Breeders' Cup champ has disappointing return

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Hallandale Beach, FL (Sports Network) - More than a year away from racing proved to be too much for former Breeders' Cup race winner Tapitsfly, as the four-year-old filly made her first start since November 2009 in Wednesday's eighth race at Gulfstream Park and finished last.

Tapitsfly won the second running of the $1 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf at Santa Anita more than 14 months ago. Frank Jones' filly had a bone chip removed from an ankle early last year, but was unable to compete due to other problems.

Trainer Dale Romans entered her in a $47,400 allowance race at Gulfstream on Wednesday. She dueled with 9-5 favorite Barracks Road through the first half of the one-mile turf event.

Neither could sustain the effort, with Tapitsfly, the 5-2 second choice, suffering the most. Ridden by Julien Leparoux, the filly finished last in the 11-horse field, 11 3/4-lengths behind race winner Trix in the City. The five- year-old mare paid $37 for the win and was followed by 20-1 longshot Romin Robin and 18-1 outsider Sweet Theresa in third. Barracks Road was seventh.

As a two-year-old, Tapitsfly won three of seven starts for $668,142. At Saratoga she won the Phil Johnson Stakes and was second in the Miss Grillo at Belmont Park. She won the Juvenile Fillies Turf as the 9-1 fifth selection.