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott in the one mile and 40-yard dirt race.

Post time is 3:55 p.m. ET

Tap the Gavel has been assigned odds of 7-2 and is the second choice on the morning line. His second-place finish on debut earned him a 71 Beyer Speed Figure, the highest in this field.

Mott remarked that if Tap the Gavel can replicate his debut speed figure, “I think we’ll be able to win with [a] number like that.”

The trainer also said this morning that he is not concerned with the inside post draw. “[Tap the Gavel] showed speed last time and he broke sharply, so as long as he does that again, we’ll have the shortest trip around,” he told our East Coast Racing Manager, Harry Rice.

You can listen to more commentary about tomorrow’s race from Mott in the attached video.

About the Competition in Post Position Order:

Azure Sky (20-1) was claimed for $25,000 in his last start. Stepping back into Maiden Special Weight company, Azure Sky will need to find form he has not shown before to improve his Beyer Speed Figures to be competitive in this spot.

Afjan (5-2) is the morning-line favorite from the Todd Pletcher barn. He finished sixth in his debut at Belmont Park back in September in a race, where only one horse has returned to break his maiden. The well-bred son of Uncle Mo should do better around two turns, but will need to prove a bit more to reach the winner’s circle tomorrow.

Robitaille (8-1) has run once when finishing 10th going two turns on the all-weather surface at Woodbine in November. He ran a decent 53 BSF, but showed no signs of finishing in the stretch. Trainer Mark Casse has done decently at Tampa over the past five years, winning at 18%.

Patagonian Empire (6-1) is making his career debut for trainer Ben Colebrook. Colebrook wins at just 8% with his first-time starters, but he did win with his only starter so far at the current meet. Patagonian Empire will likely need a race to round into his best form.

In the Union (4-1) is another Pletcher-trained runner. For a trainer that is consistent across the board winning at 23% over the past five years, Todd is only 11% with first-time starters going two turns during that time. In the Union is well bred and has put together a nice string of works, but it will be unlikely to see him reach the winner’s circle tomorrow.

Grey Charmer (8-1) is making his third career start and second at Tampa. He stretched out over the Tapeta at Gulfstream Park last out and didn’t seem to handle it too well. He returns to Tampa where he finished third on debut in a race going six furlongs on the dirt and if he returns to that form, he could pick up a piece of it.

Royal Court (12-1) has not had much go right in his first four career starts. Blinkers come off, he adds Lasix again, and has been gelded since his last start. He finished fourth behind Tap the Gavel last out, and seems to enjoy distances just over a mile. He’s put in a couple of nice works since that fourth-place finish.

Down to Bizzness (20-1) returns to Florida after a tough trip to Churchill Downs when finishing 10th over a good track in early November in a race that produced Gun Runner Stakes winner, Epicenter. A fast track could help, but Down to Bizzness looks overmatched here.

Dominican Ice (15-1) heads to Florida’s Gulf Coast after a couple good finishes in the maiden ranks at Gulfstream Park. The son of Keen Ice will be going around two turns for the first time and should enjoy the distance as his two best races have come at a mile. We will need to see more from Dominican Ice for him to win, but he could be an interesting horse if he gets an unchallenged lead.

Race Day Projected Payouts

Here are the instant payouts for Tap the Gavel’s race Saturday at Tampa Bay Downs. Total purse for the race is $31,500.

Fees include trainer, jockey, and MRH management fees (10 percent each) in addition to race day fees such as pony to post, jockey insurance, stable bonus for on the board finishes, etc.

After official race statements are provided by the track and account reconciliations are performed, any adjustments will be made (i.e. additional payouts) and a detailed breakdown of race day revenues and expenses provided. Additionally, if the horse runs out of the money, payouts will be issued to your MRH wallet with the final reconciliation (typically within 30 days of the race).