Tam Tam crossed the country to find her G1 triumph in the Del Mar Oaks

The $975,000 purchase by Rigney Racing, sired by Medaglia d’Oro, rewarded the gamble taken by trainer Phil Bauerwith a 1 1/4-length victory over Lookin At Diamond; jockey Junior Alvarado would soon complete a top-tier double aboard Knightsbridge in the Pacific Classic

DEL MAR, California (Special for Turf Diario).— There were fillies arriving from every corner of the United States alongside several European contenders, but Tam Tam emerged as the undisputed star of the Del Mar Oaks(G1T-1,800m, $302,500), one of Saturday's premier contests at the seaside track.

The Rigney Racing banner-bearer, trained by Phil Bauer, traveled from Kentucky with a clear objective: to secure that G1 victory that would permanently elevate her racing career and, with an eye toward the future, enhance her breeding value. The gamble paid off perfectly.

With Junior Alvarado back aboard, Tam Tam scored by 1 1/4 lengths over Lookin At Diamond (Lookin At Lucky), while Belmont Oaks (G1T) winner and race favorite Kensington Lane (Starspangledbanner) held third by a head over Green Carrera (Lope de Vega).

"We wanted to make sure we gave her every opportunity to win a G1. After the Tepin (Bernstein), we targeted this race, gave her enough time, she shipped well, and had a great week," Phil Bauer explained to the official Del Mar broadcast.

Tam Tam's trajectory throughout 2026 has been one of steady improvement. Following a few starts at age two, she opened her sophomore campaign with a victory in February at Gulfstream Park before adding the Sanibel Island Stakes (L). Returning to Churchill Downs, she finished second by a head in the Edgewood Stakes (G2T) and then took third in the Regret Stakes (G3T).

Her true breakthrough arrived on June 27, when she dominated the Tepin Stakes by 5 3/4 lengths. Rather than waiting for the lucrative features at Kentucky Downs, Phil Bauer and owner Richard Rigney opted to look toward California.

And they found precisely what they were after.

Kensington Lane took control early and set a comfortable pace, clicking off fractions of 24.14 and 48.29. Tam Tamraced unhurried through the opening stages and began to close the gap on the final turn, pulling within half a length of the leader.

Once in the stretch, Junior Alvarado went for the lead. Kensington Lane offered resistance for a few strides, but as soon as Tam Tam seized command, she quickly opened up a decisive advantage. From the rear, Lookin At Diamondmade a late run, though she never posed a threat to the leader. The timer stopped at 1:48.06 for the 1,800 meters over firm turf.

"This is what it’s all about. It’s huge for what it means moving forward for our program," an emotional Phil Bauersummarized after capturing one of the biggest wins of his career.

For Junior Alvarado, it marked the beginning of an unforgettable day, as he would celebrate another top-level triumph immediately afterward aboard Knightsbridge (Nyquist) in the Pacific Classic (G1).

Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings, Tam Tam is a daughter of Medaglia d’Oro out of Princess Julia (Distorted Humor), purchased by Rigney Racing for $975,000 at the 2024 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale.

Her female line boasts immense pedigree power: Princess Julia is a daughter of champion Folklore (Tiznow), from a family that has also produced stars such as Essential Quality (Tapit) and Contrail (Deep Impact).

Retired from stallion duties following the 2025 breeding season, Medaglia d’Oro continues to leave his stamp on the track. Now he adds Tam Tam to his list of G1 winners—a filly who crossed the country from Kentucky to California in search of glory, and returns home with mission accomplished.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cwa_BtfGjY