Tizdejavu fresh following upset

Catching a rain-soaked turf course on Kentucky Oaks Day, Tizdejavu proved superior, leading from start to finish in a race in which one of the principal speed horses, Prussian, was scratched due to the wet course conditions.

Saturday in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jefferson Cup, he will seek to legitimize that victory with another strong turf performance when he takes on seven rivals, including Halo Najib, Wicked Style, Golden Yank, and Old Man Buck.

Trainer Greg Fox, who trains Tizdejavu, a Tiznow colt, said he is encouraged that with six weeks between races, his horse should be ready for a strong effort.

Tizdejavu has trained swiftly on dirt in recent weeks at the Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., but it is turf that "looks like a surface that he is thriving on," Fox said.

Garrett Gomez, who rode him to a 21-1 upset in the Crown Royal American Turf, has the mount on 3-1 morning-line favorite Tizdejavu.

Although unraced this year, Old Man Buck - winner of the Miller Lite Cradle and Grand Canyon Stakes on turf - could prove a threat.

After having what trainer Ken McPeek said were small issues late last fall, he has come back "stronger than ever," breezing quickly leading up to his first start since Nov. 24.

Wicked Style is another contender, having won the Grade 1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland and Grade 3 Arlington-Washington Futurity over Polytrack last year. In his lone start of 2008, he finished fifth against older horses in a third-level allowance on turf in which he was off slowly and steadied heading into the first turn.