Tiz Shea D scampers to rousing victory in $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2)

Tiz Shea D’s young career reached new heights on Saturday evening when the 3-year-old Tiznow colt scored a 1 ¼-length triumph in the $500,000 Indiana Derby (G2).

Tiz Shea D is Tiznow’s leading earner of 2015 and one of his eight stakes winners, topped by Grade 1 Vanity S. champ My Sweet Addiction. 

The Indiana Grand track was rendered sloppy following a heavy downpour earlier in the evening, making it the first time Tiz Shea D would race on an off track since his runner-up finish in the Gotham S. (G3) in early March.

Mr. Z was hustled to the lead, while Jose Lezcano took Tiz Shea D off the rail in second to track the leader.  Lezcano was content with his position until near the head of the stretch, when he moved up quickly to the leader, and after a brief tussle, pulled ahead to win with something to spare.

The final time for the 1 1/16-miles was 1:43.02 and earned the winner a lifetime-best Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

“He’s been improving race by race,” Kenny McCarthy, assistant to trainer Bill Mott, said. “Looking at the (past performances), Bill said it didn’t look like there was a lot of speed in here, and our horse had shown some speed, so we told Jose, ‘Go ahead and let him be happy near the front.’

“You know, Mr. Z is a great horse, and when you get in a dogfight with him, it’s going to be tough. Jose gave our horse a little breather on the frontside and then when he went for him. He tried to get by him as fast as he could and not play around with it.”

The winner was bred in Kentucky by Green Lantern Stables out of the A.P. Indy mare Ender’s Sister, a three-time stakes winner who has also produced multiple stakes winner A. P. Indian. 

Tiz Shea D’s record now stands at two wins and two seconds from six starts, with earnings of $460,056. He is owned by the partnership of Brous Stable, LLC, Gary Barber and Wachtel Stable.