Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Tappan Street

Apr 01, 2025 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Tappan Street wins the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. (Photo by Coglianese Photo)

WinStar Farm, CHC, Inc., and Cold Press Racing’s Tappan Street punched his ticket to Louisville after earning 100 points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following a 1 ¼-length triumph in the $1,020,000 Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park on March 29. The Brad Cox pupil endured 1 ⅛ miles on the fast main strip in 1:49.27 with regular pilot Luis Saez in the irons.

“Anytime you have a young horse like this and you give them eight weeks between starts, it’s always a concern. But this is a very smart horse. He’s intelligent,” Cox said. “I thought he would break very, very well today, the way he was training, and he did. That put him in the race and put him in a great position.”

Sovereignty, Neoequos, Madaket Road, and Disruptor came next and picked up qualifying points on a 50-25-15-10 basis, respectively.

Saez said, “As soon as we broke from the gate, I had a lot of confidence the whole way. I knew he was going to give me a good turn of foot at the top of the stretch. He always does.”

Pedigree Profie: Tappan Street 🌹 @J_Keelerman https://t.co/5k9jY22S4K

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) March 31, 2025

Tappan Street debuted on Dec. 28 at Gulfstream Park and charged home in the lane to graduate in a seven-furlong heat with maiden special weight foes. The lightly raced colt preceded his Florida Derby success with a runner-up finish in the Holy Bull S. (G3) on Feb. 1, and his career line now reads 3-2-1-0, $643,400.

The son of Into Mischief was bred in the Bluegrass State by Blue Heaven Farm and brought $1 million as a yearling at The Saratoga Sale at Fasig-Tipton in 2023. He is the initial stakes winner produced from the Grade-2 placed Distorted Humor mare Virginia Key, who is also responsible for the stakes-placed Medaglia d’Oro lass Distorted d’Oro. Virginia Key is a half-sister to 2021 Del Mar Debutante S. (G1) vixen Grace Adler, and is also the same female line as 2009 Whitney H. (G1) hero Bullsbay.

Tappan Street combines tactical speed with a fine closing kick, and the bay has room for improvement going forward with just a trio of lifetime runs to his credit. If he continues his rapid ascension, then the sophomore will make a lot of noise in Louisville on the First Saturday in May.