American Tap outclasses Nigel B Nunes field

CANADIAN-IMPORTEE AMERICAN TAP easily outclassed overnight-allowance runners on debut in yesterday’s Nigel B Nunes Memorial, making every post a winning one at odds of 1-2, clocking 58.2 at five furlongs straight in announcing herself to open-allowance company for her second outing on local soil.

A six-year-old winner of four races in North America, beating claimers at Gulfstream Park, Florida, last September, AMERICAN TAP reproduced her sparkling exercise form to run away from local-breds PRESS CONFERENCE and RING CHARMER, who proved no match for the Canadian carrying 121lb with the track bias in her favour from post-position 13.

Trained by Howard Jaghai and owned by Willie’s Racing Stables, AMERICAN TAP (Tapiture-American Castle) could be pointed to December’s US$125,000 Mouttet Mile, joining other foreign-breds such as Jason DaCosta’s IS THAT A FACT and Dale Murphy’s RUNAWAY ALGO, tackling locals led by Philip Feanny Gold Cup winner, SHE’S MY DESTINY, and ATOMICA, last year’s Jamaica Derby champion.

Tevin Foster was aboard the Canadian mare, completing back-to-back winners after partnering Anthony Nunes’ unbeaten three-year-old colt, CAPTAIN CALICO, to a strong win at seven furlongs, humbling Canada-bred ATLANTIC CONVOY, the 6-5 favourite, who was left chasing when the three-year-old found a second wind leaving the three-furlong point.

CAPTAIN CALICO (Soul Warrior-Rackam’s Mistress), who had won back-to-back races at five furlongs straight, returning early September after debuting in May, appears to be a staying sort, pulling away to win by six and a quarter lengths in 1:27.1 at odds of 2-1.

Foster’s double moved him to 70 in third place, four adrift champion Dane Dawkins, who sits 15 behind Reyan Lewis in the jockeys’ title race. Lewis failed to move the needle on the nine-race card whereas Dawkins survived a stewards’ enquiry to keep the sixth event aboard 7-2 chance NAKAMURA at five furlongs straight.

Raddesh Roman maintained his good form with a two-timer, easily landing the second with KP CHOICE at five and a half furlongs, returning to close the card with FROM SHEER TO BEN, who used his mid-race pace to run away from DE LYE LA in the nightpan at five furlongs straight.

Greg Fennell, newly licensed, topped his peers with a two-timer, Abigail Able-partnered SUDDEN FLIGHT at 6-1 in the opening event at four furlongs straight, sealing his big day with FEARLESS REINA, ridden by Javaniel Patterson in the fifth at five furlongs straight.

Racing continues at the weekend with Saturday-Sunday meets to close October.