Santa Anita: Tiz Flirtatious shows no signs of rust in Cal Cup Distaff

Benoit & Associates

Joel Rosario, in from New York, guides Tiz Flirtacious to victory in the first division of the California Cup Distaff.

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tiz Flirtatious returned from a layoff of nearly nine months to score an emphatic victory in the first division of the $100,000 California Cup Distaff at Santa Anita on Saturday.

Sent off favored, Tiz Flirtatious ($9.20) closed from last in the final three furlongs to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Best Present Ever.

The late rally did not surprise winning rider Joel Rosario, who rode Tiz Flirtatious to two wins in late 2011.

“She was very relaxed,” he said. “She was not rank. She covered a lot of ground.”

Rosario, who is based in New York, had five mounts on Saturday’s program Tiz Flirtatious ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:11.70. Best Present Ever, sixth early, finished three-quarters of a length in front of Unusual Hottie, who closed well on the rail in the field of 11 California-bred fillies and mares.

Tiz Flirtatious, 4, races for breeder Pamela Ziebarth. A filly by Tizbud, Tiz Flirtatious won the Cat’s Cradle Handicap for California-breds at Betfair Hollywood Park last December. She was third in the Grade 2 La Canada Stakes here in January before being turned out.

“When she’s right, she’s very special,” trainer Marty Jones said.

Tiz Flirtatious has won 4 of 5 starts and $194,500.