ARCADIA, Calif. —With a recent race under his belt, Harris Farms’ highly accomplished homebred Fashionably Fast is back to defend his title in Sunday’s $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita. Named for the California-bred two-time Breeders’ Cup Classic winner, the Tiznow has attracted a field of five older California-bred or sired horses and will be contested at one mile on the main track.
Nick Alexander’s ascendent Desmond Doss, fresh off an impressive gate to wire win versus statebred allowance horses at one mile on Feb. 5, rates a big look, as do versatile Margot’s Boy and the venerable Brandothebartender, who will be making his 41st start on Sunday.
The Tiznow is part of the lucrative Golden State Series, which is sponsored by the CTBA and is available to eligible California-bred or sired horses.
A 6-year-old gelding by Lucky Pulpit, Fashionably Fast capped a six-race winning streak in taking last year’s Tiznow on March 1. Subsequently second in the Grade II Triple Bend Stakes going seven furlongs June 7, Fashionably Fast threw in a clunker in the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar Aug. 1, running a non-threatening sixth at odds of 7-2.
Trained by Dean Pederson and owned in partnership with Per Antonsen and John Nicoletti, Fashionably Fast was then given several months off prior to resurfacing in the Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint on Jan. 16, a race in which he rallied to finish third, beaten 3 ¼ lengths. Out of Harris Farms’ Forestry mare Fall Fashion, Fashionably Fast appears primed for his best as he seeks his fifth stakes win with regular rider Tiago Pereira up. With earnings of $508,245, he’ll try to improve upon an overall mark of 19-7-4-3.
A runaway 4 ½ length one mile allowance winner Feb. 5, Desmond Doss, who is trained by Steve Miyadi and is named for the legendary World War II Medal of Honor winner, will be making his third start off a four-month freshening and will likely have theft on his mind with Abel Cedillo back aboard. A 5-year-old homebred full horse by Grazen out of Alexander’s Malek mare Malley Girl, Desmond Doss has three wins from nine starts and will be seeking his first stakes win.
A 4-year-old gelding by red-hot sire Clubhouse Ride, Margot’s Boy comes off a ninth place performance in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 16, but retains the services of Juan Hernandez while cutting back in distance and transitioning to the main track. Trained by Craig Lewis and owned by his breeder Alfred Pais, Margot’s has two thirds from as many tries at one mile on dirt and will likely employ a stalking style.
A close second in the Grade II Del Mar Derby on turf five starts back on Sept. 6, Margot’s Boy is out of the English-bred mare Margot Machance and will be seeking his first stakes win in what will be his 14th start. He comes off a big year in which he banked $186,456 from a 2020 mark of 11-3-13.
Trained by Craig Dollase, 8-year-old gelding Brandothebartender brings an overall mark of 40-6-6-14 to the Tiznow party and will be ridden for the third consecutive time by Umberto Rispoli. Trained by Craig Dollase, this son of top sprinter Tribal Rule notched his most recent win in a 1,000 yard allowance at Los Alamitos four starts back on Dec. 19, which was his only win on dirt but it is not considered a Thoroughbred win as it was accomplished in a mixed breed race. Third in his only one mile dirt start, “Brando,” who is owned by Flawless Racing, Brian Flanagan and Michael Jarvis, is the leading Tiznow money earner with $536,364.
THE $100,000 TIZNOW STAKES, Race 8 of 9, Approximate post time 4 p.m. PT
1. Desmond Doss—Abel Cedillo—120
2. Margot’s Boy—Juan Hernandez–122
3. Brandothebartender—Umberto Rispoli—122
4. Surfing Star—Edwin Maldonado–122
5. Fashionably Fast—Tiago Pereira—1246.
First post time for a nine-race card on Sunday is at 12:30 p.m.. For additional information, please visit santaanita.com.
Santa Anita Park Press Release
Photo: Fashionably Fast (Benoit)
