By winning the Del Mar Oaks Presented by Keeneland Sales on August 22, Tam Tam established her dominance over California’s three-year-old female grass runners. She has now put forth a strong argument that she is the top three-year-old turf filly not just in Kentucky, but potentially across the entire nation.
This status was reinforced by a wire-to-wire triumph in the $732,188 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes Presented by Dixiana, where she finished ahead of Faithful Departed alongside eight other elite three-year-old grass fillies in the exclusive, invite-only event.
“You never imagine exceeding a Grade 1 win, yet this feels even bigger than Del Mar,” expressed her thrilled trainer, Phil Bauer, referencing the deep Kentucky roots shared by himself and owner Richard Rigney.
Although Bauer operates primarily out of Louisville’s Churchill Downs, Keeneland remains a familiar stop on his routine circuit, making Saturday’s score feel close to home. The victory represented his inaugural top-level success at the Lexington track, marking an important benchmark in his rising career as a trainer.
Tam Tam, guided by rider Junior Alvarado, appeared in complete control throughout the contest, grabbing the advantage early as John Velazquez brought the favorite, Luster, back into a tracking spot heading into the initial bend. Over a turf course labeled good during the nine-furlong event, Tam Tam established brisk splits of :23.55, :47.81, and 1:12.88. Despite the brisk tempo, she moved fluidly while preserving a lead of no less than a length and a half, giving Alvarado full confidence that she possessed ample energy reserved for the stretch drive.
“Given how effortlessly she was moving, I honestly felt we were setting a pace closer to :49,” he remarked.
As King’s Plate victor Luster faded back to ultimately place eighth, the solitary genuine threat came from Faithful Departed, who had settled in third position for the majority of the trip. Ridden by Jose Ortiz, the Grant Forster trainee—a daughter of Yoshida who had previously bested Tam Tam in Churchill Downs’ Regret Stakes back in May—advanced into second place, trailing by a length and a half at the mile mark. However, Tam Tam safely repelled the assault and pulled clear down the final sixteenth to seal a 2 1/2-length victory.
Stopping the clock at 1:49.91, Tam Tam paid $10.54 as the third wagering preference.
Braida, an entrant from France, closed late to secure third place, finishing one length adrift of Faithful Departed.
Rigney Racing owner Richard Rigney expressed gratitude toward bloodstock agent John Moynihan—a veteran consultant for Stonestreet Farm—acknowledging his contribution toward Tam Tam’s pedigree. The filly was bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings.
“Earlier today I mentioned to John, ‘I can’t thank you enough, as this wouldn’t have been possible without you,’ ” recalled Rigney. “And in typical fashion, John responded, ‘It’s a collective effort.’ ”
Sired by the veteran Darley stallion Medaglia d’Oro (who retired from breeding duties in 2025), Tam Tam represents the initial stakes winner out of three racing offspring produced by the Distorted Humor mare Princess Julia. Princess Julia herself is out of Folklore, the champion two-year-old filly of 2005.
Both Bauer and Rigney approached the contest with tremendous optimism.
“Throughout the week, we teased each other that we were strutting around the stable with our chests puffed out like roosters,” Bauer shared.
With a record now standing at five wins, two seconds, and two thirds across 10 career outings and accumulated purse earnings of $1,084,738, Tam Tam seems positioned to accomplish even more.
“I truly believe her development is far from over and she’ll continue to improve,” Bauer remarked.
