Afternoon stroll for Tiz Tok

TIZ TOK made light work of overnight-allowance winners in yesterday’s Lloyd Lindbergh ‘Lindy’ Delapenha Memorial at a mile, the second Mouttet Mile graduate from Anthony Nunes’ barn to trample rivals in successive racedays.

Fifth in December’s US$250,000 Mouttet Mile, TIZ TOK idly raced fourth down the backstretch before making his move at the half-mile marker, swatting fellow American GEOLITHIC off the lead.

Straightening in command, TIZ TOK ran away from his 11 rivals, an easy winner under Shane Ellis, emulating stablemate BARNABY, who won Saturday’s Chairman’s Trophy, franking a seventh-place finish in the Mouttet Mile.

Both Nunes runners were imported for last December’s Mouttet Mile won by local-based American and Horse of the Year, champion trainer Jason DaCosta’s FUNCAANDUN, who chased down Florida Invader LEGACY ISLE to prevail in a thrilling finish.

TIZ TOK clocked a solid 1:39.0 with topweight 126lb at odds of 1-5, finishing six and a quarter lengths clear of another American, Philip Feanny’s DIVINE FORCE, who carried 107lb, a clear indicator of significant class difference.

Meanwhile, the Betting Gaming and Lotteries Commission-Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association Limited’s Millionaires Series, Race 5, Series 2, almost resulted in a $1 million bonus carryover to the final race in the 2024-2025 series set for March 22.

United States-bred NEPHEW, ineligible for the $1 million owner’s bonus, passed the post in front with five-time champion jockey Trevor Simpson after attacking the pair of BOWMORE and STRONG MIND coming off the turn at six and a half furlongs.

However, Simpson, on winter break from the Canadian circuit, twice whipped NEPHEW into the path of oncoming 6-5 second-favourite GIRVANO with Raddesh Roman, leaving the stewards with no choice but to disqualify his mount after an enquiry and jockey’s objection.

GIRVANO, owned by Carlton Watson, was one of two Jason DaCosta runners made eligible for the $1 million bonus via the $150,000 eligibility-fee window by the champion owner, the other being 4-5 favourite H TWO O, who turned for home alongside his stablemate but failed to quicken, finishing third with Robert Halledeen.

Ellis rode a two-timer on the nine-race card, earlier booting home 4-1 chance MUSKETOON among $350,000 claimers at six furlongs to join Halledeen on 14 wins atop the jockeys’ standings. Champion Roman’s stewards’ room victory with GIRVANO moved him to 11, three behind the joint leaders.

The Ketch 9 mandatory payout of $5.4 million was won by one rather lucky punter, who not only managed to spot 54-1 upsetter PRINCESS RIA in the fourth event but entered the closing event with one of three surviving tickets, two of which, unbelievably, did not have the money-back favourite TIZ TOK as a selection.

Racing continues with the first raceday for March on Saturday followed by a midweek Ash Wednesday holiday meet.