Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Tiznow or San Carlos next for Brickyard Ride
Brickyard Ride won his stakes debut in Saturday’s sixfurlong California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita by controlling the race for California-breds through a wicked pace.
For his next start, Brickyard Ride might try to stretch his speed another quarter-mile in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for statebreds on Feb. 28. The mile distance of the Tiznow would equal the longest race of his career.
“It’s not out of the question that we could try it,” trainer Craig Lewis said on Monday.
Another option is the Grade 2 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 6, although Lewis said the comfort of remaining in the statebred division for at least another start has appeal.
“We’d probably go there or the San Carlos,” Lewis said of the Tiznow. “We’ll see how he is. I wouldn’t rule him out going a mile. We may have to think out of the box.”
Owned by Sonny Pais, Brickyard Ride has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $260,277. In the Cal Cup Sprint, Brickyard Ride led by as many as 2 1/2 lengths in the opening half-mile and pulled clear to win by 3 1/4 lengths over 2-1 favorite Tigre Di Slugo, who closed from eighth in a field of 11.
Brickyard Ride was timed in 1:09.42, and earned a careerbest Beyer Speed Figure of 99, which would make him competitive in some graded stakes.
A 4-year-old colt by Clubhouse Ride, Brickyard Ride has won three of his last four starts. The loss was a troubled lastplace finish in a five-furlong allowance race at Los Alamitos on Dec. 12.
“I think that race is a complete throw-out,” Lewis said. “He was eliminated. He really had a rough trip. To me, he’s three for his last three.”
Brickyard Ride’s only start at a mile came in an allowance race on turf at Santa Anita in January 2020. Brickyard Ride was racing near the lead on the turn when he ducked through the inside rail and unseated jockey Jorge Velez.
Lewis said that Warren’s Showtime, the five-time stakes winner who was third to Leggs Galore in the Sunshine Million Filly and Mare Turf Sprint on Saturday, is likely to start in the Grade 2 Buena Vista Stakes at a mile on turf on Feb. 20.
Warren’s Showtime, the 6-5 favorite, closed from eighth in a field of nine to finish 3 3/4 lengths behind 5-2 Leggs Galore. Warren’s Showtime’s chances were hampered when she was bumped by eventual second-place finisher Nardini shortly after the start.
“She was eliminated a couple of jumps out,” Lewis said. “I was surprised there was no inquiry.”
Big Fish eyes El Camino Real
Big Fish won the California Cup Derby on the dirt at Santa Anita on Saturday, and the Del Mar Juvenile Turf on the grass in September. For his next race, Big Fish might try to add a stakes win over a synthetic surface in the $100,000 El Camino Real Derby at 1 1/8 miles at Golden Gate on Feb. 13.
“I don’t see why he couldn’t handle it,” trainer David Hofmans said Monday.
Big Fish closed from seventh of eight to win the 1 1/16-mile California Cup Derby by 1 1/2 lengths. Hofmans said the long-range goal is the $150,000 Snow Chief Stakes for statebred 3-year-ods at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on June 19.
“That would fit him perfectly and it seems to be what he wants,” Hofmans said.
The Cal Cup Derby lost its morning-line favorite on race day when The Chosen Vron was withdrawn because of illness.
“The morning before the race, we schooled him and he coughed a few times and he had a bit of mucus,” trainer Eric Kruljac said. “He had no temperature. I want to give him a chance to be whatever he can be. We’ll get him over this and start looking for something. He might be special. I didn’t want to screw it up.”
The Chosen Vron has started once, winning a maiden special weight race for Californiabreds at 6 1/2 furlongs by 6 3/4 lengths on Dec. 27.