TRAPPE SHOT, impressive 8 1/2-length winner of this year’s True North H.-G2, has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2012 at Claiborne Farm, according to farm representative Bernie Sams. The 4-year-old son of leading sire Tapit raced for Mill House and retires with six wins, two seconds, and earnings of $703,884.
Bred by Hobeau Farm, TRAPPE SHOT set an auction record in Maryland when he was purchased for $850,000 as a 2-year-old in training by Steve Young, agent. The colt broke his maiden at Gulfstream the following February by an impressive 10 1/4 lengths. He followed that race with consecutive allowance wins, winning by 12 3/4 lengths at Gulfstream and by 4 lengths at Belmont. He won the Long Branch S. at Monmouth in his first stakes attempt, then was runner-up to Champion Lookin At Lucky in the Haskell S.-G1 in his next start. His most impressive victory came this year in the True North-G2. In that performance, TRAPPE SHOT earned a 111 Beyer Figure and went the six furlongs in 1:08 4/5. He followed that with another outstanding race in which he earned a 112 Beyer and finished second by only a nose in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt H.-G1 at Saratoga.
“TRAPPE SHOT is a star of a horse to be around,” said trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. “His race in the Vanderbilt-G1 earned him the best Ragozin number (-1 1/2) of any horse I’ve ever been associated with. It was just bad luck he didn’t get a Grade 1 win. I believe he has everything it takes to make a very successful stallion.”
By Tapit, a son of leading sire and sire of sires Pulpit, TRAPPE SHOT is out of the Private Account mare Shopping. She has produced three other stakes winners, including Grade 1 winner Miss Shop.
TRAPPE SHOT will stand for $10,000 live foal stands and nurses, and will be available for inspection next week. Contact Bernie Sams at (859) 233-4252 for more information.