Tiz Dashing gets to the wire first in the Canadian Turf, Coglianese Photo
Gulfstream Park Press
HALLANDALE BEACH, FL – Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz Dashing, second by a nose after encountering trouble in his prior start, got an ideal trip from Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano to kick off his 4-year-old season in style with a 3 ¾-length victory in Saturday’s $175,000 Canadian Turf (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
The 60th running of the Canadian Turf for older horses going 1 1/16 miles on the grass was the second of nine stakes, eight graded, worth $2.025 million in purses on a blockbuster program anchored by the $425,000 Coolmore Fountain of Youth (G2) for 3-year-olds on the road to the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1).
It was the third career win for Tiz Dashing ($24.80) and second in a graded-stakes following the Hill Prince (G3) last fall at Aqueduct. In his prior start, the Barclay Tagg trainee trailed all but one horse midway through Gulfstream’s 1 1/16-mile Tropical Park Derby Dec. 13 and had his rally come up just short.
“He showed up today,” Sackatoga’s Jack Knowlton said. “We know he’s been training really well. He had a bullet his last work up at Palm Meadows. Barclay and [assistant trainer] Robin [Smullen] have done just a fabulous job with him.
“He should have won the stake that he got beat here in December; he just had a horrible trip. Javier, he knows how to ride him. He won a stake with him up at Aqueduct and gave him a perfect trip today,” he added. “To see him win by open lengths with this field is just incredible.”
Multiple graded-stakes winning millionaire Wolfie’s Dynaghost was sent off the 1-2 favorite in his 8-year-old debut after missing a start in the Pegasus World Cup Turf (G1) following surgery to remove a cyst near his ribcage. As expected, he went straight to the lead and was in front through splits of 22.97 and 45.97 seconds with 22-1 longshot Stars and Strides in close pursuit.
Castellano kept Tiz Dashing in the clear three wide racing alongside Beach Gold in the second flight of horses, moving into contention after Wolfie’s Dynaghost lost the lead following six furlongs in 1:08.71. Castellano was able to find room and split horses once straightened for home, accelerating away from the group to win in 1:38.07 over a firm turf course.
“My goal today was to get a forward position. Break well from the gate, get good position on the first turn, move up a little and keep track of the pace,” Castellano said. “I really liked the way he did it today.”
Battle of Normandy emerged from a tight four-way photo for second, closely followed by Beach Gold in third, Fort Washington in fourth and Wolfie’s Dynaghost, who tired to be fifth in his first start since Dec. 20. Win for the Money, Westside Tide and Stars and Strides completed the order of finish.
Vasy Surges Late to Prevail in $200,000 Colonel Liam
JDT Racing LLC’s Vasy kicked off the stakes portion of Gulfstream Park’s 14-race program Saturday with a late-rallying victory in the $200,000 Colonel Liam, a mile turf event for 3-year-olds carded as Race 3.
The Brendan Walsh-trained Irish import by Space Blues, who graduated in his fourth career start in a 7 ½-furlong maiden special weight at Gulfstream in his previous start, was the beneficiary of a ground-saving trip under Flavien Prat.
Vasy ($19.40) rated behind pacesetter I C Light, who set fractions of 22.86 and 46.81 seconds for the first half-mile while pressed by Honey Dutch. I C Light showed the way into the stretch before being overtaken by Honey Dutch, who appeared to be on his way to victory under Irad Ortiz Jr. in mid-stretch. Taken off the rail, Vasy made a late nearing the wire to get up in time to prevail over Honey Dutch by a neck.
“He likes this track. He handles this track very well. We knew we weren’t without a chance today, even though it was a very strong field,” Walsh said. “He’s improving as he goes along. He’s a quick horse, and he acts well on this track.”
Vasy ran a mile over a firm turf course in 1:33.22.
“We had a good draw, and we wanted to take advantage of it,” Prat said of Vasy’s ground-saving journey. “He gave me a good run when I was able to clear.”
Vasy is likely to return to action at Gulfstream in the Cutler Bay on the undercard of the $1 million Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28, Walsh said.
Honey Dutch finished second, two lengths ahead of late-running Zeppelin.
