ARCADIA, Calif. (May 23, 2015)–Favored Motown Men steadied momentarily a furlong from home while shifting outside pacesetter Spirit Rules en route to an authoritative three-quarter length win under Tyler Baze in Saturday’s $150,000 Tiznow Stakes, getting one mile in 1:35.77. Trained by Ted H. West, bred by Mark Gorman & Doug O’Neill and owned by Gulliver Racing, LLC, the 6-year-old gelding by Decarchy, who came off a close third place finish in the Grade III Precisionist Stakes May 2, got his first stakes win and his sixth career tally from 29 starts. (The Tiznow, run as Santa Anita’s ninth race, is part of the Golden State Series which is restricted to horses bred or sired in California).
“Going into the far turn, I had the rail and my horse was really running,” said Baze, who got his third stakes win of the day in the Tiznow. “When I grabbed him (approaching the furlong pole), I didn’t really know if he would get goin’ again. For a split second, I kind of had to jump (Spirit Rules’) heels and then he reached back and got them one more time…He’s an honest horse. He wants to win. It’s been an awesome day.”
Heavily favored at 4-5 in a field of 10 older horses, Motown Men paid $3.80, $3.00 and $2.60. Claimed three starts back on March 8 for $40,000, “Mo” has won two races for his new connections and his overall mark now stands at 29-6-6-5. With the winner’s share of $90,000, his earnings now stand at $384,459.
“I don’t think he’s ever come from off the pace on the inside like that,” said West. “I remember when we claimed him, somebody said, ‘He’s a good horse, but I think he’s a need-the-lead type.’ Not only was he not on the lead, he was down on the rail taking some dirt. I didn’t know how he’d respond, but I didn’t have to wait too long to see…We’ll probably give him some time. This is three races in six weeks.”
Ridden by Iggy Puglisi, Spirit Rules set fractions of 22.55, 45.59, 1:09.49 and 1:22.35 and was second best, finishing two lengths in front of Solid Wager for the place. Spirit Rules paid $10.80 and $8.80.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, Solid Wager, who was off at 23-1, rallied from last for third money and paid $6.00 to show.