Heywoods Beach holds off Win the Day in Tokyo City Cup

ARCADIA, Calif. - Heywoods Beach, stalking the pace a mile into the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita on Sunday, was a patient horse at the right time for jockey Ramon Vazquez.

With less than a half-mile remaining, Vazquez had Heywoods Beach behind the leaders and racing comfortably when he moved the 5-year-old horse to the rail and closer to contention in the $101,000 race at 1 1/2 miles on dirt. Even though there was more than a quarter-mile remaining, Vazquez had made the winning move.

Heywoods Beach took the lead on the turn and held off a late threat from Win the Day, who rallied four-wide on the turn and finished second by a neck.

“I had a lot of horse,” Vazquez said. “I kept him relaxed.”

Racing on the rail through the final three furlongs played a key role in the result.

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“I wanted to save some ground,” Vazquez said. “He helped me. He’s a good horse.”

Heywoods Beach ($9) was timed in 2:31.98 for his second stakes win of the year in a marathon dirt race. Owned by Hronis Racing and trained by John Sadler, Heywoods Beach won the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Del Mar in July.

On the strength of that win, Heywoods Beach was the second choice in a field of seven in the Tokyo City. Storm the Court, the champion 2-year-old male of 2019, set a fair pace for the distance of 24.37 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 48.68 for a half-mile, leading narrowly over 9-10 favorite Tizamagician.

Tizmagician was in contention while racing outside of Storm the Court with three furlongs remaining, but could not hold off Heywoods Beach approaching the stretch.

Tizamagician, who won the 2021 Tokyo City Cup, held third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Tizamagician was second to Heywoods Beach in the Cougar II Stakes.

Extra Hope finished fourth, followed by Storm the Court, Avenue and Governor’s Party.

Heywoods Beach, by Speightstown, has won 5 of 20 starts and earned $349,751.

The Tokyo City Cup is likely to lead to a trip to Kentucky for Heywoods Beach and a start in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles at Keeneland on Nov. 4. The $350,000 race is part of the undercard of races on the first day of the Breeders’ Cup races.

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