Tizzy in the Sky runs away with Ladies Stakes

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Tizzy in the Sky kicked off what was already going to be a memorable day for owner Donnie Orenstein and his family when she scored a three-length victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Ladies Stakes at Aqueduct.

Orenstein, who along with his wife Kim is usually in attendance when Tizzy in the Sky runs, had a good reason to be absent Saturday.

“Our daughter Jordyn is getting married,” Orenstein said by phone from Florida. “This is a great start to the day.”

Hopefully, the wedding would go as smoothly as the Ladies did. Though she didn’t get loose on the lead as perhaps was expected, Tizzy in the Sky, under Kendrick Carmouche, sat within a half-length of aggressively handled Comparative through six furlongs in 1:16.12. Tizzy in the Sky poked a head in front at the three-eighths pole and gradually increased her advantage to the wire.

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Julia Shining, who sat third under Dylan Davis, finished second by three-quarters of a length over Comparative, who was third by a head over Evidencias. Just Music scratched.

Todd Pletcher, who won his fifth Ladies, sent out the first- and second-place finishers in the race, which was being run for the 153rd time.

Carmouche said while he wanted to get Tizzy in the Sky to the front, he was content to sit when he saw how aggressive Manny Franco was aboard Comparative, last year’s Ladies winner.

“Manny wanted it just as much as I wanted it, I know my filly could come from off the pace,” Carmouche said. “You can see his horse got a little early pace, but it wouldn’t have mattered, I thought I was on the best horse going the distance, I just rode her like it. It doesn’t pay to get in a speed duel.”

Tizzy in the Sky, a 6-year-old daughter of Sky Kingdom, covered the 1 1/8 miles over a fast main track in 1:52.56 and returned $3.30 as the odds-on choice. The victory was the sixth from 14 starts for Tizzy in the Sky, all of those wins coming at Aqueduct. She added the Ladies to a resume that includes the Grade 3 Go for Wand and the Top Flight Invitational.

The victory likely earned Tizzy in the Sky one more start before she is retired and bred. Orenstein said that he and Pletcher discussed that if Tizzy in the Sky won Saturday, they would look to run her in the Grade 2, $400,000 Azeri Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 8.

Orenstein said after that Tizzy in the Sky would likely be bred; the options for stallions include Constitution, Flightline and Not This Time.

While Tizzy in the Sky will soon likely leave Pletcher’s barn, Julia Shining may have more racing left. Dylan Davis, who rode Julia Shining, said even though she was beaten, the Ladies effort was even better than the one she put forth winning an allowance last month.

“She improved from her last start, she finished strong for me and she did well,” Davis said. I think she’s right on track.”

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