Race Day, multiple GSW by Tapit, to Spendthrift in 2016

Race Day, a multiple graded stakes winner in 2015 by leading sire Tapit, will stand at B. Wayne Hughes’ Spendthrift Farm in 2016 and participate in the farm’s renowned “Share The Upside” program.

The 4-year-old Race Day, whose biggest win came in the $600,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) earlier this year, is being pointed for the $200,000 Fayette S. (G2) on the Breeders’ Cup undercard Oct. 30 at Keeneland, and is set to retire at the end of the year. His “Share The Upside” fee will be $8,500 on a one-year commitment, and breeders will earn a lifetime breeding right beginning in 2017 after having only one live foal and paying the stud fee.

“We really made it a priority to be able to offer breeders a top son of Tapit through our ‘Share The Upside’ program, and Race Day has shown he’s one of the most talented Tapits coming off the racetrack this year,” said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. “For $8,500, we’re giving people the opportunity to have a foal in 2017 and then receive a lifetime breeding right in an exciting son of Tapit. We don’t believe there’s a better offer under $10,000 in the industry, and we feel like Race Day will prove to be very popular.”

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Race Day ascended up the ranks in the older horse division this spring after back-to-back wins in the $250,000 Razorback H. (G3) and $600,000 Oaklawn H. (G2) at Oaklawn Park, shipping in from his Florida base. In the Razorback, he defeated a cast of graded stakes winners that included Grade 1 winner Golden Ticket, Midnight Hawk, and Tapiture, earning a 105 Beyer for the performance.

Race Day was even more impressive in the Oaklawn Handicap, drawing away from his rivals for a decisive 3 ¾-length victory in the prestigious event, defeating another top group of graded winners that included Grade 1 winner Hard Aces, Tapiture, and Golden Lad. His final time of 1:47.93 for 1 1/8 miles marked the fastest Oaklawn Handicap since Medaglia d’Oro a dozen years prior, and he earned a 109 Beyer for the performance.

Race Day had earned a 109 Beyer in a breakout allowance victory at Gulfstream a few starts before his Oaklawn Handicap triumph, making him and Tonalist the only progeny by world-class sire Tapit to record multiple Beyer speed figures of 109 or higher in the last year.

As a 3-year-old, Race Day broke his maiden by 4 ¼ lengths at Keeneland in his first start around two turns, and went on to a three-race win streak while going through his allowance conditions at Churchill and Gulfstream, before finishing a fast-closing third in the Hooper S. (G3) at Gulfstream in his 4-year-old and stakes debut. In all, the gray colt owns five wins from 10 starts, including three wins from four starts around two turns, and has current earnings of $613,450 for owner Matthew Schera.

Race Day hails from the young More Than Ready mare Rebalite, who has produced two stakes horses from her first two foals to race. Rebalite is a half-sister to the 1991 Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner and four-time Grade 1-winning filly, Lite Light.

Spendthrift will also be offering “Share The Upside” participants an opportunity to breed a second mare to Race Day for $3,500 stands and nurses in each of his first three years at stud. For breeders not interested in the “Share The Upside” program, Race Day will be offered for $7,000 on a standard stands and nurses contract. All fees are subject to change pending race results.

For more information about Race Day or Spendthrift’s “Share The Upside” Program, please contact Des, Mark, Brian, or David at 859-294-0030, or visit SpendthriftFarm.com.