Flash: Tiznow wins a Classic
ELMONT, N.Y. - It was, above all, a classic.
In a stretch duel that will be long remembered, reigning American Horse of the Year Tiznow outdueled 2001 Arc de Triomphe winner Sakhee in an epic, head-bobbing duel to win Saturday's $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic by a slim nose before a crowd of 52,987 at Belmont Park.
The heart-stopping finish made Cee's Stable Tiznow ($15.80) the first horse ever to win back-to-back editions of the Classic, while denying Sakhee of an unprecedented sweep of the Arc and BC Classic in the same year.
"Can we win three in a row?" said owner Michael Cooper, who said Tiznow would race again in 2001 if comes out of the Classic fine.
As for back-to-back Horse of the Year titles, with victories in the Classic and Santa Anita Handicap, the Jay Robbins-trained Tiznow looms the main rival for probable 3-year-old champ Point Given in the battle for the coveted honor.
"Tiznow is awfully deserving," Robbins said about the Horse of the Year race.
Albert the Great, breaking from post nine, set the pace in the Classic through fractions of 23.27 and 47.04 seconds. He was still in front at the top of the stretch when Sakhee ranged up to join him from the outside. Tiznow, ridden by Chris McCarron, made his move between Sakhee and Albert the Great.
As Albert the Great dropped back to finish third, Sakhee and Tiznow engaged in a spectacular battle that was not decided until the final bob when Tiznow's nose hit the wire first.
Only a year earlier, Tiznow had turned aside a fast-closing European invader named Giant's Causeway to win the 2000 Classic.
Final time for the 1 1/4 miles was 2:00.62.
Macho Uno was fourth.
Aptitude, the 2-1 favorite, wound up eighth as trainer Bobby Frankel, who won the Sprint with 9-1 shot Squirtle Squirt, saddled three beaten favorites in the eight Breeders' Cup races.
The 10-6 exacta paid $140.50 and the triple of 10-6-9 was worth $1,341.
The superfecta of 10-6-9-7 paid $24,496.
The Classic capped a pick six payoff of $262,442. There were 11 winning tickets. The consolation for 5 of 6 winners returned
$1,475.
for the Breeders' Cup Classic chart.*
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