Slew's Tiznow coming around

ARCADIA, Calif. - The disappointments in Slew's Tiznow's career have been many. He has made only 11 starts in more than 2 1/2 years of racing.

More successful days may finally be coming.

Friday at Santa Anita, Slew's Tiznow won the fourth race of his career, an allowance race over a mile. Ridden by Garrett Gomez, Slew's Tiznow tracked pacesetter Aggie Engineer to early stretch and took the lead in the final sixteenth before winning by a half-length. Slew's Tiznow ($15.60) ran a mile in 1:36.

The result satisfied trainer Jamie Lloyd on many levels. Slew's Tiznow joined his stable last fall, and Friday's race was the horse's second start for the barn. In the Grade 2 San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 7, Slew's Tiznow finished last of 11. He was less than three lengths behind the leaders on the turn when, Lloyd speculates, a rival horse stepped on Slew's Tiznow's foot, partially dislodging a shoe.

There was no such mishap in Friday's race, which had only five starters. The win had Lloyd thinking of the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy Handicap at Hollywood Park on May 8 for Slew's Tiznow.

"He had to need this, too," Lloyd said. "He'll come on from that."

Lloyd and Gomez are good friends off the racetrack. The two men and their wives attended the Eclipse Awards together back in January.

"That's the first race he's won for me," Lloyd said. "He picked the right time to win one."

Lloyd trains Slew's Tiznow for Joseph Lacombe Stables. A 5-year-old by Tiznow, Slew's Tiznow has won two stakes - the El Cajon Stakes at Del Mar and the War Chant Stakes at Hollywood Park, in the spring and summer of 2008. At the time, Slew's Tiznow was trained by Doug O'Neill. Slew's Tiznow has won 4 of 11 starts and $290,470.