Fashionably Fast must relax to get a mile in Tiznow Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – In the last seven months, Fashionably Fast has compiled a five-race winning streak that includes three stakes for California-breds at Del Mar, the Big Fresno Fair, and Santa Anita.

Fashionably Fast has won at distances ranging from six to seven furlongs, often disputing the pace or racing as a stalker. Sunday, Fashionably Fast will start in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Santa Anita, a new distance in a stakes for the 5-year-old gelding.

Trainer Dean Pederson expects Fashionably Fast to be near the front. Making sure Fashionably Fast is racing within himself during the first half-mile will be vital and jockey Tiago Pereira’s focus.

“We’ve done everything to get him to relax, but that was mornings. Afternoon is different,” Pederson said. “I don’t want to see a wrestling match for the first three-eighths.”

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Owned by Harris Farms, Per Antonsen, and John Nicoletti, Fashionably Fast won the California Cup Sprint at six furlongs by a neck on Jan. 18, disputing the pace throughout. Last fall, Fashionably Fast won the Harris Farm Stakes at six furlongs at Fresno, closing from third before taking the lead in the final furlong. He disputed the pace throughout the Cary Grant Stakes at seven furlongs in November, winning by a half-length.

“Whether he is on the lead or tracking, I want to see him relax,” Pederson said.

The Tiznow Stakes drew a field of five, including Oliver, who won the E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Los Alamitos in September and was second in the Grant and fourth in the Cal Cup Sprint.

The other runners are Tiger Dad, an easy winner of an open-company allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at six furlongs on Feb. 2; Posterize, who was claimed for $20,000 when second in an optional claimer for statebreds at six furlongs on Feb. 16; and Ernie Banks, who won an optional claimer at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 15 at Golden Gate Fields.

The Tiznow is the stakes debut for Ernie Banks in his 23rd start. Trained by Jonathan Wong, Ernie Banks was claimed for $8,000 at Golden Gate Fields last August and has since won 3 of 6 starts.

Tiger Dad and Posterize are quick and could be near the front along with Fashionably Fast. Tiger Dad has never started beyond 6 1/2 furlongs, but won his Feb. 2 race by 6 1/4 lengths.

“We think he’ll be fine going a mile,” trainer Carla Gaines said.

It is possible Fashionably Fast could inherit a favorable trip as a stalker. The key will be if Pereira can coax patience from Fashionably Fast in an attempt at a fourth consecutive stakes win.

“He’s been a shot in the arm for the barn,” Pederson said. “He had a few things he had to overcome and he’s lived up to what we thought he could be.

“We gave him time and gave him a chance to get over things. His last four or five races have been spaced to let him get his tank full.”

First post time for Sunday’s eight-race program is 1 p.m.