Rare double for sisters

ARCADIA, Calif. The full sisters Tiz Elemental and Tiz a Blend swept the two stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday, the first time that full siblings had won stakes on the same day at Santa Anita since 1994.

Tiz Elemental won the $150,000 Las Flores Handicap, a Grade 3 for female sprinters, while Tiz a Blend won her stakes debut in the $110,300 Valentine Dancer Handicap for statebred fillies and mares on turf.

Both were bred by owner Warren Williamson, are trained by Carla Gaines, and were ridden by Victor Espinoza. They are by Cee's Tizzy out of Blending Element.

Gaines's stable has been in remarkable form since March 31, winning with 8 of 9 starters.

Tiz Elemental won her third consecutive stakes, and four straight race, in the Las Flores Handicap.

Tiz Elemental ($5.20) rallied wide through the stretch to wear down pacesetter Overly Tempting. Tiz Elemental ran 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14.02, holding off a late threat from Glorified and Intangaroo.

Tiz a Blend, 5, closed from fifth in a field of nine to win the Valentine Dancer by 2 1/2 lengths over Lightmyfirebaby. Rockella, the 5-2 favorite, finished third.

Espinoza moved Tiz a Blend into contention on the second turn and she rallied wide to reach the front in the final furlong. Tiz a Blend ($13.40) ran a mile on turf in 1:33.83.

In March 1994, the full siblings Pirate's Revenge and Echo of Yesterday won stakes on the same day at Santa Anita.