Tiztastic by a neck in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
By Tim Wilkin – Kentucky Downs
FRANKLIN, Ky.— It is obvious that Tiztastic likes Kentucky Downs.
The 2-year-old colt won for the second time in 10 days at the boutique meet as he captured the 13th running of the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. rode the Kentucky-bred son of Tiz the Law to a victory by a neck over West Beach.
Tiztastic, who won an allowance here on Aug. 29, went off at odds of 9-2 and gave Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen his second win on the afternoon. Asmussen has six wins at the meet and is tied with Joe Sharp for the training lead.
Tiztastic is owned by Ron Winchell’s Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith. This was Winchell’s second win on the Sunday card. He and partner Doug Branham won the second race with Black Iron. Asmussen also trained that one.
Winchell is the co-managing partner of Kentucky Downs.
“We bought him thinking we were going to bring him here,” Winchell said of Tiztastic. “Steve obviously likes to run here with the 2-year-olds. It just happened to work out. Partnering with Coolmore and that group and the stuff we’ve done together with the stallions (Epicenter and Gunite), winning at your own track with big purses, it all made sense.”
Tiztastic made his move after going four wide off the turn by the quarter pole and then battling with West Beach, trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Frankie Dettori. They took over from pace-setting I’m Otter Here, who set early fractions of 22.72 and 44.72 and 1:08.77.
The two horses battled to the wire on even terms before Tiztastic got his head down at the wire to prevail. The final time for the mile was 1:34.53 and Tiztastic paid $11.26.
He earned $558,300.
#10 Tiztastic at 9/2 rallies from midpack to take the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile under jockey @iradortiz for Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen.#TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/An7g1hYzMS
— TwinSpires Racing (@TwinSpires) September 8, 2024
“He was moving so smooth and so nice,” Ortiz, who got his fourth win on the card, said. “I felt like I had horse every step of the way and I just bided my time. When I went after (I’m Otter Here), he responded very well.”
This was the second straight year Asmussen has won the Juvenile Mile; he saddled Aspenite to victory in 2023.
“This horse pulled off the double,” Asmussen said. “Very proud of him to win today. Obviously, an excellent race. Irad gave him a great trip. Great ownership group with a very nice horse. I think this horse will be better going forward, I really do.”
West Beach is still searching for his first win after a game try in his third start.
“He’ll be a nicer horse next year,” Walsh said. “He’s a big horse. I think with racing, and a bit more time, he’s going to make a lovely 3-year-old. But a good effort. Can’t be disappointed.”
Tiztastic was a $335,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September Sale. He began his career on the dirt at Saratoga on July 27 and finished fifth. Asmussen put him on the grass at Kentucky Downs on Aug. 29 and he won the 6 ½ furlong race by 1 ¾ lengths with Jose Ortiz aboard.
Asmussen was not going to commit Tiztastic to anything right now.
“He ran twice in (10) days,” he said. “We’re going to get him back to Churchill and make sure we have the same horse we had when this thing started. He will get the next week off.”
West Neck finished 3 ¾ lengths in front of third-place finisher Ready for Peace. Coal Battle was fourth and was followed by The Brigade, Turnbuckle, I’m Otter Here, Reach for the Rose, Emmett, Kirin, Mika and Forged Steel.
The Count Is On and also-eligibles Homie and Lush Lips were scratched.
