Corey Nakatani rated Tapizar perfectly in winning the mile and a
sixteenth San Fernando Stakes on the front end on Jan. 14, winning the
Grade II race by 3 ¼ lengths.
The veteran jockey is confident of a similar performance in
Saturday’s Grade II Strub Stakes, despite an added sixteenth of a mile
in distance.
“I don’t believe a mile and an eighth will be any problem
whatsoever,” Nakatani said. “He’s a very talented horse. He’s definitely
the speed of the race. He’s one of those that goes as fast as he can as
far as he can.”
Trained by Steve Asmussen for owner/breeder Winchell
Thoroughbreds, the 4-year-old bay son of Tapit won the Grade III Sham
Stakes at Santa Anita last year at 1 1/16 miles.
“Tapizar reminds me of a Bertrando,” Nakatani continued, “so
we’ll see if he can get the distance. We’ll let him go out there, take
the race to them and hopefully, he’ll do what he did last time.”
The field for the Strub: Jaycito, Martin Garcia, 4-1; Prayer for
Relief, Rafael Bejarano, 7-2; Beer Meister, Glenn Corbett, 20-1;
Ultimate Eagle, Martin Pedroza, 9-2; Clubhouse Ride, Victor Espinoza,
12-1; Indian Winter, Joel Rosario, 15-1; Tapizar, Nakatani, 6-5; and
Balladry, Joe Talamo, 8-1.