HOT SPRINGS — Multiple stakes winner Tiz Miz Sue’s first step toward her 6-year-old debut was a bullet workout Monday morning at Oaklawn Park.
Tiz Miz Sue, a daughter of Horse of the Year Tiznow, covered 3 furlongs in :35.40, fastest of 10 moves recorded at the distance.
Trainer Steve Hobby of Hot Springs said he’s targeting the $150,000 Grade III Azeri Stakes on March 16 for Tiz Miz Sue, who won the race in 2012.
The Azeri was Tiz Miz Sue’s only victory this year, but she’s bankrolled $400,000 for owner/breeder Carol Ricks.
Hobby said Ricks decided to keep Tiz Miz Sue in training, in part, because the mare’s half sister, Sue’s Sweet Sioux, a 4-year-old Indian Charlie filly, has already been retired as a broodmare.
Ricks and Hobby also campaigned Sue’s Good News, the dam of Tiz Miz Sue and Sue’s Sweet Sioux.
“We’ve still got the momma,” Hobby said. “We thought we might as well have another year of fun, if we can. We’re going to run her here, but if it doesn’t look like she’s as good, or better than she was last year, we’ll probably breed her at the end of this meet.”
Tiz Miz Sue has a 6-9-3 record from 28 lifetime starts and earnings of $689,709.
She ran second, beaten a neck, to champion RoyalDelta in the $750,000 Grade II Delaware Handicap on July 21 at Delaware Park.
Tiz Miz Sue’s full brother, 2-year-old Top Priority, has had three published workouts this month at Oaklawn for Hobby and Ricks.
In his only career start, Top Priority finished a closing sixth in a maiden allowance sprint Nov. 16 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
“He galloped out past the whole field,” Hobby said. “I was very pleased. Couldn’t ask for a better first start.”
Hobby said Top Priority should run early in the Oaklawn meeting, and the race will be around two turns.Willy’s back
Win Willy breezed a half-mile in :50.80 Monday morning in preparation for the $75,000 Fifth Season Stakes on Jan. 11.
A victory in the Fifth Season would make Win Willy a millionaire.
The 2011 Oaklawn Handicap winner has earned $960,387.
Sports, Pages 20 on 12/26/2012