Bizerk has no problem winning A.J. Foyt Stakes

Bizerk spent a good part of his 5-year-old season last year racing in Indiana-bred claimers, but a move to turf routes this year moved Bizerk up to a totally different performance level.

Bizerk, racing two turns around turf for the first time in his career early this summer, won two allowance races, just missed in a $50,000 restricted stakes, and on Tuesday at rainy Indiana Grand captured the $107,950 A.J. Foyt Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths.

Bizerk was bred and is owned and trained by Marvin Johnson. Jockey Jose Castanon, who had a four-win day, completed a stakes daily double in the Foyt after riding Marina’s Legay to victory in the Florence Henderson one race earlier.

Bizerk is by Drinkwiththedevil, a Smart Strike stallion, and out of More than Music, by More than Ready. Johnson had tried him in a couple turf sprints to no great affect, but Bizerk took an immediate shine to grass-route racing. He has raced effectively on the lead this summer, but over a yielding course Tuesday, Castanon wrangled him back to fourth behind a solid 47.43-second half-mile split for the 1 1/16-mile race over yielding turf. Bizerk ran up to the front around the far turn and never was threatened as longshot Rebel Bull slogged along for second, beating tepid favorite Retrospection for the place by 2 ¾ lengths. Bizerk paid $8.60 to win and was timed in 1:43.88 in the Foyt, which is restricted to Indiana-breds.

Marina’s Legacy broke from post 11 but crossed over to take command of the $106,300 Florence Henderson for Indiana-bred fillies and mares before the first turn. She and Castanon set splits of 23.74 and 48.75 and were long gone at the top of the stretch. Marina’s Legacy, winning the Henderson for the second year in a row, pulled away to win by 3 ¾ lengths, stopping the timer in 1:45.05 for the 1 1/16 miles on yielding turf and paying $6.60 as the favorite. Miss Artie got up for second by a neck over Express Run.

Marina’s Legacy, who seems equally adept on dirt and turf, won her third race in a row and sixth overall from 15 starts. She’s trained by Aaron West for her breeder, the Bone Doctors Stable, an Evansville, Ind.-based partnership of five doctors. Marina’s Legacy is by Divine Park out of Marina, by Theatrical.