Pleasant Tap
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Tap was an American
thoroughbred
stallion
racehorse
. He was sired by 1981 Kentucky Derby
and Preakness Stakes
winner Pleasant Colony
, out of the mare, Never Knock. He was bred by the late Thomas Mellon Evans of Buckland Farm.
Although he did well at age two and three, coming in third to Unbridled
in the 1990 Kentucky Derby
under jockey Kent Desormeaux
, it wasn't until ages four and five that Pleasant Tap showed his outstanding ability.
Pleasant Tap injured a tendon sheath just before the Preakness Stakes
, sidelining him for part of the 1990 season and keeping him out of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes
. Returning to racing in 1991, he won the Goodwood Handicap
, the San Bernardino Handicap, and placed third in the Breeder's Cup Sprint.
In 1992, however, Pleasant Tap, came into his own. He posted such wins as the Grade I
Jockey Club Gold Cup
and the Suburban Handicap
. Ridden by Gary Stevens, he placed second to A. P. Indy in the Breeder's Cup Classic and, by the end of that year, he was awarded U.S. Outstanding Older Male Horse
for 1992.
in Versailles, Kentucky
for the fee of $12,500 live foal. He sired graded stakes race
winners Tap Dance City, David Junior
, Premium Tap, Tiago
and Pleasant Breeze.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
stallion
Stallion (horse)
A stallion is a male horse that has not been gelded .Stallions will follow the conformation and phenotype of their breed, but within that standard, the presence of hormones such as testosterone may give stallions a thicker, "cresty" neck, as well as a somewhat more muscular physique as compared to...
racehorse
Horse racing
Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...
. He was sired by 1981 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
and Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
winner Pleasant Colony
Pleasant Colony
Pleasant Colony was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the first two legs of the 1981 U.S. Triple Crown series....
, out of the mare, Never Knock. He was bred by the late Thomas Mellon Evans of Buckland Farm.
Although he did well at age two and three, coming in third to Unbridled
Unbridled
Unbridled was a Champion American Thoroughbred racehorse.The colt was sired by Fappiano , by Mr. Prospector, and his dam Gana Facil, by Le Fabuleux. Unbridled retired with a career record of 8 wins, 6 places and 6 shows in 24 starts, and $4,489,475 in career earnings...
in the 1990 Kentucky Derby
Kentucky Derby
The Kentucky Derby is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbred horses, held annually in Louisville, Kentucky, United States on the first Saturday in May, capping the two-week-long Kentucky Derby Festival. The race is one and a quarter mile at Churchill Downs. Colts and geldings carry...
under jockey Kent Desormeaux
Kent Desormeaux
Kent Jason Desormeaux is an American thoroughbred horse racing Hall of Fame jockey who holds the U.S. record for most races won in a single year, 1989.-Brief biography:...
, it wasn't until ages four and five that Pleasant Tap showed his outstanding ability.
Pleasant Tap injured a tendon sheath just before the Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
, sidelining him for part of the 1990 season and keeping him out of the Preakness and Belmont Stakes
Belmont Stakes
The Belmont Stakes is an American Grade I stakes Thoroughbred horse race held every June at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. It is a 1.5-mile horse race, open to three year old Thoroughbreds. Colts and geldings carry a weight of 126 pounds ; fillies carry 121 pounds...
. Returning to racing in 1991, he won the Goodwood Handicap
Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap
The Goodwood Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race run annually since 1982 during the Oak Tree Racing Association at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California....
, the San Bernardino Handicap, and placed third in the Breeder's Cup Sprint.
In 1992, however, Pleasant Tap, came into his own. He posted such wins as the Grade I
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Jockey Club Gold Cup
Jockey Club Gold Cup
The Jockey Club Gold Cup, established in 1919, is a prestigious thoroughbred flat race open to horses of either gender three-years-old and up. It is typically the main event of the fall meeting at Belmont Park, just as the Belmont Stakes is of the spring meeting and the Travers Stakes is of the...
and the Suburban Handicap
Suburban Handicap
The Suburban Handicap is an American Grade II Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Belmont Park in Elmont, New York. Open to horses age three and older, it is run at the classic one-and-one-quarter mile distance on dirt for a $400,000 purse....
. Ridden by Gary Stevens, he placed second to A. P. Indy in the Breeder's Cup Classic and, by the end of that year, he was awarded U.S. Outstanding Older Male Horse
Eclipse Award for Outstanding Older Male Horse
The title of American Champion Older Male Horse is an American Thoroughbred horse racing honor awarded annually to a stallion or gelding, four years old and up. Prior to 1971, this award was referred to as "Champion Handicap Male Horse", and was open to any horse, three years old and up...
for 1992.
Retirement
Pleasant Tap was retired in 1993 and stood at stud at Lane's End FarmLane's End Farm
Lane's End Farm is a thoroughbred race horse breeding farm in Versailles, Kentucky established in 1979. The original land was part of Bosque Bonita Farm which means beautiful woods and was originally owned by Abraham Buford, a Confederate Army General. The land was later bought by leading...
in Versailles, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
for the fee of $12,500 live foal. He sired graded stakes race
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
winners Tap Dance City, David Junior
David Junior
David Junior is a retired thoroughbred racehorse and active sire, who was bred in the United States but trained in the United Kingdom during his racing career which lasted from 2004 to 2006...
, Premium Tap, Tiago
Tiago (horse)
Tiago, , is an American Thoroughbred Stallion Racehorse. His sire is the 1992 U.S. Outstanding Older Male Horse, Pleasant Tap. His dam is the stakes winning mare Set Them Free, by Stop The Music, making him a half-brother to the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo...
and Pleasant Breeze.