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Post-Race Review Stream Cat scored a tenacious victory in the Tokyo City Cup, prevailing over the heavily favored Big Booster at the wire. The mile and a half main track race was strangely run, as Zappa and Kizzy’s Chaos flew out of the gate and dueled early for the lead, opening up on the field of seven and sprinting away. Zappa took command coming down the stretch for the first time as the horses lined up in single file order, but Kizzy’s Chaos overtook the leader rounding the far turn.
It was only a few strides until six-year-old Stream Cat and jockey Joe Talamo overtook the winner, then outran Big Booster, who was last for much of the race, until the wire. Medjool finished third and Fire Wood was fourth. Patrick Biancone trains Stream Cat, a son of Black Minnaloushe who paid $11.40 to win. The final time was 1:39.61.
Pre-Race Analysis Older horses go a mile and a half in the Tokyo City Handicap (gr. III) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The race is part of the special Japan Family Day held annually at the Great Race Place. Seven horses have been entered, led by Big Booster, third in the Breeders’ Cup Marathon in his last start on October 25th. Rafael Bejarano sticks with him here, despite the fact that the eight-year-old Mike Mitchell-trainee hasn’t won since the June 1st Gallant Man Handicap at Hollywood Park. This is a rare instance in which the race might not be long enough for Big Booster, whose last two wins came at 1 5/8 miles and 1 3/4 miles. Last year, Big Booster finished third in the Tokyo City.
Mike Mitchell also trains two of the other entrants, Fire Wood and Dynamalt. Fire Wood is a seven year old gelding by Woodman and will be ridden by Mike Smith. Fire Wood won an optional claimer on February 5th and has four wins in thirty seven starts. Dynamalt hasn’t won since April 27 of last year, and that was at Churchill Downs, but it was over 1 3/8 miles on the grass and Joel Rosario will ride today.
John Sadler trains Zappa, a seven-year-old gelding with a shot to win with 13 victories in forty starts. A victory in an $80,000 optional claimer, in which Zappa was in for a tag, on December 20th, pushed the Afternoon Deelite’s gelding’s earnings over $540,000. On July 30th of last year, Zappa emerged victorious from the Cougar II Handicap at Del Mar, which was at 1 1/2 miles on Del Mar’s synthetic surface.
Medjool is a four year old Monarchos colt making his first start for John o’Hara. In the Strub Stakes in February, Medjool finished a disappointing tenth, but was second in the Sir Beaufort Stakes on December 26th going one mile. Michael Baze will ride.
Stream Cat, who was tenth last out in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 7th, and Kizzy’s Chaos, coming off a victory in a March 4th 1 1/4 mile allowance, complete the field.
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Emily Shields is a regular contributor to Case the Race. She has written for California Thoroughbred, Churchill Downs media, and international racing magazines.
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