From Saratoga to Del Mar, the Tapit 2-year-olds are white-hot this summer. For the third time in seven days, a first-time juvenile starter by the Gainesway stallion made a winning debut in a high-class maiden special weight at one of the nation's premier race meets. This time, it was $55,608 maiden special weight race over a mile on the Del Mar turf on Aug. 25.

The colt Ronin Dax became the ninth 2-year-old winner of 2010 for Tapit, second best among all Kentucky sires, and sixth among all sires in North America. Since August 8th, Tapit has sired six juvenile maiden special weight winners. He also is America's leading third crop sire of Graded stakes horses, third leader by earnings.

At Del Mar yesterday, Ronin Dax rolled home from last place in a field of seven to ultimately win by 1 1/4-lengths. He settled into a comfortable position down the backstretch, then went four wide under Patrick Valenzuela to pick off horses one by one on the turn. He hit the lead at the eighth pole to edge away late in a time of 1:36.36.

The gray or roan colt earned $31,200 for his owners Bruno DeJulio, Galen Ho'o, Molly Jo Rosen & Robert Troeger. Troeger is also the trainer. The group purchased Ronin Dax for $110,000 this past winter at the OBS February Select sale. He was bred in Kentucky by Griggs, Kidder & Robenalt, and originally sold by Gainesway at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July Sale.

Ronin Dax is one of six winners out of the Clever Trick mare Fastandclever. She is a half-sister to Montreal Red, winner of the Futurity (G1), Saratoga Special (G2) and Sanford (G3).