GAINESWAY sire Tapit (by Pulpit) set the single-season earnings record for a North American-based sire by the end of October this year when his daughter Untapable won the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Santa Anita.

Tapit entered the day needing less than $755,000 to break the record set by Smart Strike in 2007 of $14,358,570. Tapit picked up $180,000 with a runner-up finish by Tapiture in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and then Untapable added another $1.1 million with her victory in the Distaff.

Tapit’s earnings to date will surge past $16 million for the 2014 season, over $4 million ahead of his closest rival, Coolmore’s Giant’s Causeway ($12.5 million), securing his place as 2014 champion sire. Tapit stood the 2014 season at Gainesway in Lexington for $150,000 and will go up to $300,000 for 2015.

“He just continues to deliver the goods; he’s the king of stallions in North America,” said Gainesway director of sales Michael Hernon. Untapable is Tapit’s fifth Breeders’ Cup winner.

The Lane’s End-based Quality Road just pipped Winstar’s super saver for champion first season sire elect after Hootenanny’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf win.