Black Tide scores upset in Ashley T. Cole

ELMONT, N.Y. – It wasn’t for lack of confidence that trainer David Cannizzo entered Black Tide in an $85,000 allowance race for Thursday at Belmont Park. It was merely a backup plan.

Even though Black Tide remains eligible for that multiconditioned allowance race, Cannizzo will likely scratch him from that spot after Black Tide recorded a front-running 28-1 upset in Sunday’s $125,000 Ashley T. Cole Handicap for New York-bred turf males.

As he typically does, Black Tide ran off to a large early advantage, only nobody could catch him as he beat Offering Plan, the 5-2 second choice, by 1 1/4 lengths. The result was the same as in last year’s $200,000 Mohawk Stakes here, which will now likely become Black Tide’s next start on Oct. 20.

As hard as Black Tide runs in each of his races, Cannizzo said the horse has to be super fit. Black Tide had a long winter break. That, combined with running in a couple of difficult open-company races and catching soft turf at Saratoga, contributed to an 0-for-4 record in 2018.

“He’s finally back to his old self,” Cannizzo said.

On Sunday, Black Tide had to run an opening quarter in 23.92 seconds to clear 70-1 shot Winston’s Chance around the first turn. Black Tide opened up a four-length lead over Hit It Once More, who was rushed into second by Eric Cancel, and maintained that margin through a half-mile in 47.81 seconds and six furlongs in 1:12.07.

In the stretch, it appeared that Black Tide was tiring, but it was just jockey Jose Lezcano putting him into the 5 path, which he felt was the better part of the course. Once straightened out, Black Tide persevered to the wire while a host of pursuers battled it out for the minor awards.

Offering Plan was second by a half-length over Gucci Factor, who got third by a nose over Call Provision, the 2-1 favorite who was a head in front of Red Knight. It was a nose farther back to three-time Cole winner Kharafa in sixth. Tapitation, Rapt, Winston’s Chance, Hit It Once More, and Leaveematthegate completed the order of finish.

Black Tide, a 6-year-old gelding by Hold Me Back, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.09 and returned $59.50 as the eighth choice in the 11-horse field. He improved his record to 8 wins from 40 starts and has now earned $535,220 for Ivery Sisters Racing.

“He’s got to be fitter than any horse ever in the world because he runs all out the whole race, so he’s finally tight,” Cannizzo said. “It’s the wrong time of the year to be tight, but it’s good going to the Mohawk. If we could squeeze in both races, it’d be a good year.”

Fifty Five takes Hettinger

Chad Brown on Sunday couldn’t duplicate his feat of winning five races like he had on Saturday’s card. Brown had to settle for two wins, including a two-length victory by Fifty Five in the $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York-bred turf fillies.

Brown also finished second in three other races, including two stakes.

As the 4-5 favorite, Fifty Five was expected to win the Hettinger. But she raced four to five wide on both turns and was five lengths behind a half-mile run in 49.96, yet she still finished very well to beat Munchkin Money handily. The pacesetting Lady Joan finished third by a head over Tizzelle.

“It was her best race to date,” Brown said. “This filly really had the worst of it, being three to four deep the whole race off a really slow pace. I know she’s the heavy favorite, but probably the worst trip you could have in a distance turf race is wide and in the back off a slow pace. For her to win like she did, I was really impressed with this horse.”

Fifty Five, a 4-year-old daughter of Get Stormy owned by Peter Brant, covered the 1 1/8 miles over “good” ground in 1:48.98 and returned $3.80.

She improved her record to 6 wins from 15 starts and increased her purse earnings to $545,788.

Brown said Fifty Five would make her next start in the $250,000 Ticonderoga, a race she won last year, here on Oct. 20 and then be shut down and pointed to a 5-year-old campaign.