Iron Rob Catches Tiz a Billy in Baffle Stakes

Supplemented at a cost of $1,500, longshot Iron Rob validated the investment with a half length win in Sunday’s $75,000 Baffle Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs.  Originally scheduled for the hillside turf at the same distance, the Baffle was switched to the main track due to rainfall earlier this week.  Ridden by Santiago Gonzalez and trained by George Papaprodromou, the 3-year-old Florida-bred colt by Twirling Candy got the distance in 1:15.50.

Breaking from post position two in a field that was reduced to four sophomores by a pair of late scratches, Iron Rob sat a restrained second to favored Tiz a Billy around the far turn, took over a furlong out and won while eased up a bit at the wire.

With no show wagering, Iron Rob, who was pulled up after the race on the Club House turn and did not return to the Winner’s Circle, was off at 5-1 and paid  $13.60 and $3.80. 

“He’s fine,” said Papaprodromou.  “He stumbled coming out of the gate. Santiago was holding him the whole way.  Crossing the wire, he was holding him even.  He jumped off because he didn’t want to have him keep galloping out or to have to jog back after.”

Owned by Kretz Racing, LLC, Iron Rob, who broke his maiden two starts back going 5 ½ furlongs at Los Alamitos Dec. 4, got his second win from nine starts.  With the winner’s share of $47,100, he increased his earnings to $110,520.

Tiz a Billy, who took the lead coming out of the seven furlong chute, battled back late under Flavien Prat and finished 8 ½ lengths in front of He’s a Tiger.  Off at 3-5, Tiz a Billy paid $2.60 to place.