Edwards Going Left Digs in to Win Tiznow Stakes
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Photo: Benoit Photo
Edwards Going Left (inside) holds off King Abner in the Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita
Hronis Racing's Edwards Going Left didn't have much go his way early in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita Park March 3, but by the end of the one-mile dirt test, he completed what may have been the top effort of his career.
After a slow break from post 4 in the field of five older California-breds, jockey Joel Rosario asked the 5-year-old Midnight Lute gelding to get into the race but soon after had to steady slightly as they headed into the first turn. Rosario then cut over to the rail and spurted through on the inside to get in front of King Abner, who for a moment appeared to be set for an easy lead.
"He broke a little bit slow, and I used him a little bit," Rosario said. "It looked like there was a spot where he wanted to go after it, and I had some room to go, so I let him find himself—where he wanted to be."
By the time he ran the first quarter in :23.11, Edwards Going Left went from last at the start to first by a length, and the rest of the trip was a duel to the wire. Little Red Feather Racing, Summit Racing, Ticket to Ride, and Jackie Rojas' King Abner cut the margin to a half-length through a half-mile in :46.20, and it was just a head through six furlongs in 1:10.12, but Edwards Going Left did not relent. King Abner even put a head in front with a furlong to run, but Edwards Going Left battled back on the inside to win by a half-length in a final time of 1:35.81.
"Exciting. That's the strongest finisher in the country," winning trainer John Sadler said of Rosario. "He's so good at the end. I don't see Rosario losing many photos."
The top pair was well clear of the rest. Surfing Star checked in third, 8 1/2 lengths back.
Edwards Going Left's performance also left his rival's connections in awe. Little Red Feather's Billy Koch said, "I can't believe that horse came back on us. That was unbelievable."
The Tiznow was the first two-turn win for Edwards Going Left, who is now a three-time Cal-bred stakes winner and also has a pair of grade 1 sprint placings on his résumé. His only other two-turn try was a neck loss when he finished third in the Sept. 8 E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos Race Course.
"He's been running against much better," Sadler said of Edwards Going Left, who finished second to Ax Man in a seven-furlong allowance Feb. 8 at Santa Anita. "I think Ax Man will be the favorite in the (March 9) San Carlos (Stakes, G2), and (Edwards Going Left) just runs a good race all the time.
"Seven-eighths has been one of his best distances, but we thought a mile was in his range."
Bred by Red Baron's Barn and Vaya Con Suerte out of the Broken Vow mare Dypsy, Edwards Going Left has now earned nearly $600,000 and has an 8-3-4 record from 19 starts. He was a $50,000 claim by Sadler and Hronis out of his debut in February 2017.