Edwards Going Left holds off King Abner in Tiznow

ARCADIA, Calif. - Edwards Going Left can be a stubborn gelding at times.

This was a positive trait for Edwards Going Left in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita. In the stretch of the one-mile race, Edwards Going Left prevailed after a duel with King Abner.

Edwards Going Left seized the lead at the start and held that advantage until challenged by King Abner in the stretch. King Abner took a brief lead and looked like a winner until Edwards Going Left fought back on the inside to win the race for California-breds by a half-length.

A 5-year-old gelding, Edwards Going Left paid $4.40 and was timed in 1:35.81. He earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

The win gave trainer John Sadler a reason to praise jockey Joel Rosario.

“That’s the strongest finisher in the country, to put it in perspective,” Sadler said. “I don’t see Rosario lose too many photos.”

Rosario won his third consecutive race on Edwards Going Left, who set early fractions of 23.11 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 46.20 for a half-mile. Edwards Going Left led by as much as a length over King Abner through the first half of the race.

Rosario said Edwards Going Left seized the lead on the inside on the first turn.

“He wanted to go up there,” Rosario said. “He looked like he was happy with that.”

King Abner, the 5-2 third choice, was within a head of Edwards Going Left with a quarter-mile remaining and led from early stretch to the final sixteenth. Rosario said Edwards Going Left lost the lead “for a little bit” before retaking the lead.

King Abner finished 8 1/2 lengths in front of Surfing Star, who was followed by Unusually Green and Shades of Victory in the small field.

Edwards Going Left races for Pete and Kosta Hronis. By Midnight Lute, Edwards Going Left has won three stakes, including the 2017 Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at Del Mar in 2017 and the California Cup Sprint in January 2018.

Last March, Edwards Going Left was third behind City of Light in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes. City of Light later won the 2018 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and the $9 million Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in January.

“He’s been in tough races with top horses,” Sadler said.

Edwards Going Left has won 8 of 19 starts and earned $588,810. Edwards Going Left was claimed for $50,000 in February 2017 and has since earned $588,465.