Tizamagician takes charge in stretch for Tokyo City triumph

ARCADIA, Calif. - Races around two or three turns are the best fit for Tizamagican, the winner of the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles on dirt at Santa Anita on Sunday.

In January, Tizamagician finished second in the Grade 2 San Pasqual Stakes at 1 1/8 miles. The longer Tokyo City Cup gave the 4-year-old colt a better chance to perform to his strength, resulting in his first stakes win in his 16th start.

"He’s a big galloper,” trainer Richard Mandella said.

Ridden for the first time by Flavien Prat, Tizamagician ($3.20) stalked pacesetter Zestful for more than a mile before taking a commanding lead through the stretch. Tizamagician drew clear to win by nine lengths over Zestful, in 2:32.45. Tizamagician earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

:: Enhance your handicapping with DRF’s Santa Anita Clocker Report

Tizamagician often races near the front. In the $98,500 Tokyo City Cup, Prat yielded the lead to 7-2 Zestful shortly after the start, positioning Tizamagician about two lengths behind the pacesetter.

“Flavien did the right thing,” Mandella said. “He usually does.”

Lure Him In, who raced on turf distance races in recent starts, finished third, followed by Ronamo. Multiplier, the winner of the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne in 2017, did not finish. He was pulled up more than a quarter-mile to the finish with an injury to his right foreleg. Multiplier was vanned to the backstretch equine hospital for X-rays, track stewards said.

Tizamagician was fifth in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Handicap at 1 1/4 miles on March 6, racing near the front before fading from contention. Owned by Spendthrift Farm and the MyRacehorse partnership, Tizamagician has won 4 of 16 starts and has earned $287,851.

Mandella indicated that Tizmagician will remain in longer races, with the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup at 1 1/4 miles on May 31 a possibility.