Title Contender looks tough in Sir Winston Churchill

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Title Contender figures to be a short price when he stretches out to a middle distance for the first time this year in the $50,000 Sir Winston Churchill at Hastings on Sunday. The 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses, with Title Contender clearly the one to beat.

Title Contender won the $50,000 George Royal going 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start this year, but he is coming off a loss as the odds-on favorite in the $50,000 John Longden, where he was victimized by a hot pace.

Breaking alertly with Rico Walcott aboard, Title Contender dueled with Success Rate through wicked interior fractions of 22.04 and 44.66 seconds. After putting away Success Rate, Title Contender opened up a clear lead in the stretch but was caught late by Success Rate’s stablemate, Taylors Deal. The final time of 1:15.57 for 6 1/2 furlongs was just a couple of ticks off the track record of 1:15.00.

Title Contender came from a stalking position to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby going 1 1/16 miles and the Grade 3, 1 1/8-mile British Columbia Derby last year, and he should get a similar type of trip in the Winston Churchill.

“He can be a tough horse to ride, and when he broke sharply, I knew he might be in trouble in the Longden,” said trainer Anita Bolton. “He came out of the race in great shape, though, and hopefully he’ll get a better trip Sunday.”

Walcott retains the mount.

Trainer John Snow is hoping for a hot pace to help set up Wilo Kat, who rallied to finish third in the Longden. He should get it with Success Rate and Modern in the field. Snow is excited about Wilo Kat stretching out for the first time this year. Last year, he beat multiple Grade 3 winner Commander going 1 1/8 miles in the S.W. Randall Plate.

“I was really happy with the way he ran in his first two sprints this year,” Snow said. “We knew he was up against it, but going long is a different story. We were just getting him ready for this, and he’s thriving right now.”

Trainer Troy Taylor is hoping for a better effort form Devil’s in Disguise, who didn’t fire in either the George Royal or the Longden. He could be dangerous while moving to a distance at which he has compiled an impressive record of four wins and a second from five starts.

He’s part of an uncoupled entry with Success Rate.

“I was kind of disappointed with the way he ran in his first two races, but obviously he is a much better horse going long,” Taylor said. “He’s doing well, but I’m not making any predictions.”

Taylors Deal eyes Longacres Mile

Missing from the Sir Winston Churchill is another Taylor-trained horse, Taylors Deal, who was so impressive in beating Title Contender in the Longden.

Taylors Deal is fragile, but when he runs, he is a handful, winning 6 of his 10 starts. He had been off for almost a year when he won the $50,000 Express in 2013, and his win in the Longden was his first start since then. Taylor is hoping to have the 5-year-old Taylors Deal on top of his game for the Grade 3 Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs on Aug. 24. The trainer won the race with Taylor Said in 2012.

“His ankles are pretty soft, so we’re just going to take our time with him,” Taylor said. “Hopefully, he’ll make it back for the Lieutenant Governors [July 1] and then to the Mile.”

◗ For trivia buffs: Tommydanzigger, who looks like the one to beat in the fourth race, was the last horse to cross the finish line in the last race held at Hollywood Park.