Hot favourite Tizway cruises home for a three length victory in the Grade 1 Whitney Handicap
It has been a long and hard search for this year’s handicap division leader, and it may have come in the shape of Tizway who goes to the top of the older male division after his stunning three length win in the Grade 1 $750,000 Whitney Handicap at Saratoga
racecourse on 6 August, 2011.
The Whitney has come as a back to back win for the Tiznow horse, back in May landing the Grade 1 Met Mile Handicap over at a distance of 1 mile under jockey Rajiv Maragh.
It was at Belmont Park on 30 May, 2011, where the pair defeated their rivals comfortably to bag Tizway’s first grade 1 win.
Trained by James Bond for owner William Clifton Jr., 6-year-old Tizway defeated an experienced lot in an eye-catching performance.
Under jockey Rajiv Maragh, Tizway broke out well from the gates and eventually took over from pace maker Friend or Foe.
On the fast dirt, Tizway cruised to the quarter pole and then went on to lead at the top of the stretch to win the race in 1 minute and 52.43 seconds over at a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Out of Bethany by Dayjur, Tizway was sent as a lukewarm favourite at odds 4 to 1 on a field of 11 older males.
The six-year-old bay horse was coming off a fantastic 2 ¾ length victory in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap over at a mile at Belmont Park.
The only thing he had to prove in the Whitney Handicap was whether he can compete with top level horses over at a distance of 1 1/8 miles.
Tizway answered his critics in the best way possible, by winning the Whitney Handicap and spring boarding himself to the top of the handicap division, with two back to back Grade 1 wins, and in the process making himself a millionaire.
After the race trainer James Bond was all praise for his horse as she said, Tizway is the best miler in the country and the best horse in the country.
Tizway seems to be enjoying his runs under jockey Rajiv Maragh, as the pair settled in third after the break.
Pace setter Friend or Foe shot himself right up in the lead with Morning Line lurking behind.
Around the far turn, Rail Trip got in to the picture by making a prominent move out at the top of the lane, but never looked threatening at any point.
On the other hand, Flat Out, out of nowhere, emerged as a serious threat in the upper stretch as he rallied hard to reach Tizway.
The winner repelled Flat Out’s surging run for the win, and cruised to victory for his second major win of the year. Flat Out finished second just before Giant Oak, who ran in late to outlast Friend or Foe by a nose.
$1,359,274 total career earnings for Tizway as he improved 7 wins out of 20 career starts with a single runner up finish and 5 third places.
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