BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Claimed for $7,500 out of a 14 ½-length victory against maidens last out, Florida-bred Taut jumps into stakes company Saturday night in the $75,000 Toby Keith at Remington Park. Six 2-year-old fillies will race one mile with Taut set to break from post three for the new connections of trainer Stetson Rushton and owner Kevin E. Waggoner.
Third in her first start against $7,500 maiden claiming fillies going six furlongs at Remington on Sept. 6, Taut was slow to get underway from post one going the same distance in her second race at Remington on Nov. 29. She was three lengths off the lead in fifth in the first furlong but moved quickly after a :23.22 quarter mile to get a short lead with three-eighths to go. By the time she hit the top of the stretch, she was six lengths in front then continued to pull away, finishing in 1:13.19 on the fast track as the even-money favorite.
An earner of $7,678 in her two starts, Taut is by Collected out of Tension, by Tapit and was bred in Florida by Wind Hill Farm.
She will be ridden by Ernesto Valdez-Jiminez and is 15-1 on the morning line.
Trainer Ken McPeek ships in the 8-5 favorite Miss Call, who won for the first time in her second start against maiden, $75,000 optional claiming filles going a mile-and-a-sixteenth on the grass during the Belmont at Big A meet on Sept. 14. She then finished third in the $102,000 White Clay Creek Stakes at Delaware Park on Oct. 11 before going to Churchill Downs where she twice raced in first condition, $50,000 starter allowances for fillies. She was second going a mile on Oct. 31 and most recently third over a mile-and-a-sixteenth on Nov. 23.
Miss Call is by Silver State out of Lady Laura, by Quality Road and has earned $79,200 for owners M 5 Racing Stable, Steve Dervenis and Magdalena Racing.
Chris Elliot gets the riding assignment on Miss Call from post five.
Also entered are Alisal and jockey Ramon Vazquez, Samantha Code will have Weston Hamilton in the saddle, Erik Asmussen rides Not a Lady and Mojo Promise will have Stewart Elliot up.
Return to the December 19 issue of Wire to Wire
