Valenzuela Shoots for Sixth Railbird
Jockey Patrick Valenzuela, who has won the Railbird Stakes here a record five times, seeks to lift that mark to six Saturday when he rides Big Tiz in the Grade III $100,000 test for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs.
Big Tiz is trained by Mark Glatt and co-owned by Allen and Susan Branch, the same connections for whom Valenzuela won the 2004 Railbird aboard Elusive Diva.
Valenzuela also won the race with Melair in 1986, Sportfull Snob in 1994, September Secret in 2002 and Short Route in 2005.
Valenzuela is also approaching the 100-stake mark at Hollywood Park. The 48-year-old veteran has won 98 added-money races here, 10th on the list. Laffit Pincay, Jr., leads with 288 and is followed by Chris McCarron, Bill Shoemaker, Eddie Delahoussaye, Alex Solis, Gary Stevens, Corey Nakatani, Kent Desormeaux and Victor Espinoza.
Big Tiz, runner-up in the Hollywood Starlet in December, seeks her first stakes win.
LITT HAPPY TO RETURN TO WINNER’S CIRCLE
Trainer Joshua Litt savored his first victory in more than four years when he sent out Winter Blossom to a popular victory in a $30,000 maiden claiming race for fillies and mares at seven furlongs Sunday.
“I went into the horse transportation business in April of 2007 and got my trainer’s license back in January,” said Litt Thursday. “A partner and I bought out Cargill and renamed it Morningstar.”
Litt, 41, trained for nine years before making the career change and will try to do balance both now. “I had two 2-year-olds come in today and have six now and can’t afford another trainer,” explained Litt.
Winter Blossom, a California-bred 3-year-old filly that Litt purchased for $6,000 at the Barretts May 2010 sale, won at second asking for Litt’s J B K Stable. “My grandfather’s initials,” explained Litt of his stable name.
Winter Blossom was Litt’s seventh starter this year since his return.
His current stable includes Lucky Primo, who won the 2008 California Cup Juvenile for Marty Jones. “He’s had his problems,” said Litt of the injury-plagued horse.