DEL MAR – Slew's Tiznow, a relative newcomer to the Doug O'Neill barn, found room on the rail on the second turn and moved smartly through it to a three-length win in yesterday's featured $108,700 El Cajon Stakes.
With leading rider Rafael Bejarano aboard to record his 41st win on the 39th day of the Del Mar meeting, Slew's Tiznow covered the mile on Polytrack in 1:35.62. Young Joe was second, two lengths ahead of Cherokee Artist. Leonides, the 2-1 favorite, finished last in the seven-horse field.
Slew's Tiznow, a 3-year-old, Kentucky-bred son of Tiznow-Hepatica, won for the second time in four career starts in his debut for O'Neill. Originally in the care of Patrick Biancone, the Joseph Lacombe-owned colt showed promise as the runner-up in the Breeders' Futurity on the Polytrack at Keeneland last October but hadn't raced since.
“This horse was cut out to be a good one and I think he will be,” O'Neill said.
A planned start in the CashCall Mile at Hollywood Park earlier this summer fell through when Slew's Tiznow became ill. After recovering in Florida, the colt was sent to O'Neill about three months ago.
“He's been training real well,” O'Neill said. “His (morning workouts) aren't that fast, but he gallops out strong after, so that works for him. I didn't expect this kind of performance today, but that just shows how good a horse he is.”
Fourth choice in the betting, Slew's Tiznow returned $13.00, $7.00 and $3.80.
Bejarano had the winner placed second as Young Joe clocked fractions of :23.35, :47.45 and 1:11.81 through three quarters. Young Joe clung to a narrow lead as Slew's Tiznow moved up turning into the stretch. Slew's Tiznow took the advantage with an eighth of a mile to go and finished resolutely.
“When the hole opened, there was no doubt I was going and I had the horse to go,” Bejarano said. “He's a nice one.”
Curlin in Woodward
At Saratoga today, reigning Horse of the Year
Curlin is the 3-5 opening-line favorite in a field of eight for the $500,000, Grade I, 1 1/8-mile Woodward Stakes.
Divine Park, the 3-1 second choice, is a winner of three straight stakes, the most recent being the Grade I Metropolitan Handicap on May 26 at Belmont Park.
Curlin started the year with three wins, including the $6 million Dubai World Cup, but finished second to Red Rocks in his most recent outing, and first assignment on turf, the Man O War Handicap on July 12 at Belmont Park. The loss caused a change in plans to go on to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomph this fall.
Curlin's connections, majority owner Jess Jackson and trainer Steve Asmussen, are now aiming to run the 4-year-old colt next in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park on Sept. 27. It's unlikely they will consider a title defense in the $5 million Breeders' Cup Classic at Santa Anita on Oct. 25 because the race is on a synthetic racing surface.
Curlin enters the Woodward with career earnings of $9,496,800, third behind Cigar ($9,999,815) and Skip Away ($9,616,360). A victory in the Woodward would move Curlin up to second at $9,796,800.
Hank Wesch: (619) 293-1853; hank.wesch@uniontrib.com
