DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 4, 2018) – Tap the Wire, who survived the Lilac Fire at San Luis Rey Downs, sped to a 3 ½-length win in Saturday’s $98,000 Graduation Stakes for Golden State Series eligible 2-year-olds at Del Mar.
Tap the Wire is by Eddington, out of the Tapit mare Tap the Till, was bred by owners John & Allegra Ernst and is trained by Daniel Dunham.
“It’s special to win at Del Mar and to win a stake is even more special,” said Dunham. “I’ve won races here, but never a stake. I’ve won a stake before, but that was 15 years ago at Pomona. The (debut win by Tap the Wire) was one of the first baby races of the year, so we were able to give him a little time and have pointed to this race all along.
“This horse is a San Luis Rey fire survivor. He was turned loose and I found him the next day in a field of a different ranch. No major burns or anything; he was lucky. He came to Del Mar and trained here, so he knows the place.”
Tap the Wire ran the 5 ½ furlongs in 1:05.48 and went off at odds of 3-1 in a field of five. Luck’s Royal Flush was second and Northern California Yearling Sale graduate Oliver was third.