Kizzy's Chaos stays way to victory

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Front-runner Kizzy's Chaos will face a daunting class hurdle if he runs July 11 in the Hollywood Gold Cup, and at the 1 1/4-mile distance of the Grade 1 race, he would only be getting warmed up.

Kizzy's Chaos led start to finish Sunday in the 1 5/8-mile, $100,000 Gallant Man Handicap on Sunday at Hollywood Park; the $14.40 upset establishes him as the top stayer in California.

However, trainer Vladimir Cerin and owner Robert Alexander will consider loftier goals than another anonymous main-track marathon. "We'd like to try him in the Gold Cup," Cerin said.

Might as well. The handicap division in Southern California is hardly brimming with quality, and if Kizzy's Chaos proves outclassed in the Gold Cup, he can always go back to the marathon ranks. "There are mile and one-half and mile and five-eighths races all over the country, but they're not huge purses," Cerin said, adding, "I've never had a horse that can stay like this."

Martin Garcia put Kizzy's Chaos on the lead Sunday, slowed down the pace, opened up into the lane and won by three lengths over Church Service. Medjool was a head back in third; the 1.90-1 favorite Stream Cat found the distance too far and weakened to fourth.

A 4-year-old by Evansville Slew, Kizzy's Chaos is half-brother to Grade 2 winner Willow O Wisp and listed stakes winner Will O Way, Kizzy's Chaos won for the fourth time in nine starts; he earned $60,000.