ARCADIA, Calif. — Fresh off yet another highly rated stakes victory going six furlongs, Alfred Pais’ lighting quick homebred Brickyard Ride figures to go to the front and not look back as he stretches out to a flat mile and heads a field of five California-bred or sired sophomores in Monday’s $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita.
Sponsored by the CTBA, the Tiznow is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired runners.
In need of his last start, the Brian Koriner-trained Touchdown Brown will try a distance of ground for the third time in his career and rates a big chance, as does the Carla Gaines-conditioned Wilder Than Most, a proven router who seeks his third win in a row.
Trained by Craig Lewis, Brickyard Ride, a 5-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride out of the Southern Image mare Brickyard Helen, is far and away the most accomplished horse in the field with four stakes wins, including last year’s Grade II San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on dirt.
Although a defense of his San Carlos title on March 5 remains a viable option, it appears Brickyard Ride will indeed suit up on Monday. With all due respect to the recently sidelined Flightline, Brickyard Ride is perhaps the quickest horse on the grounds for a quarter or half mile and with yet another front-running victory in the Cal Cup Sprint at six furlongs on Jan. 15, his first start since Aug. 28, he proved he’s still plenty quick at age five while earning a lofty 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
With an overall mark of 19-9-1-2, good for earnings of $560,977, Brickyard Ride, a four-time stakes winner, will be trying two turns on dirt for the first time in his career and it’ll be up to regular rider Juan Hernandez to ration his tremendous speed as he stretches out for the first time in 25 months.
Idle since Oct. 23 and off at 34-1 in a seven furlong allowance versus open company, Touchdown Brown had the look of a horse very much in need of a race here on Feb. 5, as he rallied impressively from far off the pace to finish fourth, beaten 2 ¾ lengths by his stablemate Disco Ball.
With Kyle Frey back aboard on Monday, Touchdown Brown, who earned an 86 Beyer on Feb. 5, ran a big second, beaten a half length in a mile and one sixteenth allowance two starts back on Oct. 23 and he figures to get serious pari-mutuel support. Owned by Edward Brown, J. Rusty, Alan Klein and Phil Lebherz, Touchdown Brown, a 4-year-old gelding by Cairo Prince, is 10-2-2-0 overall with earnings of $130,600.
A nose winner of a mile and one eighth turf allowance versus statebreds here on Feb. 4, Wilder Than Most, 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky, is only the horse in the field cutting back in distance and seeks his third straight victory, as he aired by 5 ¼ lengths over a wet fast main track two starts back on Dec. 27.
Bred in part by Mark Devereaux and owned by Devereaux and Scott Gross, Wilder than Most will be trying stakes competition for the first time. With Flavien Prat back aboard on Monday, look for Wilder Than Most to stalk the favorite and be in a position to overhaul him late. Out of the Unusual Heat mare Q T Shae, Wilder Than Most, is 8-3-2-0 with earnings of $158,740.
THE $100,000 TIZNOW WITH JOCKEYS & WEIGHTS IN POST POSITION ORDER
Race 7 of 8 Approximate post time 3:30 p.m. PT
Seattle Bold—Umberto Rispoli—120
Peaceful Transfer—Edwin Maldonado–120
Wilder Than Most—Flavien Prat—122
Brickyard Ride—Juan Hernandez—120
Touchdown Brown—Kyle Frey–120
First post time for an eight-race card on Presidents’ Day, Monday, is at 12:30 p.m. with admission gates opening at 10:30 a.m.
Santa Anita Press Office
Photo: Brickyard Ride/Benoit Photo
