Slew’s Tiz Whiz (No. 5) surges past Bridleuptothebar

SLEW’S TIZ WHIZ POWERS HOME IN GOVERNOR’S STAKES

AUBURN, Wash. (July 23, 2023) – Using an incredible turn of foot, Slew’s Tiz Whiz surged past Bridleuptothebar in deep stretch and scored a 1 ¼-length victory in Sunday’s $50,000 Governor’s Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at Emerald Downs.

With Jose Zunino riding at 120 lbs., Slew’s Tiz Whiz covered 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.09 and paid $5.60 as the public betting choice in a field of 10.

Tom Wenzel, accomplishing a sweep of Sunday’s stakes, is the winning trainer for Slew’s Crew Racing, composed of Roy and Tammy Brewer, Terry and Mary Lou Griffin, Jodee Snyder, along with Wenzel and wife Melissa.

With the victory, Slew’s Tiz Whiz joins Trooper Seven (1980-81) and Wasserman (2007-08) as two-time winners of the venerable Governor’s, and the 5-year-old appears poised to defend his Longacres Mile title in the Northwest’s most prestigious race on Sunday, August 13.

Bridleuptothebar, the 5 to 2 second choice ridden by Isaias Enriquez with co-high weight of 124 lbs., took a clear lead into the stretch, running a half-mile in :43.94, and managed to stave off all but Slew’s Tiz Whiz, who thundered home in mid-track for the victory.

“(Slew’s Tiz Whiz) did his thing again,” Wenzel said. “This is one of the hardest trying horses I’ve ever trained.”

A Washington-bred by Slew’s Tiznow out of Ros’s Girl, Slew’s Tiz Whiz scored his third Emerald Downs’ stakes win overall, improving to 7-3-2 from 17 starts with earnings of $222,857. The victory also turned the tables on last month’s Budweiser Stakes, in which Bridleuptothebar held off Slew’s Tiz Whiz for a one-length win. The rubber match comes in three weeks in the Mile.

Zestful, the 5 to 1 third choice ridden by Alexis Valdes at 124 lbs., also finished well to take third place, while Smiling Goodbye, Coastal Kid, A Man’s Man, You’re the Cause, Itsallabouttheride, Muncey, and Polacco rounded out the complete order of finish.

Nominations for the 88th running of the Longacres Mile close Sunday, August 6, with entries taken Wednesday, August 9.

Our Lyla Grace with jockey Jose Zunino

OUR LYLA GRACE PREVAILS IN WA STATE LEGISLATORS

In the $50,000 Washington State Legislators Stakes for older fillies and mares, longshot Our Lyla Grace rallied inside and edged Blazingbellablu by a neck, running 6 ½ furlongs in 1:15.38 on a fast track.

Ridden by Zunino at 119 lbs. for Wenzel and owner Code Four Stable, Our Lyla Grace returned $30 to win as the second longest price in the field of seven.

A 5-year-old Kentucky-bred by Cinco Charlie, Our Lyla Grace earned $27,500 for her first stakes victory and improved to 6-2-0 in 13 starts with career earnings of $102,882. Her best previous stakes finish was a fourth in the 2022 Emerald Distaff.

In fifth place around the turn, Our Lyla Grace passed a tiring Zippin Sevenz at the quarter-pole, then angled inside by Zunino into the lane and wore down the leaders for the victory.

For Wenzel, it was his record fifth victory in the Washington State Legislators Stakes while Zunino tied Ricky Frazier for most wins by a jockey at three apiece.

Blazingbellablu, the 8 to 5 betting favorite ridden by ridden by Alex Cruz at high wight of 123 lbs., rallied five-wide into the lane, gained the advantage past mid-stretch, and just missed in yet another sharp try. A triple stakes winner at Emerald Downs, the 2021 Washington Horse of the Year is 7-6-2 in 19 career starts with earnings of $248,211 for Petra Lewin and trainer Charles Essex.

Tiz a Macho Girl, 5 to 2 second choice ridden by Rocco Bowen at 121 lbs., rallied from last to snatch third place in her 2023 Emerald Downs debut, finishing a length behind Blazingbellablu.

Cause She’s a Lady, the early leader, finished fourth after setting fractions of :22.02 and :44.35, while Slack Tide, Young Life Laura, and Zippin Sevenz, rounded out the order of finish.

The $50,000 Emerald Distaff at 1 1/16 miles is next for older fillies and mares on Sunday, August 13.

NOTES: Mutuel handle totaled $1,807,214 on a nine-race card. . .Wenzel and Zunino also swept last year’s Governor’s and Washington State Legislators with Slew’s Tiz Whiz and Dontkissntell. . .Wenzel leads trainers with four stakes wins at the meet and is No. 4 all-time with 53 stakes wins at Emerald Downs. . .Luis Negron and Justin Evans combined for wins with Super Classic ($3.60) and Whatwasithinking ($3.80) and top the jockey and trainer standings with 43 and 34 wins respectively. . .Silvio Amador also rode two winners and trainer Kay Cooper had two wins. . .Top Executive ($5.20) prevailed in Sunday’s $25,000 sub-feature for 3-year-olds and up, covering 6 ½ furlongs in 1:14.87 under Silvio Amador for Blaine Wright and owners John and Janene Maryanski and Gail and Gerald Schneider. A multiple stakes winner here at age 3, Top Executive finished fourth as the betting favorite in the 2022 Longacres Mile. . .Always a Dixie produced the record Washington State Legislators $2 win pay of $52.60 in 2002. . .Sunday’s third race honored Handy N Bold, the four-time Governor’s Stakes winner who passed earlier this year. . .A single winning ticket took down $15,675.38 in the $0.20 Jackpot Pick Six. . .Live racing resumes Friday with a 7 p.m. post. Emerald Downs is open for simulcast wagering seven days a week.

–##–