Taris rolls to comfortable win in Go for Wand

A solid third behind Wavell Avenue and La Verdad in last month's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (G1), Taris proved too classy for her six rivals Friday afternoon at Aqueduct in the $300,000 Go for Wand H. (G3).

Hot on the heels of Spelling Again through splits of :23.80, :47.49 and 1:11.46, Taris drifted wide turning for home but overtook that long-time leader in upper stretch and drew off to win by 2 1/2 lengths in a final time of 1:36.10 for one mile on a fast track.

The 9-10 favorite, Taris paid $3.80. She was ridden by Joel Rosario, who picked up the mount late in the day when Gary Stevens reportedly took ill.

Mei Ling, an 11-1 chance from the Todd Pletcher barn, finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Spelling Again for the place. Kiss to Remember, America, Willet, and Playful Love completed the order of finish.

"She got a perfect trip. She did it very well. It was a nice race with a solid field and we're glad she performed today," said trainer Simon Callaghan, who trains the four-year-old daughter of Flatter for the Coolmore connections of Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith.

"Gary [Stevens] was dehydrated and we ended up with Joel who's also a terrific rider and I was pleased with his performance. There's a race in February at Santa Anita where she's likely to enter next but nothing's set in stone."

This was the fourth career stakes win for Taris, who captured the $100,000 Wide Country at Laurel and the Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland when trained by Todd Beattie during her three-year-old campaign in 2014.

Sold for $2.35 million at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale following her Raven Run victory, Taris finished a half-length second in the La Brea (G1) at Santa Anita in her debut for Callaghan.

Off from December until August 16, Taris won fresh off the bench in the Rancho Bernardo H. (G3) at Del Mar by 2 3/4 lengths, and preceded this victory with thirds in the L.A. Woman (G3) and Breeders' Cup.

Earlier Friday, longshot Jan's Reserve took advantage of a hot pace and stormed home from last to take the $147,000 King's Swan for two-year-olds by 7 1/2 lengths.

Also ridden by Rosario for trainer Michael Dilger, Jan's Reserve finished six furlongs in a time of 1:10.43 and paid $44.40.

(NYRA/Adam Coglianese Photography)