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The Tin Man revisits Hirsch winner's circle
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The Tin Man followed the yellow brick road to victory
(Alex Evers/Horsephotos.com) |
Ralph E. and Aury Todd's homebred THE TIN MAN (Affirmed) proved once again
that age is just a number when wiring the field in the $250,000
Clement Hirsch
Memorial Turf Championship S. (G1) over the Santa Anita turf course on Saturday.
Taking the lead right out of the gate under Victor Espinoza, the rejuvenated
eight-year-old set moderate splits of :25, :49 4/5, 1:13 3/5 and 1:36 4/5,
before finishing off 1 1/4 miles over the firm going in 2:00 for conditioner
Richard Mandella. The prohibitive 1-2 favorite, fresh off a dynamic tally in the
Arlington Million S. (G1), rewarded his backers with mutuels of $3, $2.10 and $2.10."He's a trier," Espinoza said. "Of all the horses I've ridden, nobody tries
harder. This isn't just 'The Tin Man', this is 'The Gold Man'.
T. H. Approval (With Approval) was into the race much earlier than he's
accustomed to but challenged the winner every step of the way late, falling a
measured head shy of the top prize. The 5-2 second choice paid $2.40 and $2.10
while on the bottom of the paltry $2.60 exacta ($1). Artiste Royale (Ire) (Danehill)
was also in with a chance late but could never get to the top pair, finishing
another half-length farther back at 7-1. Show was worth $2.10, while the winning
4-5-3 trifecta returned a skimpy $5.40 ($1). Fantastic Spain (Fantastic Fellow) was
next and was followed by Quinquin the King (Fr) (Take Risks) and Sharp Writer
(Capote).
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The Tin Man has now reeled off three consecutive wins, and five in his last
six outings with the lone loss an impressive second coming in the Dubai Duty
Free (G1) at Nad al Sheba. For his career, the dark bay has amassed earnings
of $3,126,860 from a 27-12-5-2 lifetime mark. His top graded tallies outside of
the Arlington Million include the 2002 rendition of this event, the American
Invitational H. (G2), San Luis Obispo H. (G2), American H. (G2) and the San
Marcos S. (G2).
Bred in the Bluegrass State, the winner is the second stakes hero out of
Lizzie Rolfe (Tom Rolfe).
Mandella and Eduardo Inda, the trainer of runner-up T. H. Approval, both
indicated that their respective horses will be pointed towards a start in the
Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) on November 4.
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