Tivan surges to Golden Nugget victory

Trailing early behind a spirited pace duel, Tivan ($6.20) got a clear trip while racing wide in the lane, catching and then pulling away from favored pacesetter Tribal War Chant to win the $64,675 Golden Nugget Stakes at Golden Gate Fields on Saturday.

Now 2 for 2 in his career, Tivan seemed to bobble shortly after breaking and was fifth of six runners in the six-furlong stakes for 2-year-olds. Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer saw the start as “no problem” as jockey Frank Alvarado let the Indian Evening colt find his stride.

As Tribal War Chant and The White Shadow dueled up front through a quarter-mile in 22.35 seconds and a half in 45.45, Alvarado was content to sit patiently with the colt, who had come from off the pace to win his debut.

Alvarado began to encourage Tivan on the turn and kept him wide and in the clear. Tivan seemed to be headed by Daddy Jones, who had been trailing the field, just as he got to the stretch. But as the field straightened for home, Tivan found a new gear and mowed everyone down with ease.

He won the race by three-quarters of a length in 1:09.94 over Tribal War Chant, who was three-quarters of a length in front of Midnight Special.

The KMN Racing homebred earned $39,350 for his victory and has career earnings of $60,350 in two starts.

Hollendorfer, impressed with Tivan's closing kick that saw him run the final eighth in 11.62 seconds, said he will consider running the colt in the one-mile Gold Rush on Dec. 1 at Golden Gate.

“I think he'll be pretty good [as a router],” Hollendorfer said.