Taptastic breaks well, wins Oaklawn debut for Asmussen, Winchell and Stonestreet

Taptastic, a gray 3-year-old Tapit colt campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC and Stonestreet Stables and trained by Steve Asmussen, broke his maiden in his career debut at Oaklawn Park, drawing away to win by 1 1/2 lengths over pacesetting Dawn. The colt went off the 4-5 favorite in the March 8, 2026 maiden special weight and overcame traffic trouble in the stretch to graduate.

The race developed with brisk backstretch fractions of :23.84 and :48.57 as the leaders set a lively tempo. Taptastic spent much of the run under a hold, racing in tight quarters behind those leaders down the backstretch, and was still waiting for racing room approaching the stretch before finally finding a narrow opening along the inside rail. Once through the gap he strode to the lead and drew away to finish 1 1/2 lengths clear of Dawn.

Pedigree and presentation underline why connections were bullish: TAPTASTIC (c, 3, Tapit Valadorna {GSW & GISP, $670,265}, by Curlin). Faced with older rivals in his debut, the Tapit colt displayed both tactical patience and a quick acceleration when the seam appeared, traits that matter when a 3-year-old tackles older company in a first outing.

Asmussen will have choices to make after a debut like this. Winchell and Stonestreet, two major owners with stakes ambitions, campaigned Taptastic to favoritism at Oaklawn, and the colt’s ability to settle behind a pressured early pace and finish strongly gives him a clear profile for stepping up in class. Official chart details such as final time, exact distance, purse and the rider’s identity will complete the portrait of the performance once posted.

Oaklawn’s weekend showcased depth beyond the maiden ranks: Magnitude, now a 4-year-old by Not This Time and last year’s winner of the GII Risen Star and the GII Clark, returned to win the GIII Razorback Handicap in his seasonal debut Saturday as the 4-5 favorite. Ricardo Santana Jr. notched his 800th Oaklawn victory Thursday aboard Will Take It in the $150,000 Fifth Season Stakes, becoming the fourth rider in track history to reach that mark after Pat Day, Larry Snyder and Calvin Borel; Santana, 33, said, "Got lucky, you know?"

Taptastic’s debut answered the immediate question of whether he could handle older rivals and the shuffle of a crowded field. With a Tapit-Curlin cross and a clean closing performance, the colt now belongs on short lists when Asmussen, Winchell and Stonestreet set their next targets.