TAPPAN STREET, last seen on the track winning the GI Curlin Florida Derby in March, missed quite an eventful summer. Take for instance the horse he defeated that day in Sovereignty (Into Mischief), who never lost again this season and looks to be a strong candidate for Horse of the Year. Had a condylar fracture in his right front leg not knocked him off the Road to the Kentucky Derby, perhaps Tappan Street would have had more to say in the big 3-year-old races this season. As it stands, the classy son of super-sire Into Mischief handled his recovery and subsequent return to training like he'd handled everything before it: like a pro.
Returning to the races in a cushy spot for trainer Brad Cox and picking up Lasix to boot, the 1-9 favorite broke in a line and took back just off front-running long shot Steppe (Sky Mesa) who went through to lead from the rail. Traveling nicely under Irad Ortiz Jr. with slack in the reins, Tappan Street tracked of that rival's hip on the long run up the backstretch in this one-turn mile, sitting second and making up just a touch of ground past the half-mile pole in :46.55.
To his credit, Steppe was ready to engage the heavy favorite and battled back as Tappan Street came alongside with less than a quarter mile to run. By the time jockey Miguel Vaszquez lost his stick aboard Steppe midway to the line, the favorite has pushed past and the race was over with Tappan Street working to earn the one-length win. Steppe, who crossed the line second, was transported off the track by equine ambulance with an undisclosed issue.
“It's good to get that one behind us,” said Elliott Walden, WinStar Farm's President/CEO and Racing Manager. “It's really good to get him back. He's a big, strong horse and he needed it. It worked out well. We'll get him back to the top level. We'll look at the Pegasus and see how he comes out. The timing of this was to take a look at that and see what it looks like.”
“Good effort, workmanlike, but kind of what we expected based on what we saw of him in his first three runs,” added Cox. “It's not as if he always gallops up to the top of the lane and wins under a hammerlock or anything. He's a good horse, and I thought it was a good comeback race. It's a two-other-than–that's what he's eligible for–and off that long layoff, I felt like it was the right move for him at this stage in his career. Happy with his performance.”
Out of GII Gazelle Stakes third Virginia Key, Tappan Street was a $1,000,000 yearling for CHC, Siena Farm and Maverick Racing at the Saratoga Sale in 2023. He is a half-brother to SP Distorted d'Oro who sold Spendthrift's way for $2,100,000 at FTKNOV just last month. Virginia Key herself is a half-sister to GSW/MGISP Pyrenees (Into Mischief) and to GISW Grace Adler (Curlin), another seven-figure sales horse when sold for $2,000,000 to Narvick International at FTKNOV in 2022. There's plenty of class down through the third dam as well with GI Whitney Stakes winner Bullsbay (Tiznow) showing up.
Virginia Key sadly lost her $1,400,000 KEESEP 2-year-old Curlin colt this year but does have a yearling Quality Road filly in the pipeline. She failed to take on a Cody's Wish cover for this season but visited Gun Runner for 2026.
7th-Gulfstream, $45,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 12-19, 3yo/up, 1m, 1:36.22, ft, 1 length.
TAPPAN STREET (c, 3, Into Mischief–Virginia Key {GSP}, by Distorted Humor) Sales History: $1,000,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime Record: GISW, 4-3-1-0, $670,400. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
O-WinStar Farm LLC, CHC, Inc., Cold Press Racing and Qatar Racing; B-Blue Heaven Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
TAPPAN STREET returns a winner as he wins the 7th race today at Gulfstream Park, ridden by @iradortiz do trainer @bradcoxracing and @WinStarFarm
El ganador del Florida Derby 2025, TAPPAN STREET, retornó victorioso al ganar en reaparecida la 7ma del Viernes en Gulfstream Park,… pic.twitter.com/dcIc39fS2I
— Agentes305 (@agentes305) December 19, 2025
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