Golden State Series: Tiznow Stakes

BY TRACY GANTZ

Fashionably Fast keeps winning stakes that harken back to his roots. Bred by John Harris’ Harris Farms, he won the Harris Farms Stakes at Fresno in 2019. For the past two seasons Fashionably Fast has taken the Tiznow Stakes, named for the champion California-bred famously foaled and raised at Harris Farms for breeder Cecilia Straub Rubens.

Harris Farms has produced many fne runners, the facility most recently famous for foaling California Chrome. But Fashionably Fast is quickly moving up the ladder, and unlike Tiznow or California Chrome, he is doing it for the home team.

Harris bred the 6-year-old son of Lucky Pulpit—Fall Fashion, by Forestry. Fashionably Fast runs for his breeder, Per Antonsen, and John Nicoletti. John Harris and Nicoletti have been friends and partners in horses for years while Antonsen is the longtime trainer at Harris Farms responsible for giving horses their initial lessons.

Going into this year’s Tiznow, a $100,000 race at a mile on the dirt at Santa Anita Feb. 28, Fashionably Fast had started just once following a fve-month layof. In the Jan. 16 Don Valpredo Cal-

Sporting the Harris Farms colors, jockey Tiago Pereira guides Fashionably Fast to a second consecutive victory in the Tiznow Stakes at Santa Anita

© BENOIT PHOTO

ifornia Cup Sprint, he fnished third to Brickyard Ride and Tigre Di Slugo, who returned to run one-two, respectively, in the San Carlos Stakes (G2).

Trainer Dean Pederson and jockey Tiago Pereira point to Fashionably Fast’s competitiveness.

“He’s just a very game horse,” said Pederson.

“Tis horse has so much heart,” said Pereira.

Five faced the starter in the Tiznow, with Fashionably Fast sent away as the 9-10 favorite. He drew the outside and carried top weight of 124 pounds, neither of which made it easy.

Going into the frst turn, Fashionably Fast had to race four wide behind the threesome of Desmond Doss, Margot’s Boy, and Surfng Star.

Meanwhile, Brandothebartender was lying in wait behind the leaders and would soon enter the fray. Fashionably Fast ranged up to challenge Desmond Doss in the second turn, pulling even with that rival as they turned for home.

Troughout the stretch Fashionably Fast and Desmond Doss looked each other in the eye. Yet Brandothebartender was closing fast, and those three horses put in a ferocious battle, Fashionably Fast between Desmond Doss on the rail and Brandothebartender on the outside.

“An absolute thriller in the Tiznow as they come to the wire together as one,” said announcer Frank Mirahmadi.

Fashionably Fast called on that gameness and heart to eke out a head victory over Desmond Doss, with another head margin to Brandothebartender. Fashionably Fast stopped the timer in 1:37.14.

“Fashionably Fast—all he wants to do is win, and he did it again,” said Mirahmadi.

Fashionably Fast was winning the ffth stakes of his career and brought his lifetime earnings to $568,245.

Pederson said the wide trip early didn’t worry him because “he’s in the clear and he was on the bridle for Tiago, which was important.” Te trainer feels that the gelding does even better when he’s in a battle than when he’s by himself during the stretch run.