Tizbud, Pass Rush Among San Fernando Hopefuls

The $200,000 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes (gr. II), a 1 1/16-mile main track event set to be run on Jan. 11, is expected to draw a nearly full field of talented 4-year-olds, according to Santa Anita's stakes coordinator Rick Hammerle.

Among those expected for the event, considered the main prep for the Feb. 1 Strub Stakes (gr. II) are Tizbud, a maiden winner best known as a full brother to two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) hero Tiznow; highly regarded Pass Rush, who will ship in from the East Coast for trainer Patrick Byrne; and grade one-placed Ocean Sound, who came back off a next-to-last place finish and subsequent injury in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) to win and finish second in grassy allowance races at Hollywood Park.

Over a main track rated fast on Saturday, Ocean Sound worked three-quarters of a mile in 1:13 1/5, handily, under Hall of Fame jockey Julie Krone. Trainer Jim Cassidy caught the colt in splits of :13 1/5 for the first quarter, :23 3/5 for the final quarter and :10 1/5 for the final eighth.

"He always trains well, so nothing much has changed," Cassidy said. "But one thing that will change is that Julie will be riding him in the San Fernando."

Ocean Sound was ridden by Mike Smith in his last two races and by the injured Hall of Famer Eddie Delahoussaye, during the Triple Crown trail.

Trainer John Sadler said Tizbud will get his final pre-San Fernando drill on Sunday morning. If all goes well in the San Fernando, the lightly raced California-bred son of Cee's Tizzy will turn up again in the Strub.

Other notable names considered San Fernando probables include Century City and Mananan McLir. Possible runners are Olmodovor, Rushin' to Altar, Sunday Break, Tracemark and U S S Tinosa.