Another win for Tough Tiz’s Sis

Conventional dirt or synthetic surface doesn’t seem to matter to Tough Tiz’s Sis.

The consistent 4-year-old Tiznow filly won for the seventh time in 17 starts, taking the $108,500 Hawthorne Handicap as the 2-1 favorite today at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Bob Baffert for owners Watson and Weitman Performances LLC, Tough Tiz’s Sis has three wins in six races on synthetic tracks. She has four victories in 11 tries on conventional dirt.

In a Grade III that did not include the undefeated Zenyatta, the top older female in the country, Tough Tiz’s Sis was never far off the pace under jockey Aaron Gryder, took over from pacesetter Dawn After Dawn in the final sixteenth of a mile and went on to prevail by three-quarters of a length. The final time for the 1 1/16 miles was 1:41.84.

In winning for the second time in three starts in Inglewood, Tough Tiz’s Sis was more impressive than she had been when winning the Harry Hensen on March 16 at Sunland Park in New Mexico.

“The wind was blowing there and she got all stirred up,” Baffert said. “I really wasn’t pointing for this race, but I thought she worked pretty well (six furlongs in 1:12 4/5 on April 27 at Santa Anita), so we decided to run. I don’t have any ideas what we will do next. We just have to spot her and keep her away from Zenyatta.”

Santa Teresita, the 2-1 second choice, had her win streak end at three in her first graded stakes appearance. Dawn After Dawn finished third, 1 1/4 lengths behind Santa Teresita.

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Trainer Bobby Frankel could win the $250,000 Jim Murray Memorial Handicap, which will have its 19th running Saturday, for a seventh time because of the presence of the talented Champs Elysees.

Third behind Heatseeker and Go Between in the Santa Anita Handicap in his last start on March 1, Champs Elysees will be favored in his return to turf in the Murray, a Grade II at 1 1/2 miles on the turf. The race honors the late Pulitzer Prize winning columnist of The Times.

Frankel, whose last victory in the Murray came with Skipping in 2002, is also scheduled to start Sudan. The field is also expected to include defending champ On The Acorn, Boule d’Or and possibly Church Service, Shamdinan and Victorian Prince.

 bob.mieszerski@latimes.com