Tapit Trice overcame a slow start and a little trouble on the final turn, surging late to overtake Skippylongstocking to register a well-deserved three-quarter-length victory over the 4-5 favorite in Saturday’s Grade 2, $400,000 Woodward decided over a muddy track at Aqueduct. The Woodward was just the third start this season for the 4-year-old Tapit Trice, who won the Grade 1 Blue Grass and finished third in both the Belmont Stakes and Travers at 3 for trainer Todd Pletcher. A son of Tapit owned in partnership by Whisper Hill Farm and his breeder, Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Tapit Trice was an impressive winner of his 2024 debut, the Grade 3 Monmouth Cup, but was coming off a bit of a disappointing fourth-place finish after a seemingly perfect trip earlier this month at Saratoga in the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup. With Dylan Davis aboard for the first time, Tapit Trice got off to a tardy start in the Woodward when stumbling briefly after the break. Tapit Trice settled at the rear of the compact, four-horse field in the run down the backstretch as longshot Masqueparade, somewhat surprisingly, set the early pace while prompted by Skippylongstocking from the outset. :: Bet the races with a $200 First Deposit Match + FREE All Access PPs! Join DRF Bets. Tapit Trice commenced his bid while saving ground after five furlongs, took up briefly when running up on the tiring Masqueparade near the five-sixteenths pole, and eased out a bit to continue his bid upon settling into the stretch before wearing down the tiring Skippylongstocking nearing the wire. Skippylongstocking, easy winner of the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic in his previous start, was first to show in front before being content to relinquish the lead to Masqueparade exiting the clubhouse turn. Skippylongstocking readily overtook that rival when roused on the second bend and settled into the stretch with a seemingly comfortable advantage, but he shortened stride through the final sixteenth and could not last. It was another 13 1/4 lengths further back to Crupi, with Masqueparade a tiring fourth and last. Tapit Trice completed the 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.09 over a track downgraded from good to muddy following the previous race. He paid $6.80 and was assigned a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. “It was a big run from him [Tapit Trice] today,” said Pletcher who was not in attendance for the race. “I was hoping there would be an honest pace. I was a little bit concerned about that, looking at the race on paper. It seemed like it took him about 100 yards to get his legs under him, but then he got into a comfortable rhythm and really closed resolutely to get it done.” Pletcher left open the possibility the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 2 at Del Mar could be next for Tapit Trice. “We've always felt he was a Classic-type horse, so I’ll talk to the Whisper Hill team about it,” Pletcher said. “We were certainly going into this hoping to run a race that would earn his way in. It certainly looked like he did that today.” As for Crupi, Pletcher said, “It didn't seem like he had that same kick that he’s been having. It certainly seemed like he was spinning his wheels down the lane a little bit. It’s unfortunate that he caught a surface he didn’t appear to care for today.” :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.