Golden Itiz pulls off Affirmed victory

Jay Em Ess Stable's GOLDEN ITIZ (Tiznow) was forced wide around the first

turn of Saturday's $100,000

Affirmed

H. (G3) at Hollywood Park, but put in a rally down the stretch to just get

up for the win in the 8 1/2-furlong test by a half-length. With jockey Tyler

Baze aboard, the Ron Ellis trainee finished up his stakes debut in 1:42 4/5 on

the Cushion Track and added a third straight score to his line, which now stands

at 4-3-0-1.

"He's going to be one of those horses that

really guts it out every time," Ellis said. "I thought he was in a little bit of trouble at

the quarter-pole. I

thought he was starting to get in a little deep, but as soon as he straightened

out in the

lane he knew what he was doing. He's very professional for a young horse.

"He's one that the plan has actually worked. You like to think

they're going to be good enough to do certain stakes races when you have

them and you think they're that good, so you try to put them on a plan

that's going to take them to those races. Everything's worked out just

right for him. I don't think he got a whole lot out of his last race.

This race will teach him a lot. It looks like the (July 17) Swaps (G2)

is next."

Skipshot (Skip Away) moved up from his rail post to take the lead, but went

wide on the turn, taking Golden Itiz with him. Ranger Heartley (Lost Soldier) took

advantage of that gaff, running through on the inside to grab command and set

the pace through splits of :23, :46 1/5 and 1:10 4/5. Skipshot settled

down to his outside while Gallant Gent (Yankee Gentleman) and Golden Itiz raced

in tandem just in behind.

Ranger Heartley, Gallant Gent, Distorted Dave (Distorted Humor) and

Mindblower (Giant's Causeway) completed the order under the wire after Thomas

Baines (Johannesburg) was withdrawn.

Golden Itiz boosted his earnings to $118,080 with Saturday's win. The dark

bay colt ran third in his career debut at Santa Anita on February 11, then broke

his maiden by two lengths back on the Pro-Ride on March 20. A little over a

month later, the sophomore showed up at Hollywood Park to demolish an

allowance/optional claiming field by 11 1/4 lengths while going the Affirmed

distance. Bred in Kentucky by William A. Carl, the colt sold to his current

connections as a $240,000 Keeneland September yearling.

Golden Itiz is out of the winning Golden Tiy (Dixieland Band), making him a

half-brother to 1999 Prioress S. (G2) and La Troienne S. (G3) victress Sapphire

N' Silk (Pleasant Tap), herself the dam of Grade 2 winner Shaniko (A.P. Indy)

and multiple stakes heroine Silky Smooth (Mr. Greeley). He's also a half-brother

to the winning Silk N' Sapphire (Smart Strike), who produced Saturday's All

Along S. (G3) queen Shared Account (Pleasantly Perfect). Golden Tiy's most

recent foals include an unraced juvenile filly named Pulpit Angel (Pulpit), an

unnamed yearling colt by Corinthian and a 2010 filly by Smart Strike.