TIZLIGHTNING SETS TRACK RECORD, SWEEPS CHAMPIONSHIPS AT 1,000 YARDS
Battle Born Racing's Tizlightning completed a sweep of the two major races held at 1,000 yards at Los Alamitos this season while also setting a track record at this distance on Sunday night.
Ridden by Henry Reynoso Lopez and trained by Jesus Uranga, Tizlightning took the lead right from the start, settled nicely on the lead and then pulled away down the stretch to win the $75,000 Winter Championship at 1,000 Yards by two lengths. In the process, the 4-year-old gelding by Stanford covered the distance in :51.35, which bettered the previous track record set a year ago by Dutton of :51.514. Tizlightning also won the $50,000 Los Alamitos Summer Championship on June 18 in similar gate to wire fashion. For the year, the Lori Gallegos-bred runner has won five of his nine starts, while going five for seven in his starts at Los Alamitos. Tizlightning earned $40,425 for his victory in the Winter Championship to take his earnings for the year to $107,048. In his career, Tizlightning has won eight of 16 starts for earnings of $194,384.
"We were fortunate to find this horse, acquiring him privately," said Nick Hines of Battle Born Racing. "You see so many horses that get bought in California and leave the state. This horse found his niche. If you look back at his form, he was going the wrong way. Credit to Jesus Uranga and his entire team. I'd also like to give credit to Eclipse Farm. After Tizlightning won the Summer Championship, we sent him up to the farm in San Ynez and we let him hang on some grass for a month. It did him wonder. Jesus has been a true gentleman to work with and I'm not easy to work with. You can ask my wife that."
For Hines, who is a television host and racing analyst on FanDuel TV, Los Alamitos is a home away from home. The horseman and racing personality is often found on the TV set located on track at Los Alamitos as host on "The Quarters" broadcast.
"I'm forever grateful for Los Alamitos. This track was there during a difficult time in my life dating back to 2020, the pandemic year. Los Alamitos was one of the few tracks and virtually the only one in California that stood standing. I can't tell (Los Alamitos track owner) Ed Allred how much I appreciate (him). It's an honor to be on the set and work 'The Quarters'. I've learned a lot. To come up with a horse like this, who wins this 1,000-yard mixed-bred race and five of seven, I honestly can't come up with the superlatives. It's a tremendous honor. Thank you Tizlightning for making our dreams come true. When you write goals on paper and you can get to that goal, it just takes it to a whole new level."
Hines and winning rider Henry Reynoso Lopez share a few moments to recognize the memory of Neil Bricks, a longtime jockey agent who passed away from an illness in May of 2021. Hines, who also trained horses for many years in the Southern California Thoroughbred circuit, had a strong working relationship with Bricks. Lopez was among the agent's top clients prior to his passing.
"He was top notch agent and he never spun me on any calls, whether it was in the day when I was training or owning Battle Born," Hines recalled. "It's been a tough loss. Neil used to hang out on the set, and we would share stories. He always believed in Henry. I thought deeply in regard to Neil Bricks and I thought to myself that this would be a wonderful way to honor him with this trophy and this victory."
Ridden by Edgar Payeras, Ann McCurdy and Brian Pitnick's Proud Veteran was outstanding in finishing second in this race at 17-1, while earning $16,688 for his effort. The 6-year-old by Justin Phillips has finished second or higher in 10 of 20 career starts. Winding, who is also owned by Battle Born, was flying in the final furlong to move up from seventh to third place, picking up a $9,187 paycheck in the process. Six others competed in this event and crossed the wire in the following order: Bound To Bet, Sigur Ros, Big Cheddar, Tiger's Arrow, Dream Robber, and Erebus.
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