New chapter for Summer Wind's Tapit tale via $1 million Saratoga sales-topper

Some breeders just have a magic connection with certain horses, and for Summer Wind Farm owner Jane Lyon, Tapit has risen to play a key role in her ascending programme that in 2018 produced four individual winners of Grade/Group 1 races.

Summer Wind’s story with Tapit goes back several years, but the newest chapter was written in the Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale ring during Monday night's opening session, when Summer Wind’s Tapit colt out of Grade 3 winner and multiple Grade 1-placed Feathered reached $1 million.

The handsome bay proved to be the only seven-figure yearling of the session. He was so outstanding in conformation and quality that Lyon said she was not surprised by the price paid by West Point Thoroughbreds.

Jane Lyon of Summer Wind farm has bred several top-notchersCredit: Michele MacDonald

Lyon said: “We were hoping he would bring $1 million and we would have been very disappointed if he hadn’t because we knew he was a good colt all along. You hope you get paid for good colts."

As the breeder of McKinzie, who triumphed in the prestigious Grade 1 Whitney Stakes last Saturday at Saratoga, and of 2018 champion juvenile male Game Winner, Lyon knows all about good colts.

McKinzie (right): Whitney winner was bred by Jane Lyon's operationCredit: Benoit Photo

She also has the distinction of selling the market leaders at both the Saratoga and Keeneland September sales in 2009, when Summer Wind-bred colts by Storm Cat brought over $2m each from John Ferguson at those venues.

But that was a different era, and now three-time leading North American sire Tapit has risen to the forefront at Summer Wind. Lyon has many significant links to the Gainesway stallion, including her homebred three-year-old Grade 1 winner Chasing Yesterday, a half-sister to Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, and that filly’s yearling full-brother Triple Tap.

Lyon has decided to keep Triple Tap in her stable since he is such an outstanding individual.

Bob Baffert, who trained Chasing Yesterday and, of course, American Pharoah, also has a promising three-year-old Tapit colt that Lyon bred and owns named Magic On Tap, a grey produced by Grade 1 winner Aubby K.

A winner in his only start in September 2018 at Del Mar, Magic On Tap was sidelined by a setback but has been working impressively for a comeback. On the day the Saratoga sale started, Magic On Tap drilled a bullet six furlongs from the starting gate at Santa Anita Park with a clocking of 1:12.60.

It was fate that kept Magic On Tap with Lyon. The blueblooded colt had been slated to be sold as a yearling but incurred an injury and had to be retained, a twist that could prove fruitful if he can become an achiever in racing.

Judicious planning has seen Tapit involved with several Summer Wind horsesCredit: Gainesway

However, it was not chance but rather judicious planning that has involved Tapit with so many other Summer Wind horses. Littleprincessemma, the dam of American Pharoah, Chasing Yesterday, Triple Tap and a chestnut Tapit filly born in April, is back in foal to Tapit and carrying another filly for 2020, Lyon said.

The mating of Tapit with the 2015 Broodmare of the Year has produced such outstanding foals that Lyon said she has no reason to change the mating plans she has relied on for four of the past five seasons. Indeed, she indicated that she is looking forward to keeping both the 2019 filly, who she has named Lasting Tribute, and the 2020 filly.

“I’m already thinking of names for her,” Lyon said of the filly now in utero.

Back in foal to Tapit

Meanwhile, Feathered, a daughter of Indian Charlie whose $1m yearling colt was named Flightline, is also back in foal to Tapit after producing a Pioneerof the Nile colt this spring.

“I just hope that this mare will produce a runner - she has every reason to produce a runner,” Lyon said of Feathered, for whom she paid $2.35m at Keeneland in 2016. “And if it’s with Tapit, that would just be great.

“I think he’s a beautiful colt with a great physical,” she added of the Saratoga session-topper.

Other Summer Wind mares Lyon bred to Tapit this year for 2020 foals who could be possible future sale yearling stars include Whatdreamsrmadeof, the dam of Grade 1 winner Curalina; For Royalty, dam of Grade 1 winner Constellation; and Steidle, a mare owned in partnership who is a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Princess Of Sylmar.

“Tapit is making me a huge fan,” Lyon declared after watching Flightline sell at Saratoga.

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