"I think the general consensus that day was a severe case of nausea to be honest", said Aron Wellman of Eclipse Thoroughbreds a few months later.
When the race was switched to a sloppy dirt course after heavy rain, Tapwrit instead became the post time favorite.
[8][9] Tapwrit began his three-year-old campaign on February 11, 2017 in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.
He once again stalked the early pace but was out-kicked in the stretch by McCraken, who went on the win by 1+1⁄2 lengths with Tapwrit finishing in second.
[10][11] Tapwrit was next entered in the Tampa Bay Derby on March 11, a race Pletcher had won four of the past five years.
Tapwrit was made the heavy favorite and justified his backers' confidence with a 4+1⁄2 length win while setting a track record.
"He broke well and got me into a good position going down the backside, and I knew I was loaded going to the three-eighths pole", said jockey José Ortiz.
"[12] Tapwrit's next start was the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, where he once again faced off with McCraken, who had missed the Tampa Bay Derby with an injury.
[13] In the 2017 Kentucky Derby on May 6, Tapwrit was dismissed at odds of 27-1 despite analysis that suggested his pedigree was well suited to the distance.
With a quarter of a mile remaining, Tapwrit was still only in tenth place but started to close ground in the stretch, eventually finishing sixth.
The Belmont was considered wide open after the winners of the Derby and Preakness bypassed the race, followed by the late withdrawal of two other leading contenders due to injuries.
As the gap narrowed, Tapwrit started bearing out to the center of the track before Ortiz guided him back towards the rail.
"[20] Tapwrit was given a long layoff then returned in the Travers Stakes on August 26 at Saratoga, where he was installed as the morning line favorite in a highly competitive field.
He was made the second favorite in a field of six in an allowance optional claiming race at Belmont Park at a distance of 1+1⁄16 miles.
[31] Tapwrit will move to the Indiana Stallion Station in Anderson for the 2025 breeding season for an advertised fee of $2,500.