Tapizar steps up in Sham

Over the past decade Steve Asmussen has been a dominating force in North America, especially at Churchill Downs where he has been the perennial leading trainer at the home of the Kentucky Derby (gr. I).

But other than the late-blooming Curlin, who jumped up to finish third in the 2007 Derby, Asmussen has not been a major factor in first leg of the Triple Crown. The 45–year-old trainer is hoping that will change this year and one of his promising sophomores will take his first step toward the roses when he leads a field of five in the $100,000 Sham Stakes (gr. III) Jan. 15 at Santa Anita Park.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Tapizar will be the likely favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Sham based off his dominating 10 1/2-length maiden victory in November at Churchill. After that score the son of Tapit   was sent to California with Asmussen, who began a new experiment by taking a string of horses to Santa Anita for the first time. Tapizar has turned in a series of works there in preparation for the Sham, including a four-furlong move in :47 1/5 on Thursday, just two days before the race. In fact, that latest work was quicker than the connections were looking for.

"It was definately a little faster than we wanted," assistant Scott Blasi admitted. "That's just the way it went, but I will say he couldn't have done it any easier. I was hoping for about :50 personally, but I don't know what that would have looked like because he did so easily."