Taptam Repeats in Hulman George Stakes
Taptam returned to Hoosier Park for the second straight year to win the $100,000-added Mari Hulman George Stakes Saturday, Oct. 1. The six-year-old Pleasant Tap mare is now two for two over Hoosier Park’s racetrack.
Ridden by Jamie Theriot, Taptam was up against some tough competition as the gates opened. Heavily favored Freedom Star from the Bob Baffert Stable was out and rolling early for rider Martin Pedroza as was Texas Country Doll and Marlon St. Julien. Taptam was perfectly content to follow along behind the top two through a majority of the one and one-sixteenth mile event.
Around the turn, Taptam came to life and began her descent upon the leaders. In the stretch, she took control gradually and pulled away to a one and three-quarter length victory over Texas Country Doll, who held on gamely for second. Afleeting Lady and Jesus Castanon used a late rally to move into third.
Trained by Bret Calhoun, Taptam is owned by Larry Hirsch and Wayne Sanders, who is also the breeder on the Texas bred filly. She now has 11 career wins for the partnership and more than $600,000 in career earnings.
“That’s where she wanted to be during the race, near the front,” said Theriot. “She broke well and grabbed on, so I let her go. I didn’t want to grab her up and break her confidence. I wanted to set ourselves up and get ourselves closer to the lead. Last start, the race just didn’t set up for her well. I thought this race would be a better fit for her and she would like two turns.”
Overlooked by bettors, Taptam paid $24.60, $8.00, and $5.40 across the board. Her time of 1:45.60 was slower than her win in the inaugural event in 2010, run under the name Wigwam Stakes.
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Taptam with jockey Jamie Theriot winning the Hulman George Stakes
Photo by Linscott Photography