‘Tiz’s Sis too Tough in Hawthorne

Tough Tiz’s Sis made it two in a row on Sunday (Benoit Photo) TOUGH TIZ’S SIS (Tiznow) lived up to her name at Hollywood Park on Sunday, wearing down Dawn After Dawn (Successful Appeal) inside the final furlong and prevailing by three-quarters of a length over the late-charging Santa Teresita (Lemon Drop Kid) in the $108,500 Hawthorne H. (G3). Under Aaron Gryder, Tough Tiz’s Sis negotiated 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track in 1:41 4/5 and returned $6, $3.20, and $2.20 as the 2-1 favorite. She keyed $1 exotic payoffs of $9.50 (exacta) and $26.90 (1-7-5 trifecta). Tough Tiz’s Sis, Glorified (Honour and Glory) and Dawn After Dawn raced three abreast in the early stages, with Tough Tiz’s Sis leading by a head through the opening quarter in :24 3/5. Tough Tiz’s Sis then conceded the lead to Dawn After Dawn down the backside while Glorified dropped back. Dawn After Dawn rattled off a half-mile in :47 and still maintained a length advantage through six furlongs in 1:10 4/5, but Tough Tiz’s Sis moved to her outside turning for home and, under vigorous left handed urging by Gryder, grinded out the win late while holding Santa Teresita safe. Santa Teresita paid $3.20 and $2.20, and finished 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Dawn After Dawn, who returned $2.80.

Dawn After Dawn’s performance was admirable given the fact her saddle slipped
not long after the start of the race.

“It slipped all the way on top of her neck,” jockey Victor Espinoza said.
“It’s pretty scary. The whole way, my body was on top of her neck. It’s amazing
she ran as good as she did.”

Glorified finished a half-length behind Dawn After Dawn in fourth, and was
followed by Stormin Mon (Maria’s Mon), Fleetheart (Northern Afleet) and
Rivoltella (Broken Vow).

The Hawthorne was the second straight win for Tough Tiz’s Sis, who won by the
same margin in taking the Harry W. Henson H. at Sunland Park on March 16. The
Henson victory was preceded by runner-up finishes in the Santa Maria H. (G1), El
Encino S. (G2) and Bayakoa H. (G2). Tough Tiz’s Sis enjoyed a solid
three-year-old campaign last year, scoring victories in the Lady’s Secret
S. (G1) and Hollywood Oaks (G2) and posting a third-place effort behind Lear’s Princess
(Lear Fan) and champion Rags to Riches in the Gazelle S. (G1).

Owned by Watson and Weitman Performances and trained by Bob Baffert, Tough
Tiz’s Sis improved her record to 17-7-4-2 with earnings of $627,792. Baffert
said he had no particular race in mind for Tough Tiz’s Sis’ next start, but did
plan on keeping her in California but away from the undefeated Zenyatta (Street
Cry [Ire]), recent winner of the Apple Blossom H. (G1).

The winner
was bred in the Kentucky by Gary Tussey and produced from the stakes-placed
Leaseholder (Taylor’s Falls). She was preceded in stakes glory by her
half-sister Golly Greeley (Mr. Greeley), and has an unnamed yearling half-sister
by Even the Score and a 2008 full brother.