Tapizar easily wins San Fernando at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Tapizar, a Kentucky Derby contender last year before a bone chip knocked him out of the Triple Crown chase, had a rousing start to his 4-year-old campaign with a runaway win in the $150,000 San Fernando Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani for trainer Steve Asmussen, the heavily favored Tapizar took the lead early and pulled away in the homestretch to beat long-shot Balladry by 3 1/2 lengths, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:41.94.

Tapizar chipped a bone in his knee as the favorite and fifth place finisher in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita last Feb. 12.

"I'm glad he's back at a venue that shows who he is,'' Asmussen said. "Hopefully, we won't get off track with him this year.''

Asmussen said he plans to run the colt in the Santa Anita's Strub series of stakes for 4-year-olds, possibly pointing toward the Santa Anita Handicap in March.

The winner paid $4.20, $3.60 and $2.60. Balladry returned $9.60 and $3.80, and Prayer for Relief paid $2.40.

Owned and bred by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Tapizar has won four times in nine career starts. He earned $90,000 to increase his career total to $263,032.