Tiz Flirtatious Looks Tough in Valentine Dancer
Regarded by many as California’s top current state-bred mare at middle distances, Tiz Flirtatious takes a steep drop in class and looms a standout in Saturday’s $100,000 Valentine Dancer Stakes for California-bred fillies and mares at one mile on turf.
A solid second as the 7-5 favorite in the Grade III Robert J. Frankel Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on soft turf Dec. 30, the 5-year-old mare by Tizbud ran a huge second, beaten a length, in the Grade I Matriarch at one mile on Nov. 25.
Trained by Marty Jones and owned by her breeders, Pamela Ziebarth, has an enviable record of 7-4-2-1, with earnings of $274,800. She’ll be ridden back by Rafael Bejarano, who should be able to adapt to any pace scenario.
Consistent Halo Dolly, who loomed a winner and finished fourth, beaten three lengths in the Frankel, has an impressive 6-5-0-0 record at one mile on turf and had an incredible 2012, going 12-7-0-1 and amassing $675,896 in earnings.
A 5-year-old mare by Popular, Halo Dolly has run well from off the pace and on the lead. Owned by Hoefflin or O’Farrell, Schneider and partners, she has an overall mark of 25-14-3-2. She is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer.
Idle since weakening to an eighth-place finish in the Grade III Autumn Miss Stakes at one mile on turf on Oct. 27, Best Present Ever could prove dangerous for trainer Eric Kruljac. Third in the Grade I American Oaks at Betfair Hollywood Park on July 14, she is a stakes winner at a mile on turf and should show good speed off the bench.
Owned and bred by her owners, Dennis and Norine Grenier, the 4-year-old filly by Unusual Heat has $205,800 in earnings from a record of 10-3-2-2.
The Valentine Dancer, which will be run as Saturday’s fifth race, with jockeys and weights in post position order: Toomanytomatoes, Kevin Krigger, 118; Best Present Ever, Martin Pedroza, 120; Tiz Flirtatious, Rafael Bejarano, 120; Chokecherymary, Julien Leparoux, 116; Secret Cove, Garrett Gomez, 118; Miss Becca, Edwin Maldonado, 116; Halo Dolly, Joe Talamo, 123, and Dancingtothestars, Mario Gutierrez, 116.