Tizamagician Looking For Tokyo City Cup Victory

Richard Mandella trained Tizamagician, second in last year's renewal, headlines the Grade 3, $100,000 Tokyo City Cup at Santa Anita Park on Sunday, April 18.

The Tokyo City Cup has attracted a field of five older horses and will be contested at the marathon distance of a mile and one half.

A close second early, Tizamagician tired to finish fifth, beaten four lengths in the Grade I Santa Anita Handicap at a mile and one quarter on March 6. A solid second, beaten 3 ¼ lengths two starts back in the Grade II San Pasqual Stakes at a mile and one eighth Jan. 30, Tizamagician has been facing tough horses and rates top billing on Sunday.

With his most recent win coming in a mile and one sixteenth allowance three starts back on Jan. 2, Tizamagician tried front-running tactics in the Grade III Tokyo City Cup four starts back on Sept. 27, but had to settle for second money, finishing 7 ¼ lengths behind Cupid's Claws.

Owned by MyRacehorse and Spendthrift Farm, LLC, Tizamagician, a 4-year-old colt by Tiznow, will hope for clear sailing on the lead under leading man Flavien Prat, who will be aboard for the first time. With an overall mark of 15-3-6-0, Tizamagician has earnings of $227,851.

Although Tizamagician would benefit from an unchallenged early lead, that's unlikely, as the Mark Glatt-trained Zestful, ridden by front-running Edwin Maldonado, will no doubt be sent from the gate as he tries the marathon mile and one half for the first time.

Head and head throughout, Zestful came up a head short as the 9-5 favorite when second in a one mile starter allowance on April 3. Claimed 11 starts back for $40,000 on July 4, 2019 at Pleasanton, Zestful is battle tested at marathon distances, as he led early and finished second, beaten three quarters of a length, in the Grade II Marathon Stakes here at a mile and three quarters, eight starts back on Nov. 1, 2019.

A 6-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Ghostzapper, Zestful will be ridden for the sixth consecutive time by Maldonado, who coaxed a gate to wire allowance win out of him at a mile and one eighth on Nov. 20 at Del Mar.

In the money in 20 out of his 32 starts, Zestful, has 10 wins and one stakes win to his credit, a sixth length triumph going a mile and one quarter in a restricted stakes at Los Alamitos nine races back on Sept. 15, 2019. Out of the Smoke Glacken mare Sweet Relish, Zestful has career earnings of $327,092.

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