Tizamagician wins Cougar II, Pacific Classic may be next start

DEL MAR, Calif. - Tizamagician repelled a challenge from Cupid’s Claws in early stretch to win Sunday’s Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at Del Mar in what may have been a prep race for the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on Aug. 21.

Trainer Richard Mandella said before the $100,500 Cougar II Stakes that the $750,000 Pacific Classic was on his mind if Tizamagician performed to expectation. Tizamagician won the Cougar II Stakes by 2 1/4 lengths over 9-1 Cupid’s Claws, finishing 1 1/2 miles on dirt in 2:31.45.

“I’ll have to think about it,” Mandella said of the Pacific Classic as he left the winner’s circle.

Tizamagician earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 95.

Tizamagician was 3-5 as the field of six was being loaded into the gate and was the subject of a series of late bets, eventually going off at 1-5 and returning $2.60. Tizamagician was ridden by Flavien Prat, giving him a sweep of the two stakes at Del Mar on Sunday.

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Prat finished Sunday’s program at Del Mar with four wins.

On Saturday, Prat rode Hot Rod Charlie to a first-place finish in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park, but was disqualified for causing interference in the stretch that led to Midnight Bourbon unseating jockey Paco Lopez.

Tizamagician was always near the front in the Cougar II Stakes, tracking Heywoods Beach through an early pace of 25.88 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 50.04 for a half-mile. Tizamagician took the lead with less than a half-mile remaining and was threatened by Cupid’s Claws on the turn.

Tizamagician quickly established control of the front and led by a length with a furlong remaining.

“He broke good today and was in a good spot,” Prat said. “The main thing is to get him to relax. He has a tendency to pull and today he was pretty good.

“I couldn’t tell on the turn if I had a lot of horse. When he switched leads, he kicked on.”

Heywoods Beach finished third, beaten 7 1/2 lengths, and was followed by Campaign and Red King. Contagion was pulled up with less than three furlongs remaining and was vanned to trainer Peter Miller’s barn after being diagnosed at the backstretch equine hospital with a sesamoid injury, according to track stewards.

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Tizamagician, a 4-year-old colt by Tiznow, races for Spendthrift Farm and My Racehorse.com.

Tizamagician has won 5 of 18 starts and has earned $427,851. The Cougar II Stakes was his second stakes win, preceded by the Grade 3 Tokyo City Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita on April 18. Tizamagician was second by 11 1/4 lengths to Lone Rock in the Grade 2 Brooklyn Stakes at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on June 5.