Slew’s Tiz Whiz aims to join exclusive group at Longacres Mile
Published 1:30 am Friday, August 11, 2023
By Doug Parry / Special to The Herald
AUBURN — Last year, Slew’s Tiz Whiz took the short way around in the Longacres Mile at Emerald Downs, skimming the rail as he ran to victory. This year, he could face a tougher task after drawing the No. 9 post position for his attempt at making it two straight.
The 5-year-old bay gelding is the 9-5 morning-line favorite to become just the fifth horse in history to win the Northwest’s richest horse race a second time. He will again team with jockey Jose Zunino, who carved out the inside trip that carried Slew’s Tiz Whiz to last year’s win.
Trained by Tom Wenzel, the Washington-bred Slew’s Tiz Whiz would join an exclusive group if he wins the $150,000 Mile for a second time. Only Amble In (1946, 1948), Trooper Seven (1980-1981), Simply Majestic (1988-1989), and Stryker Phd (2014-2015) have won the race twice.
Last year, Slew’s Tiz Whiz rallied from 8 lengths off the pace to draw off to a comfortable win. He comes into this year’s race in sharp form, most recently notching a victory in the Governor’s Handicap at 6½ furlongs at Emerald Downs.
Five Star General, the second choice at 2-1 on the morning line, looks to be the biggest challenger to the local favorite in the 10-horse field. After three straight in-the-money finishes in the Mile, Five Star General is back for another shot at age 7 and has been racing in better form than ever. He recently won the $100,000 Evangeline Mile at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana. Veteran jockey Joe Bravo is up from Southern California to ride.
Other possible contenders include Il Bellator, who is 6-1 on the morning line after a recent third-place finish in the Pleasanton Mile in Northern California, and Seattle Bold, another California shipper who is 8-1 on the morning line.
A couple of the long shots in the field feature Snohomish County connections: A Man’s Man, who drew the rail, is owned by Howard Hammer of Stanwood, and Exclusive Speaker, breaking from the far outside gate, is owned by Michael Radovich of Lake Stevens.
The Mile will be the eighth of 10 races on a card that also features three other stakes races. The undercard features the $50,000 Emerald Distaff for fillies and mares, the $50,000 Muckleshoot Derby for 3-year-olds, and the $50,000 Washington Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. Racing starts at 2 p.m.
The field for the 88th running of the Longacres Mile with post positions, jockeys, and morning-line odds: 1: A Man’s Man, Alex Cruz, 20/1; 2: Arma d’Oro, Alexander Chavez, 20/1; 3: Zestful, Alexis Valdes, 12/1; 4: You’re the Cause, Javier Matias, 30/1; 5: Seattle Bold, Rocco Bowen, 8/1; 6: Il Bellator, Alejandro Gomez, 6/1; 7: Five Star General, Joe Bravo, 2/1; 8: Top Executive, Silvio Amador, 15/1; 9: Slew’s Tiz Whiz, Jose Zunino, 9/5; 10: Exclusive Speaker, Kevin Orozco, 20/1.
