With the North American spring racing classics less than two months away, a pair of Triple Crown-nominated colts by Gainesway stallion Tapit are emerging as big players on the 3-year-old scene.

The latest is Trappe Shot, who was absolutely brilliant in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park on March 21. The big chestnut simply overpowered the field, drawing off to win the 6 1/2-furlong race by 12 ¾ lengths. The final time of the race was an excellent 1:16.30. This was the second dominating performance by Trappe Shotte at the meet; he cruised home in a maiden special weight race last month, winning by 10 1/4 lengths while stopping the timer in the six-furlong race in a very brisk 1:09 2/5 seconds.

Even before he raced, Trappe Shot was highly regarded. At the 2009 Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old spring sale, he was the sales topper when he brought $850,000.

Trappe Shot is out of Shopping, making him a half-brother to the Grade 1 winner and millionaire Miss Shop; the stakes winners Bought in Dixie and Shop Again; and graded stakes-placed Bulling. Trappe Shot has earned $44,850 for owner Mill House.

In addition to Trappe Shot, Tapit's son Tempted to Tapit, who put up a Beyer figure of 100 in his January maiden race, and subsequently came back to run second in the Feb. 20 Risen Star (G3) also figures prominently on the Kentucky Derby Trail. Tempted to Tapit is being pointed to the $800,000 Sunland Derby (G3), to be run on Mar. 28 at Sunland Park, where he should be one of the favorites in the rich Kentucky Derby prep.

A gray or roan like his sire, the Gainesway-owned Tempted to Tapit has been worse than second only once in five starts, earning $103,340.

Last year, Testa Matta was the first colt to win a Derby for his sire Tapit. Testa Matta took the 2009 Japanese Derby (G1), one of two stakes he won on the year. He is twice graded stakes placed in 2010 with earnings of $559,343, making him Tapit's leading earner for this year.