Surfing Star fresh for stakes debut in Tiznow

ARCADIA, Calif. – Surfing Star will have his first start of 2019, and his stakes debut, in Sunday’s $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-bred milers at Santa Anita.

A four-month gap between starts has not affected the 4-year-old colt, according to Karen Headley, assistant trainer to her father, Bruce.

“He’s just the same,” Headley said. “I know how to bring a horse down and bring them up.”

Surfing Star, who is part of a field of five in the Tiznow Stakes, is the only runner in the field without stakes experience.

Edwards Going Left is a multiple stakes winner but is winless in seven starts since he took the California Cup Sprint in January 2018. Shades of Victory scored an 80-1 upset in the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers at Los Alamitos last September. King Abner and Unusually Green were fourth and fifth in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic for statebreds at 1 1/8 miles on Jan. 26.

KEY CONTENDERS

Surfing Star, by Surf Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 96-95-73

◗ Surfing Star won consecutive optional claimers at a mile here in October and November but has not run since Nov. 4. Karen Headley said the year-end goal is the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile here in November.

“He gets better with every race,” she said.

◗ Surfing Star was entered in an optional claimer on Feb. 3 but was withdrawn because of unsuitable track conditions.

“Do I wish I could have run? Of course,” Headley said. “I’ve got to do what’s best for the horse. What is one day in 365?”

◗ Surfing Star led throughout his two wins last fall and won a maiden special weight race going 6 1/2 furlongs from off the pace last February.

Edwards Going Left, by Midnight Lute
Last 3 Beyers: 94-89-85

◗ Edwards Going Left has started twice this year, finishing third as the 8-5 favorite in the California Cup Sprint and second in an optional claimer at seven furlongs on Feb. 8. In the optional claimer, Edwards Going Left finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Ax Man, a candidate for the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes next Saturday.

“That was a highly rated race he came out of the other day,” trainer John Sadler said.

◗ The Tiznow Stakes will be Edwards Going Left’s first start at a mile since a third by a neck behind Shades of Victory in the Johnston Stakes. Edwards Going Left, who races from off the pace, closed on the rail in that race to just miss as the 4-5 favorite.

“He got beat a neck, and he should have won,” Sadler said.

King Abner, by Hansen
Last 3 Beyers: 89-89-90

◗ King Abner, who is capable of setting the pace, won optional claimers at a mile on turf in November and December before finishing second by a nose in an allowance race on turf and fourth in the Unusual Heat Turf Classic at a distance that may have been beyond his best.

“The extra furlong may have caught up with him,” trainer Phil D’Amato said.