Following an impressive second-time-out maiden win at Aqueduct on October 14th for Shug McGaughey trainee Signator, the Tapit two-year-old colt earned recognition from the Thoroughbred Daily News by being declared a “Rising Star,” identified by the publication as a “race winner in the first few starts of his or her career who will, in our estimation, go on to be a Graded Stakes winner.”
Covering one mile over the dirt with Eclipse award-winning jockey Javier Castellano aboard, the well-bred gray colt bobbled at the start and was bumped, conceding three to four lengths before coming under coaxing and going to the three path just off the pace down the backstretch. He tucked in the two path in the far turn and was angled to the inside entering the stretch before taking the lead at the three-sixteenths. He drew clear under a light drive before gearing down to win by 4 1/4 lengths, completing the mile in 1:37.89. His final quarter mile time was a swift 23.71 seconds and he galloped out strong, suggesting that he may do even better at the longer distances required for the Kentucky Derby prep races as a three-year-old. (Video below.)
Purchased for $1.7 million at the April 2022 Ocala Breeders Sales, Phipps Stable is an owner in partnership with West Point Thoroughbreds, Woodford Racing, Gainesway Stable (Antony Beck), Ken Langone, Edward J. Hudson, Jr., and Lane’s End Racing.
Signator is out of Phipps-bred Seeking the Gold mare Pension who was sold to Gainesway at the Keeneland November 2008 Breeding Stock Sale. As noted in the Thoroughbred Daily News story, Signator shares the same sire and Phipps female family as the sensational Flightline, as well as other successful ancestors: “He is a full-brother to $900,000 FTSAUG buy and GSW Thoughtfully. He is also a half to GSW Annual Report (Harlan’s Holiday) and MSW Giant Payday (Giant’s Causeway). His second dam is G1SW Furlough (Easy Goer) and this is also the family of top-level scorers Dancing Spree, Fantastic Find and Finder’s Fee. Signator also shares the same female family as GSW Feathered (Indian Charlie), dam of unbeaten sensation Flightline (Tapit).”
While he still has a lot to prove to be a contender for the classics next year, Signator has the right pedigree and team behind him to have a strong sophomore campaign.
Phipps Stable Fan 