Tizway dominated 10 opponents to win the $750,000 Whitney Invitational Handicap, and heavily favored Turbulent Descent scored an easy victory in the $250,000 Test Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Saturday at Saratoga Race Course.
Jockey Rajiv Maragh sent Tizway to the lead with five-sixteenths of a mile to run, and the 6-year-old was immediately in control. Tizway was three lengths in front of Flat Out at the wire, running 1-1/8 miles in 1 minute, 52.43 seconds.
Tizway paid $10.20 on a win bet. Giant Oak rallied late to finish a non-threatening third.
The Whitney victory for the H. James Bond-trained Tizway came on the heels of his win in the Metropolitan Handicap on May 30 at Belmont Park. The $450,000 share of the purse put Tizway's earnings at $1.36 million for owner William L. Clifton Jr.
''He's just a great horse,'' Bond said. ''He's a fast horse. He's a miler, and now he's shown us he can make two turns and carry it on. There's one more big hurdle, and that's 1-1/4 miles.
"The first three-eighths of a mile, I knew (the others) were in trouble. We were in good shape. He's got a high cruising speed, and he's got an endless supply of oxygen. This horse just keeps cruising.''
The California-based Turbulent Descent, with David Flores aboard, made a decisive move at the quarter pole and quickly opened a clear lead that she expanded to 3-3/4 lengths before reaching the wire in 1:24.17 for 7 furlongs. Pomeroys Pistol was second and Roman Treasure third of nine.
The Mike Puype-trained Turbulent Descent earned $165,000 for her owners, the Blinkers on Racing Stable and partners, and paid $3.90 on a win bet. It was her sixth win in eight career starts.
''There's not enough you can say: It's a breathtaking race,'' Puype said. ''She'll take on any horse out there at this distance. She's in deceleration at the finish. (This win is) huge. It puts her right to the top of the division. She's the favorite to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
