To Tin Man, Age Is Only a Number

The senior citizen of the Richard Mandella barn has been the most productive member of the stable in the first quarter of the winter-spring meet at Santa Anita.

The Tin Man, an 8-year-old gelded son of Affirmed, now has provided two of the three wins that Mandella, a member of racing’s hall of fame since 2001, has through the first 21 days in Arcadia after his victory in the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes on Sunday.

Beset by various physical ailments throughout his career, The Tin Man is on top of his game.

He has won twice since returning from a 15-month layoff. In the San Marcos, a race in which he finished second three years earlier, he tracked the pace set by Whilly, took over into the stretch under jockey Victor Espinoza and prevailed by one length in 1:58.39 for the 1 1/2 miles on turf. The dark bay paid $8.20 as the 3-1 second choice.

In the process, The Tin Man, who races for owner-breeders Ralph and Aury Todd, became the oldest horse to win a stakes at Santa Anita since Kona Gold captured the 2003 El Conejo as a 9-year-old. It also was the ninth victory in 23 career outings for The Tin Man, and eight of those have come over the Santa Anita grass.

“Considering the terrible meet I’ve been having, this is really rewarding,” said Mandella after his third win in the San Marcos. “He looked comfortable. Victor looked like he had a lot of horse all the way. This horse is happy and sound right now. Imagine how good he’s going to be when he’s 10.”

Milk It Mick, a 28-1 shot making his U.S. debut for owner Paul Dixon and trainer Jim Cassidy, rallied in the stretch to edge Whilly, who was trying to become the first horse to win the San Marcos twice, by a head for second. Atlando, the 3-1 favorite, wound up fourth.

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Post positions will be drawn today in Florida for the eight Sunshine Millions races that will be run Saturday at Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park.

A total of 140 horses were entered in advance last week for the fourth annual Millions, which is restricted to California- and Florida-breds.

The richest race of the eight is the $1-million Classic, which will be run here. A dozen are considered probable for the Classic, including McCann’s Mojave, Buzzards Bay, Desert Boom, Calkins Road, Trickey Trevor and Proud Tower Too.

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Attila’s Storm, who finished third as the 3-2 favorite in the $150,000 Palos Verdes Handicap on Saturday, suffered a fracture in his left hind leg and is scheduled to have surgery today at Alamo Pintado in Buellton, Calif. The 4-year-old son of colt Forest Wildcat, who has won four of 11 and was fourth at 45-1 in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint, is expected to be able to return to racing.