Ralph and Aury Todd’s homebred THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) took command turning
for home and drove to the wire a powerful one-length winner of the $150,000
San Marcos
H. (G2) over the firm Santa Anita turf course on Sunday.
Trained by Richard Mandella,
the eight-year-old broke sharply and tracked pacesetter Whilly (Ire) (Sri Pekan)
through splits of :23 2/5, :47 1/5, 1:11 and 1:34 2/5 for the opening mile. As
that pair began to separate from the field, it was The Tin Man doing better
under Victor Espinoza, eventually stopping the timer in a brisk 1:58 1/5 while
holding off a late charge from Milk It Mick (GB) (Millkom [GB]).
The winner was the
3-1 second choice and returned $8.20, $4.80 and $3.60, while keying the $116.10
exacta, $591 trifecta and $2,447.40 superfecta, based on $1 wagers.
“It was a perfect trip,” Espinoza said. “He just stalked the leader and kept
running at the end. My horse is really nice to ride and he knows what’s going
on so I don’t have to do much.”
Milk It Mick closed stoutly from midpack in his U. S. debut to earn the place
at 28-1, giving back $21.20 and $11. Whilly re-rallied when passed in the lane and fought valiantly to
garner third at 7-2, paying $3.20 while 2 1/4 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer. Atlando
(Ire) (Hernando [Fr]) rallied from near the back to complete the super as the 3-1 betting
choice, and was trailed by Fitz Flag (Arg) (Flag Down), Rebel Rebel (Ire) (Revoque),
Adreamisborn (Kris S.), Always First (GB) (Barathea [Ire]), License To Run (Brz)
(Exile King), Estevan (Grand Slam) and Bouthan (Fr) (Sadler’s Wells). Sigfreto (Spunky Rascal), Toasted (Hennessy) and Warrior
Song (Unbridled’s Song)
were withdrawn.
The Tin Man continues to get better with age and upped his lifetime mark to
23-9-4-2 with earnings of $1,226,860. The ageless wonder added this score to a
list that includes the 2002 runnings of the Clement L. Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1)
and
American H. (G2) as well as the 2003 San Luis Obispo H. (G2). He’s also placed
in four graded stakes, including the 2003 United Nations H. (G1).
“How happy am I?,” Mandella asked. “Considering the terrible meet I’m having
here, I’d let this horse sleep in my own bed if I had to. Anytime you can get
these old timers to come back like this it’s great.”
Bred in the Bluegrass State, The Tin Man was produced from Lizzie Rolfe (Tom
Rolfe) and was preceded in stakes glory by his half-sister Mama Simba (Mamaison),
a winner of seven black-type races.