Tapwrit Would Give Sire Tapit Shot at Belmont History

Should the connections of Tapwrit decide to enter the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) winner in this year's Belmont Stakes (G1), it would provide his sire, Tapit, a shot at history.

Tapit, of course, has piled up accolades while leading the North American sire list each of the past three seasons. A Belmont Stakes victory by Tapwrit, or any other starter by the sire in the 1 1/2-mile classic, would give Tapit three Belmont winners in the past four years.

The only other sire who has had three Belmont winners in four years was Lexington, who had General Duke win the second edition of the race in 1868, followed by Kingfisher in 1870 and Harry Bassett in 1871. Lexington picked up a fourth winner when Duke of Magenta won the 1878 Belmont.

Tapit scored his initial Belmont win as a sire when Tonalist won the 2014 edition, then last year Creator scored for the multiple leading sire. Should Tapit's progeny score this year—besides having three Belmont winners in four years—he'd become just the sixth horse to have back-to-back winners, joining Lexington, Australian, Commando, Man o' War, Gallant Fox, and Count Fleet.

Count Fleet is the most recent sire to have back-to-back Belmont winners, accomplished in 1951 and 1952 with Counterpoint and One Count, respectively.

Other potential sire storylines going into this year's race include Pioneerof the Nile going for his second Belmont win after seeing American Pharoah close out his Triple Crown sweep in 2015. That second win could come from Classic Empire, who is being pointed to the Belmont and figures to be the favorite.

Union Rags, who won the 2012 Belmont, has a potential Belmont starter from his first crop this year in TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Patch. Fourteen previous Belmont winners have sired at least one Belmont winner.