Blinkers help Si Sage score at 42-1 in Last Tycoon
ARCADIA, Calif. - Si Sage raced with blinkers for the first time in Saturday’s $100,750 Last Tycoon Stakes at Santa Anita. The added equipment led to the first stakes win for Si Sage and the first stakes win for veteran trainer Darrell Vienna since August 2009.
Si Sage ($87.60) was the longest shot in a field of eight and raced near the pace throughout. Ridden by Elvis Trujillo, Si Sage stalked pacesetter Joes Blazing Aaron for the first mile, took the lead in early stretch, and was not threatened late, pulling away to win by 3 1/4 lengths.
Si Sage ran 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:02.08.
The Grade 3 Last Tycoon Stakes was Si Sage’s first win since an allowance race on the synthetic track at Chantilly, France, in March 2013. The Last Tycoon Stakes was Si Sage’s 12th start in the United States. He was third in the Grade 2 Sir Beaufort Stakes in December 2013, and second in the Grade 2 San Marcos Stakes in February 2014.
The 5-year-old French-bred Si Sage joined Vienna’s stable in the summer of 2013.
“He proved he can win a race,” Vienna said. “He’s been breezing in blinkers and we were hoping they would make a difference.”
Si Sage outran Ganesh, a Group 1 stakes winner in Argentina last September, who closed from fourth in the stretch to finish second, a nose in front of Abbey Vale, the 7-2 second choice. Power Foot was fourth, followed by Quick Casablanca, Play Hard to Get, Joes Blazing Aaron, and Big John B, the 8-5 favorite.
Big John B was last throughout in his first start since a ninth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf here last November. He was never in contention and was not aggressively ridden in the final furlong by jockey Mike Smith when beaten.
Si Sage had raced as a stalker in most of his recent races. The new tactic of racing closer to the pace seemed to fit the horse.
“I thought he was running easy,” Vienna said. “After he settled on the turn, I felt good.”
Si Sage, who is by Johannesburg stallion Sageburg, has won 4 of 23 starts and earned $255,450. He was sixth in the Thunder Road Stakes at a mile on turf on April 4, his only other stakes appearance this year.
For Vienna, the Last Tycoon was his first stakes win since Skyrush won the Brubaker Stakes at Del Mar in August 2009. Si Sage gave Vienna his first win of the year with his 10th starter.
Si Sage races for Red Baron’s Barn, Rancho Temescal, and Vayaconsuerte, LLC.