Marathon man Lone Rock one to catch

DEL MAR, Calif. – Lone Rock is happiest, and most successful, in dirt races around two and sometimes three turns, such as Saturday’s Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles at Del Mar.

In seven starts at four venues this year, Lone Rock has won five races at distances ranging from 1 1/2 miles to 1 3/4 miles. A relentless galloper, Lone Rock is often tough to catch. A 6-year-old gelding, Lone Rock has finished in the first two in all of his starts this year.

“He’ll race on the lead or off of it,” trainer Robertino Diodoro said.

Lone Rock was claimed for $40,000 at Churchill Downs last November and has since earned $572,884 for Flying P Stable and R.A. Hill Stable.

For all of his fine credentials, Lone Rock will start in the TAA Stakes after a second by a length as the 1-10 favorite in the Grand Prix American Jockey Club Stakes at 1 5/8 miles on Sept. 18 at Belmont Park.

“Going into the last race, he missed a few days of training with a foot issue,” Diodoro said. “You can get away with that going three-quarters or a mile, but going a mile and fiveeighths you have to be able to train.

“He’s been working really well at Keeneland.”

The $250,000 TAA Stakes drew a field of seven, including the last two winners of the Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup at 1 1/2 miles at Santa Anita – Cupid’s Claws in September 2020 and Tizamagician on April 18.

The race may not have seven runners. Trainer Peter Miller said Wednesday that Zestful, winner of the Bull Dog Stakes on Oct. 17 at The Big Fresno Fair, was likely to be withdrawn.

Cupid’s Claws was a fast-closing sixth, beaten 1 3/4 lengths, in the Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship at 1 1/4 miles on turf Oct. 2 at Santa Anita in his first start for Miller following a private purchase. Cupid’s Claws is winless in seven starts since the 2020 Tokyo City.

Tizamagician has had erratic form in recent starts. A 4-yearold colt, Tizmagician won the Grade 3 Cougar II Stakes at 1 1/2 miles here July 18 and followed with a career-best performance when second to Tripoli in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic at 1 1/4 miles here Aug. 21. More recently, Tizamagician was fifth behind Medina Spirit in the Grade 1 Awesome Again

Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Oct. 2 at Santa Anita.

“I was disappointed,” trainer Richard Mandella said. “It was one thing to be second, but fifth is different.”

Similar to Lone Rock, Tizamagician tends to run near the front.

Lone Rock was beaten at Belmont Park by Locally Owned, a 5-year-old gelding owned solely by Flying P Stable who was claimed for $40,000 at Fair Grounds in February. Trained by Tom Morley, Locally Owned has since won 2 of 6 starts.

Locally Owned could have a favorable position if Lone Rock and Tizamagician give each other any sort of fuss near the lead in such a distance race.