Tiznow Starts to Make Name for Himself

Whether or not Tiznow goes on to be as successful as older brother Budroyale remains to be seen, but the California-bred 3-year-old by Cee’s Tizzy out of the mare Cee’s Song is off to a promising start.

Tiznow, making only his fourth start for owners and breeders Michael Cooper and Cecilia Straub Rubens, surprised odds-on favorite Dixie Union in winning the $134,250 Affirmed Handicap Saturday at Hollywood Park.

Tiznow, a 10-1 longshot, defeated Dixie Union by a neck, covering the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42 1/5 for the 1 1/16 miles.

This was the second consecutive win for Tiznow, who finished sixth and second in his first two races. He is trained by Jay Robbins, the original trainer of Budroyale--a multiple stakes winner who has earned more than $2.8 million.

“I’ve always had a lot of confidence in this horse,” said Robbins, who said the colt will come back in the $500,000 Swaps Stakes in three weeks. “He’s got a lot of ability. He’s one of the best movers I’ve ever seen. He covers a ton of ground and really likes competition.”

Dixie Union, the 4-5 favorite who spotted the winner 11 pounds (122-111), finished two lengths in front of pacesetter Millencolin, then came Grey Memo, Performing Magic, the 2-1 second choice, and Hemmingsway.

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Sea Of Ice, an 8-1 longshot, won an earlier stakes race at Hollywood Park--the $77,400 Valkyr Handicap--defeating 9-5 favorite Dusty Heather by a neck.

David Flores was aboard Sea Of Ice for trainer Marty Jones and owners Paul and Mari Ann Nicoletti, who also bred the 4-year-old filly. She completed the 5 1/2 furlongs on turf in 1:01 4/5.

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Astra, who has won six of her last seven races, is the 7-5 favorite against Happyanunoit in the $250,000 Beverly Hills Handicap today at Hollywood Park.

Astra, a 4-year-old daughter of Theatrical trained by Simon Bray for owners Allen and Madeleine Paulson, was a winner in her Grade I debut last month, beating highly regarded Happyanunoit and Caffe Latte in the Gamely Breeders’ Cup Handicap.

Happyanunoit, second in her first two starts of 2000 for trainer Bobby Frankel after ending last year with wins in the Vinery First Lady and Matriarch, is the 8-5 second choice and gets a positive shift in the weights.

Astra will carry 120 pounds, compared to 117 in the Gamely, while Happyanunoit will carry the same 121 she had June 4.

Others running in the 1 1/4 mile race are Polaire, Sweet Life and Country Garden. Spanish Fern, who is also trained by Frankel, was also entered, but is expected to be scratched today.

Polaire beat a lesser field in her first race in California on May 11, Sweet Life easily won her first start of the year against softer competition, and Country Garden was the beaten favorite in the Yerba Buena Handicap at Golden Gate Fields on May 21.

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Nearly two months after her impressive win in the Kentucky Oaks, Secret Status made it back-to-back Grade I victories with a 2 1/4-length decision over 18-1 shot Jostle in the $250,000 Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park.

Secret Status, ridden by Pat Day for owners Will Farish, James Elkins and W. Temple Webber Jr. and trainer Neil Howard, took control in the final furlong to win in 1:48 for the 1 1/8 miles.

It was the sixth win in 10 races for Secret Status, who returned $3.40 as the 7-10 favorite. Jostle, who has missed the board only twice in her 10-race career, finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Finder’s Fee, the 4-1 second choice who raced coupled with Cat Cay.

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Bet On Sunshine, an 8-year-old gelding, won a graded stakes for the first time and broke a track record in the $109,700 Aristides Handicap at Churchill Downs.

Bet On Sunshine, the 7-5 favorite, won his fourth in a row and 17th in 34 starts, defeating 31-1 longshot Proven Cure by nearly two lengths in 1:15 for the 6 1/2 furlongs. The previous track record of 1:15 2/5 was set by Wild Escapade on June 4, 1997 and matched by Runaway Venus about two months ago.

Said Bet on Sunshine’s jockey Francisco Torres: “I eased up on him the last 70 yards or he would have run even faster. He ran like a 3-year-old. It seems like age doesn’t matter to him.”

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General Challenge, the likely favorite for the $1 million Hollywood Gold Cup a week from today, had a seven-furlong workout of 1:22 2/5 Friday morning at Santa Anita.

Idle since finishing third as the heavy favorite in the San Bernardino Handicap April 9 at Santa Anita, General Challenge had surgery after the loss to correct a breathing disorder. His trainer, Bob Baffert, will be trying to win the Gold Cup for the second consecutive year. Real Quiet won for Baffert and owner Mike Pegram last year.

Others expected to run in the Grade I race are the Richard Mandella-trained duo of Big Ten and Out Of Mind, Early Pioneer--who will have a new rider in Victor Espinoza-- Pleasant Breeze, Chester House, Cat Thief and David.

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King Cugat, the top 3-year-old turf runner in the country, rolled to another easy victory in the $150,000 Arlington Classic at Arlington International. Robby Albarado was aboard the son of Kingmambo for owner Centennial Farms and trainer Bill Mott. King Cugat has won five of seven, all on the turf.

Also at Arlington, Mark Guidry became the 36th jockey to reach 4,000 victories by winning aboard Manitowish in the fifth race.