Tranquility Lake Tries to Move Into Class by Herself

DEL MAR —  Through the years, the $150,000 Palomar Handicap has been won by some top-class fillies and mares. The Grade II race, to be run for the 49th time on Saturday, has been taken by the likes of Happyanunoit, Tuzla, Super Staff, Aberuschka, Kilijaro, Dancing Femme, Modus Vivendi and Time To Leave.

Tranquility Lake will try to outshine them all when she goes for her second stakes win of the meet in the Palomar, which has been run on the turf since 1970. Owned by Mr. and Mrs. Marty Wygod and trained by Julio Canani, the 6-year-old daughter of Rahy will try to become the first two-time winner of the race. Last year, she led every step of the way in defeating Tout Charmant, who is also back in 2001, by 21/2 lengths.

A multiple-stakes winner on the grass with $1,473,390 in career earnings, Tranquility Lake showed some versatility last month and gave her connections some options for the remainder of the year. Against only three rivals in the $300,000 Clement L. Hirsch Handicap, she decisively defeated Gourmet Girl, who had won the Apple Blossom and Vanity Handicaps in her previous two starts, for her first main track win since 1999.

After the Palomar, Tranquility Lake could be headed back to the dirt for the $200,000 Lady’s Secret Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Santa Anita or stay on the turf for the $500,000 Yellow Ribbon. Both races are Sept. 29. The Breeders’ Cup at Belmont Park on Oct. 27 then becomes the destination and she will be entered in both the Distaff and the Filly and Mare Turf. On what surface she runs that day depends on the weather, according to Canani.

As far as the Breeders’ Cup goes, the main track might be the better option. The older fillies and mares have taken turns beating each other all year and the actual one to beat is probably Flute, the nation’s top 3-year-old filly. The Distaff is run at 11/8 miles around one turn and is probably a better distance for Tranquility Lake than the 11/4 miles of the Filly and Mare Turf. Wherever the rest of 2001 takes her, the mare is thriving at the moment. “She’s doing unbelievable,” said Canani. “She’s in a great frame of mind. She takes everything in stride.

“She’s always trained super on the dirt, whether it be here, Santa Anita or Hollywood Park. I thought she would run really well in the Hirsch. When I left the paddock that day [Aug. 5], she was 5-1. I couldn’t believe it. I went to check her to make sure she didn’t have a broken leg.”

All was obviously well with Tranquility Lake. Her price shrunk to 2-1 and she rewarded her backers with $6.60.

The bay mare may not be the only starter Canani and the Wygods have on Breeders’ Cup day. Tribal Rule, a 5-year-old son of Storm Cat, could wind up in the BC Sprint. Second in his lone start last year, the lightly raced horse has been impressive in his two races here. He returned with an eight-length win over maidens on Aug. 4, then last weekend won an allowance race by five while completing the six furlongs in 1:09. He was taken in hand well before the wire by jockey David Flores in both outings.

Where he runs next remains uncertain. The $300,000 Vosburgh, a Grade I at seven furlongs, on Sept. 22 at Belmont Park is a possibility. So, too, is the $200,000 Ancient Title Breeders’ Cup Handicap on Oct. 6 at Santa Anita. In the latter he would have to face defending Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion Kona Gold.

“I don’t know how good he is,” said Canani. “He hasn’t beaten a top horse yet, but he’s done everything so easy. It’s like with [unbeaten 2-year-old] Officer. They put everything away in the middle of the turn and then just keep opening up.”

The start of Tribal Rule’s career was delayed when he broke his right hind leg as a 2-year-old. Given plenty of time to heal, he debuted last year at Oak Tree and finished second to Romanzo.

“They put pins and everything in his leg and it tried to reopen, so we sent him to the farm before anything happened,” said Canani. “He’s grown up a lot since we brought him back. He has such a long stride.”

*

Besides Tranquility Lake and Tout Charmant, who hasn’t run since winning the Matriarch at Hollywood Park on Nov. 26, the others entered in the Palomar Thursday morning were La Ronge, Al Desima, Paga, Histoire Sainte and High Walden.

*

Tiznow, idle since winning the Santa Anita Handicap nearly six months ago, worked seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 Thursday morning for trainer Jay Robbins. The horse of the year in 2000, the California-bred son of Cee’s Tizzy is scheduled to make his comeback in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes on Sept. 8 at Belmont Park.

With regular rider Chris McCarron aboard, Tiznow went three furlongs in 36 2/5, the half in 48 3/5, five furlongs in 1:00 3/5 and six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 en route to his 1:25 4/5 clocking.

The winner of last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, Tiznow, who is owned by the family of the late Cece Straub Rubens and Michael Cooper, will leave for New York on Tuesday.