'Royalty' loves this racetrack

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Anziyan Royalty has never lost in his own backyard, which makes the Hollywood Park horse-for-course the one to beat Sunday in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes.

A solid field of 10 entered the Tiznow, a 7 1/2-furlong sprint that goes as race 7 on the California Gold Rush card. The Tiznow includes three logical contenders trained by Doug O'Neill - Grade 1-placed Lava Man, Grade 3 winner Areyoutalkintome, and statebred stakes winner Grand Appointment. Others in the race are stakes winners Yougottawanna and Red Warrior; front-runner Unfurl the Flag; and longshots Greg's Gold, El Don, and Ice Legend.

4-for-4 record at Hollywood includes the 7 1/2-furlong On Trust Handicap five months ago. Though he has not raced since then, Anziyan Royalty's works signal he is ready for a top effort.

"I couldn't be happier with the way he's coming into it," trainer Craig Dollase said. "He loves this track; it tends to be a little more conducive to horses with foot problems."

Anziyan Royalty is owned by breeder Nick Cafarchia, and the horse's affinity for Hollywood is evident in the triple-digit Beyer Figures he has earned in his last three starts at the track. A 105 Beyer generally is required to win an extended sprint stakes for Cal-breds at Hollywood. Anziyan Royalty earned a 109 last out. A 5-year-old sired by Anziyan, Anziyan Royalty has won six races and $236,640 from 14 starts.

Lava Man has a score to settle, having finished second to Anziyan Royalty last fall in the On Trust. A 4-year-old gelding claimed for $50,000 last summer, Lava Man has since earned $164,196 for O'Neill, mostly by finishing second in three stakes, including the Grade 1 Malibu. He enters the Tiznow off a troubled fifth going a mile on turf, but has earned triple-digit Beyer Figures in his last three sprints. Overall, Lava Man has won four races and $262,799. Patrick Valenzuela rides Lava Man on Sunday for the first time.

While Lava Man appears to be O'Neill's best chance, the trainer declined to compare him to stakes winners Areyoutalkin-tome or Grand Appointment.

"I've never worked them together; each of them is so impressive individually in the mornings," he said. "I truly believe each horse has a chance to win. They're all fast horses. Selfishly, I'd love a triple dead heat."

Areyoutalkintome is 7-for-17 lifetime but only 1-for-7 at Hollywood, where his best Beyer is 100.

The prospect of a lukewarm pace boosts the chances of Unfurl the Flag. A front-runner who was given a passive ride in his recent comeback, Unfurl the Flag switches to Corey Nakatani and might be the one to catch at a price.