From Emerald Downs Publicity
AUBURN, Wash. (July 23, 2023) – Using an incredible turn of foot, Slew’s Tiz Whiz, a Washington-bred son of California stallion Slew’s Tiznow, surged past Bridleuptothebar in deep stretch and scored a 1 ¼-length victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Governor’s Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.
With Jose Zunino riding at 120 lbs., Slew’s Tiz Whiz covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.09 and paid $5.60 as the public betting choice in a field of 10.
Tom Wenzel, accomplishing a sweep of Sunday’s stakes, is the winning trainer for Slew’s Crew Racing, composed of Roy and Tammy Brewer, Terry and Mary Lou Griffin, Jodee Snyder, along with Wenzel and wife Melissa.
With the victory, Slew’s Tiz Whiz joins Trooper Seven (1980-81) and Wasserman (2007-08) as two-time winners of the venerable Governor’s, and the 5-year-old appears poised to defend his Longacres Mile title in the Northwest’s most prestigious race on Sunday, August 13.
Bridleuptothebar, the 5 to 2 second choice ridden by Isaias Enriquez with co-high weight of 124 lbs., took a clear lead into the stretch, running a half-mile in :43.94, and managed to stave off all but Slew’s Tiz Whiz, who thundered home in mid-track for the victory.
“(Slew’s Tiz Whiz) did his thing again,” Wenzel said. “This is one of the hardest trying horses I’ve ever trained.”
A Washington-bred by Slew’s Tiznow out of Ros’s Girl, Slew’s Tiz Whiz scored his third Emerald Downs’ stakes win overall, improving to 7-3-2 from 17 starts with earnings of $22,857. The victory also turned the tables on last month’s Budweiser Stakes, in which Bridleuptothebar held off Slew’s Tiz Whis for a one-length win. The rubber match is in the Mile in three weeks.
Zestful, the 5 to 1 third choice ridden by Alexis Valdes at 124 lbs., also finished well to take third place, while Smiling Goodbye, Coastal Kid, A Man’s Man, You’re the Cause, Itsallabouttheride, Muncey, and Polacco rounded out the complete order of finish.
Nominations for the 88th running of the Longacres Mile on Sunday, August 6, with entries taken Wednesday, August 9.