Tizamagician goes long right off the bat in Cougar II Stakes
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When he wasn’t chasing Lone Rock in Grade 2 races, Tizamagician had a successful 2021, mostly in main-track stakes marathons in California.
Tizamagician won two Grade 3 races at 1 1/2 miles in the Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita in April 2021 and the Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar last July. Perhaps his best race was a game second in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles last August.
With his background as a stayer, Tizamagician will have his first start of 2022 in Sunday’s $100,000 Cougar II Stakes, a stern 1 1/2-mile test following a layoff of more than eight months.
Trained by Richard Mandella for Spendthrift Farm and the My Racehorse syndicate, Tizamagician has not raced since he finished second to Lone Rock in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles at Del Mar last November. Lone Rock and Tizamagician were first and second in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park in June 2021.
Lone Rock is not in California, and is being pointed for the $200,000 Birdstone Stakes at 1 3/4 miles at Saratoga on Thursday, trainer Robertino Diodoro said earlier this week.
Mandella debated whether to start Tizamagician in the Cougar II Stakes or wait for the Grade 2 San Diego Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on July 30. Tizamagician’s workouts, notably a mile in 1:40.80, played a role in the decision.
“He’s had some nice, long works,” Mandella said. “He trains well enough. I think he’s fit enough, but it’s a long way to go first time back.”
Tizamagician won the 2021 Cougar II Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over Cupid’s Claws, who was clear of third-place finisher Heywoods Beach. Heywoods Beach is back in this year’s Cougar II.
The 2021 Cougar II Stakes was the first start at 1 1/2 miles for Heywoods Beach and his final start of the year. Heywoods Beach was sidelined with a hind-end injury, trainer John Sadler said. A 5-year-old horse, Heywoods Beach was fourth of six in his lone start this year, the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile on turf at Santa Anita on May 30.
“We thought we were being aggressive the first time and he ran a good race,” Sadler said of the loss in the Shoemaker. “It makes sense to put him in here.”
Sadler expects Heywood Beach to be close to the front on Sunday.
“I don’t think he has to be in front,” Sadler said. “He’s tactical.”
The Cougar II Stakes, the eighth race on an 11-race program, drew a field of seven, including Dean Martini, a close fourth in the Grade 3 San Juan Capistrano Stakes at about 1 3/4 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 19, and Dicey Mo Chara, who was third in the All American Stakes on the synthetic track at Golden Gate Fields on May 30.
The Cougar II Stakes will be Dicey Mo Chara’s first start on dirt after racing primarily on turf. He was second in the Grade 3 San Luis Rey Stakes at 1 1/2 miles on turf at Santa Anita in March.