Del Mar Graduation Stakes : Tissars Best Better Than Expected

The upset victory by Tissars Best in Wednesday’s Graduation Stakes for 2-year-old California-breds, seemed to cause problems for most everybody at the track.

First, there were the bettors, most of whom ignored the colt’s recent three-quarter-length victory at Los Alamitos and sent him off at 18-1, the fifth choice in the six-horse field.

That oversight allowed Tissars Best to pay $38.40 to win, $7.40 to place and $3.20 to show. Flying Lieutenant ran on late for second and paid $2.80 and $2.10. Blue Allied, the pace setter, finished third and paid $2.40.

Then, the real problems began. As media personnel began their descent to the jockey’s room, somebody realized that winning jockey Antonio Castanon, from Mexico City, did not speak any English.

Somebody else wondered what Castanon would have to say anyway. This was his first victory ever at Del Mar.

But, first things first. Martin Pedroza, another Spanish-speaking jockey, was sought out to act as Castanon’s interpreter. Then, Pedroza helped unfamiliar reporters find Castanon.

Once located, the 22-year-old rider seemed a bit overwhelmed by all of the attention. But he was happy to talk about his first victory.

“The race set up perfectly for my horse,” Castanon said through Pedroza. “The two speed horses (Blue Allied and Bawn’s Fields) tired each other out and my horse was in a good spot.”

Tissars Best, third most of the way, did come on well, passing the two leaders and holding off Flying Lieutenant by a half-length.

And Tissars Best’s victory wasn’t just a first for its jockey. Trainer Kent Jensen, who normally saddles horses in Denver or Phoenix and who once won a $100,000 race in Montana, was presented with his first victory at Del Mar.

“I honestly thought he had a good shot at winning this race; never mind the (odds),” Jensen said. “He had run a good race at Los Alamitos.”

But, he had had problems in his first outing, a maiden race at Hollywood Park in June, finishing sixth, 13 lengths back.

With that in mind, the crowd of 17,543 sent Flying Lieutenant, a son of former Santa Anita and Hollywood Derby winner Flying Paster, off as the 9-5 favorite. Flying Lieutenant, however, didn’t get going until it was too late.

“He just didn’t have any run in him,” jockey Gary Stevens said. “I finally forced him to go at the three-eighth’s pole but it was too late.”

Del Mar Notes John Henry, racing’s all-time earnings winner, worked out here Wednesday running 5 furlongs in 59 2/5 seconds. Clockers caught the 11-year-old gelding galloping out an extra furlong in 1:12 3/5. “I’m taking it one day at a time,” trainer Ron McAnally said. “We’ll try to get him ready, then look for a race.” John Henry, who has never run in a race here, will probably work again in six days and cover six furlongs, McAnally said. . . . Wednesday’s seventh race, a $24,000 Allowance, drew the attention of many fans because of the presence of recent Swaps Stakes winner, Clear Choice. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas had said Monday that he was running Clear Choice in lieu of a workout. Despite his clear edge in class, Clear Choice was sent off as the 5-2 second choice. He finished a distant fifth. Ultimate Pleasure, the 5-1 third choice, finished first, beating Mane Magic by a nose. . . . Patrick Valenzuela rode three winners Wednesday to move into a tie with Gary Stevens for the lead in the jockey standings. Both riders have nine victories.