Santa Anita: Majestic Harbor responds to Baze's urging in Tokyo City Cup
ARCADIA, Calif. - Majestic Harbor was several lengths in front in the stretch of Saturday’s $100,750 Tokyo City Cup when jockey Tyler Baze took a subtle look to his left, toward the massive infield television screen.
Baze had made a bold move aboard Majestic Harbor on the turn and wanted to see if any of the seven trailing horses were a danger.
They were not.
Majestic Harbor was five lengths clear with a furlong remaining and won by three lengths, his first stakes win in his 21st start.
“I saw that I was five or six lengths in front, and it was a good feeling,” Baze said. “I did something I thought could work, and it worked.”
Majestic Harbor ($13.60) ran 1 1/2 miles in 2:29.97 in the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup. The victory was the first graded stakes win for trainer Sean McCarthy, 51.
Baze, who rode three winners on Saturday, gave the 6-year-old Majestic Harbor a confident ride. Majestic Harbor was fourth on the clubhouse turn, racing off the rail. Baze had Majestic Harbor closer to the front on the backstretch and took the lead on the turn, quickly pulling clear.
“I let him find his own pace,” Baze said. “I worked him in blinkers twice and it got his mind on business. When he found his top stride, he was smooth. I let him glide around them.”
Ever Rider, the winner of the Group 2 General Balgrano Stakes in Argentina last June, closed from sixth to finish second, 1 3/4 lengths in front of Segway, who was part of the early pace.
American Blend finished fourth, followed by 2-1 favorite Blueskiesnrainbows , Toccetive, Niagara Falls, and Tiz Dynamic. Ever Rider was the 4-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon here last November, but was pulled up in the race. The Tokyo City was his best result in four starts in this country.
Majestic Harbor races for Ron Beegle’s Gallant Stable. By Rockport Harbor, Majestic Harbor has won 5 of 21 starts and earned $331,764. Majestic Harbor has raced in the Midwest with Paul McGee and in California with McCarthy since the start of his career in the fall of 2010. Prior to the Tokyo City, Majestic Harbor’s best result in a stakes was a second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes here in January.
After Majestic Harbor finished fourth in the Grade 2 San Antonio Stakes on Feb. 8, McCarthy considered a start in the $750,000 Santa Anita Handicap on March 8, but opted to wait for the Tokyo City.