In spite of a lung infection that caused him to lose training time, Ronald Winchell's Tapit rallied powerfully in the stretch to get up in the closing yards of the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) at Aqueduct Saturday.
Ridden by Ramon Dominguez, Tapit, trained by Michael Dickinson, came from last place in the field of 11 to nip Master David and Eddington, who battled to the wire in a thrilling finish. The final time was 1:49 3/5.
Tapit ran sixth in the Florida Derby (gr. I) in his last start on March 13, and Dickinson said the gray son of Pulpit --Tap Your Heels (by Unbridled) "wasn't in peak condition" after leaving Florida with a significant lung infection. He didn't have his first published workout until April 5.
"Believe me, I am as surprised as anyone," Dickinson said. "He came out of Florida with a fairly significant lung infection. He only recovered a few days ago. He was not in peak health or in great condition. I would have been happy with a good third or even a fourth."
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