Mikes Tiznow repeats in Albany Stakes

Mikes Tiznow proved he is the horse for the course as he remained undefeated on the Golden Gate Fields turf course while winning his second straight Albany Stakes on Saturday.

Making his first start since winning the 2019 Albany, Mikes Tiznow shot out of the gate through a torrid 21.10 opening quarter and won the $61,250 five-furlong grass stakes by three-quarters of a length over Baja Sur. Favored Anyportinastorm, Baja Sur's stablemate, was third another 1 1/4 lengths back.

The winning time was 56.26 second. He won the race in 55.83 last year after turning in similar fractions.

Ricardo Gonzalez, who has ridden the 5-year-old Slew's Tiznow gelding in all six starts since his arrival at Golden Gate Fields, calls him a “pro” and a “rocket ship.”

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Once Mikes Tiznow broke sharply, Gonzalez knew exactly what to do.

“Don't fight him,” he said. “He has one way of going.”

Gonzalez made one key move in the race that cinched the victory – really letting his horse go at the three-eighths pole rather than trying to save something for the stretch.

“I just let him open up a little bit. He knows where the three-eighths pole is,” said Gonzalez.

The extra margin he bought around the turn blunted the effectiveness of the late charges of the Blaine Wright-trained duo of multiple stakes winners Baja Sur and Anyportinastorm.

Winning trainer Andy Mathis wasn't concerned about the long layoff for Mikes Tiznow.

Mikes Tiznow won his maiden at five furlongs on turf at Del Mar off a 13-month layoff.

“Five furlongs on the turf is a game changer,” he said. “It's not so much about condition. It's sharpness. When he broke so well, I knew he was sharp, and Ricky fits the horse so well, he knew to make that big move on the turn.”