Tizamagician Back on Track After Dubai

ARCADIA, CA – Less than a month removed from a global trek to Dubai and back, MyRacehorse.com and Spendthrift Farm’s Tizamagician returned to the track for his first workout last Saturday.

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Following a narrow fourth in February’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3), Tizamagician was training forwardly for the $2.5 million U.A.E. Derby (G2), scheduled for March 28 as part of the Dubai World Cup (G1) undercard. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event’s cancellation, leaving Tizamagician – who had arrived to the track just a few days prior – in limbo.

Along with his Richard Mandella stablemate United (who was intended for the Dubai Turf [G1]), Tizamagician returned stateside and was given time to settle back into his home. Traveling to and from Dubai can take a lot out of American-based horses, who often need several weeks (or months) of recuperation period to get back into racing shape.

However, the Mandella barn reported on April 2 that Tizamagician was showing all of the right signs in terms of energy, attitude, and health.

Tizamagician poses with his groom, Rigo Rivera, shortly after returning from Dubai (Credit: Rigo Rivera)

Making his first timed appearance since March 16, Tizamagician completed 4 furlongs in :48.40 over the Santa Anita Park main track, placing him 20th among the 105 workers at that distance. The 3-year-old son of Tiznow was one of several Kentucky Derby (G1) prospects who worked there on Saturday. Others of note:

Exaulted (trainer Peter Eurton; 4 furlongs in :47.80)
Storm the Court (Eurton; 4 furlongs in :48.00)
American Code (Bob Baffert; 6 furlongs in 1:14.40)
American Theorem (George Papaprodromou; 6 furlongs in 1:14.80)
Thousand Words (Baffert; 6 furlongs in 1:12.40)
Eight Rings (Baffert; 7 furlongs in 1:27.80)

United also put in his first post-Dubai work on Saturday, covering 3 furlongs in :36.40. Like Tizamagician, the 5-year-old gelded son of Giant’s Causeway does not have a scheduled next start.

Like many other tracks across the nation, Santa Anita Park has temporarily ceased racing since March 27 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, though horses remain permitted to train.