Tizamagician Back to Graded Company in Tokyo City Cup

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Tizamagician Back to Graded Company in Tokyo City Cup
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Tizamagician after winning a Sept. 5 allowance at Del Mar

In a marathon devoid of any clear standout, Richard Mandella's Tizamagician, Bob Baffert's Azul Coast, and John Sadler's Combatant all figure prominently in a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in the $100,000 Tokyo City Cup (G3), to be contested at 1 1/2 miles Sept. 27 at Santa Anita Park.

Tizamagician, owned by MyRacehorse.com and Spendthrift Farm, is the only horse in the field to exit a win in his last start. The 3-year-old Tiznow  colt will hope to stretch his considerable speed an additional half mile on Sunday. He ran what appears to be the best race of his career on Sept. 5—a gate-to-wire first condition allowance win going one mile at Del Mar. Tizamagician was a close fourth to current Preakness Stakes (G1) hopeful Thousand Words in the Feb. 1 Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) subsequent to his Jan. 1 maiden win. He has two wins from six starts this year and will retain the services of Drayden Van Dyke from post 3.

Mike Pegram, Karl Watson, and Paul Weitman's Azul Coast was second to his eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)-winning stablemate Authentic four starts back in the Jan. 4 Sham Stakes (G3). The 3-year-old Super Saver  colt showed promise early, breaking his maiden going one mile at first asking Dec. 8 at Los Alamitos Race Course. Following the Sham he was a 1 1/4-length winner of the Feb. 15 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Azul Coast then ran seventh in the June 6 Santa Anita Derby (G1) and was fifth last out in the Aug. 9 La Jolla Handicap (G3T) on turf. He'll be handled by Luis Saez for the first time Sunday and will break from the outside.

Although Hronis Racing's Combatant was a winner at 9-1 of the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap (G1), he's been soundly beaten in his three races since, including the Aug. 22 Del Mar Handicap Presented by The Japan Racing Association (G2T). Like the rest of the field, he'll be trying 1 1/2 miles for the first time. With his Big 'Cap win he does have proven ability at 1 1/4 miles but he'll have to improve from recent efforts. Umberto Rispoli will ride the 5-year-old Scat Daddy ridgling from post 2.

Cupid's Claws, Bold Endeavor, Muralist, and Potantico complete the field.


Entries: Tokyo City Cup S. (G3)

Santa Anita Park, Sunday, September 27, 2020, Race 10

  • Grade III
  • 1 1/2m
  • Dirt
  • $100,000
  • 3 yo's & up
  • 5:14 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Cupid's Claws (KY) Flavien Prat 122 Craig Dollase 6/1
2 2Combatant (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate UMBERTO RISPOLI 126 John W. Sadler 9/5
3 3Tizamagician (KY) Drayden Van Dyke 118 Richard E. Mandella 2/1
4 4Bold Endeavor (KY) Tyler Baze 122 George Papaprodromou 20/1
5 5Muralist (KY) Juan J. Hernandez 122 Dan Blacker 15/1
6 6Potantico (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Abel Cedillo 122 Vladimir Cerin 3/1
7 7Azul Coast (KY)Keeneland Sales Graduate Luis Saez 120 Bob Baffert 8/1