Frank L. Jones Jr.’s Tapitsfly outgamed Daisy Devine after a duel
through deep stretch to win the First Lady by a half-length with favored
Hungry Island another 3½ lengths back in third.
Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Jose Lezcano, Tapitsfly completed the mile on a firm turf course in 1:35.44.
A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapit out of the Marlin mare
Flying Marlin, Tapitsfly earned $210,000 with the victory that improved
her record to 24-7-6-4 with earnings of $1,495,503.
Summer Soiree led the field of six to the stretch where Daisy Devine,
ridden by James Graham took command. Lezcano, who had kept Tapitsfly in
the clear while running in the second flight, swung to the outside at
the head of the lane and gradually wore down Daisy Devine, who was
making her first start in five months.
Tapitsfly returned $7.60, $4.20 and $2.60. Daisy Devine returned
$4.60 and $2.80 with Hungry paying $2.20 to show under Julien Leparoux.
It was six lengths back to Summer Soiree, who was followed in order by Brilliant Future and Snow Fall.