Solemn Tribute, Tammy the Torpedo win Tropical stakes at Gulfstream

Lael Stables’ Solemn Tribute sprinted to the early lead in Saturday’s $79,500 Tropical Park Derby at Gulfstream Park and courageously battled back after being headed in upper stretch, posting a head decision in the 1 1/16-mile turf affair for 3-year-olds. Julien Leparoux was up on the Brian Lynch-trained gelding.

In the filly counterpart, the $80,250 Tropical Park Oaks, Tammy the Tornado proved to be a game winner, rallying to a neck score in a tight four-horse finish. Joel Rosario had the mount for Chad Brown.

Solemn Tribute, who was exiting a runner-up in his stakes debut, the October 31 Showing Up at Gulfstream Park West, left the starting gate as the 5-1 fourth choice among 11 rivals. He established opening splits of :22.94, :46.89 and 1:10.61 on a short lead before coming under serious pressure leaving the far turn.

Watchyourownbobbler advanced to challenge after tracking the pacesetter in second from the start, and A Lot and Team Colors rallied boldly into the frame as well in the contentious stretch drive. Solemn Tribute found more along the inside after being passed, surging late to get up in the final strides.

A dark bay son of Medaglia d’Oro, Solemn Tribute stopped the teletimer in 1:39.87 over the firm turf. Team Colors wound up a neck better than A Lot and Watchyourownbobbler, who dead-heated for third. Next under the wire came Conquest Tycoon, 7-2 favorite Tweet Kitten, Enjoy the Show, War Story, Eh Cumpari, Element and Big Family. Bucchero was scratched.

Bred in Ontario by Anderson Farms Ontario Inc., Solemn Tribute sold for $385,000 at the 2013 Keeneland September sale and has now earned $132,813 from a 9-3-2-1 record.

Tammy the Torpedo earned her first stakes victory for owners Long Lake Stable and Beacon Hill Thoroughbreds. Third in last year’s Miss Grillo (G3) and seventh in the Breeeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1), the More Than Ready filly made a belated 3-year-old debut, crushing entry-level allowance foes at Belmont Park in mid-October before finishing sixth in the November 14 Mrs. Revere (G2) at Churchill Downs in her previous start.

The dark bay rated in midpack as the front-running Celestine contested marginal opening splits of :23.05 and :48.22. Tammy the Torpedo launched her bid on the far turn, striking the front after 6-furlongs in 1:13.35, but Celestine wasn’t through and retook a slim lead in midstretch. Light in Paris and Iromea also came charging to make it an exciting finish, but Tammy the Torpedo was able to prevail as the 3-1 second choice.

Celestine saved the place by a neck, with Light in Paris in turn a neck better than Iromea in fourth. Promotional, Westminister Road, Red Sashay, Susie Bee, Darling Sky, Cardinal Cove, Unbridled Sonya and 8-5 favorite Osaila completed the order of finish. Angel Vision and Sokie were withdrawn.

After slow early fractions, the final time was a pokey 1:43.33.

Bred in Kentucky by William B. Harrigan, Tammy the Tornado was purchased for $225,000 at the 2014 OBS April 2-year-old sale. She’s now bankrolled $164,500 from a 6-3-0-1 career line.

Top photo of Solemn Tribute (blue hat) courtesy of Lauren King/Adam Coglianese Photography

Second photo of Tammy the Torpedo courtesy of Leslie Martin/Adam Coglianese Photography