Tiz A Minister Rallies From Last To Win Affirmed Handicap At Hollywood Park

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Tiz a Minister rallied from last to win the $100,750 Affirmed Handicap by a length at Betfair Hollywood Park on Sunday for his first graded stakes victory.

Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Tiz a Minister ran 1 1/16 miles on Cushion Track in 1:45.79 and paid $12.40, $5.40 and $3.

Nakatani earned his third win in the Affirmed, having won the race in 1995 and '97. It was trainer Paul Aguirre's first graded stakes victory at Betfair Hollywood Park since 2004, in the Desert Stormer Handicap.

"I told (Nakatani) that was a great Calvin Borel imitation," Aguirre said. "That ride was definitely the difference between winning and losing."

Den's Legacy returned $3.80 and $2.80 while falling to 0-5 this year. Manando was another three-quarters of a length back in third and paid $2.80 to show as the 19-10 favorite. Bob Baffert trains both horses.

Tiz a Minister has three wins in 13 career starts and earnings of $420,780. All of his wins have come in 11 starts since was claimed for $40,000 by Aguirre last August at Del Mar on behalf of the owners.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens took off his mounts Sunday due to soreness after being unseated in Saturday's seventh race. The 50-year-old rider was thrown when favored Two Blue Hens ducked out on the first turn of the turf race.

Stevens is set to ride Preakness winner Oxbox in the Belmont Stakes next weekend.

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