Decision Proves to Be Good

After Eye Of The Tiger ran a respectable fifth, beaten less than five lengths by Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby, his handlers were tempted to move on to the Preakness two weeks later.

Owner-breeder John Gunther and trainer Jerry Hollendorfer resisted the trip to Maryland, opting to return to California and prepare the colt for the Affirmed Handicap and Swaps Stakes, Hollywood Park’s two main events for 3-year-olds on dirt.

The decision looks like a good one. Against only three opponents Sunday in the $105,200 Affirmed, a Grade III, 9-10 favorite Eye Of The Tiger earned his third win in seven starts.

Content to sit off the pace in third for a good portion of the 1 1/16 miles, the son of American Chance made a powerful move through an opening inside of pacesetter Ministers Wild Cat on the far turn and ended the drama.

Earning his first win at a track other than Golden Gate Fields, Eye Of The Tiger won by 4 1/2 lengths over Ministers Wild Cat, the 2-1 second choice, and ran the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.30.

There’s little doubt Eye Of The Tiger is improving, and he could make his presence felt against a stronger field in the $400,000 Swaps Stakes on July 13. Ten Most Wanted, the runner-up to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes and winner of the Illinois Derby, is pointing for the 1 1/8-mile race.

“He was a little tired after the Derby and I just weighed my thoughts and told John that I didn’t think we should put him to the test [in the Preakness],” Hollendorfer said. “[Gunther] agreed with me and we brought him back to California. We’re trying to look after this colt and do what’s right for him. He ran a really good race today.”

Alex Solis, who Sunday became Eye Of The Tiger’s sixth jockey, came away impressed.

“When I got down on him the last part of the race, he was really reaching out,” he said. “It looks like more distance will help him even more. We’ll be ready for the Swaps.”

Ministers Wild Cat finished a neck in front of Bullistic, the longshot at 7-1.

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Besides winning the $159,100 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap with heavily favored Whosleavingwho, trainer Paul Jones won four other races Saturday on California Champions Night at Los Alamitos.

Jones’ biggest win came in the $342,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity when 6-5 favorite Metallic Lion edged 9-1 shot Dividends Declared. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for the Anjora Corporation, the 2-year-old Apollo colt covered the 350 yards in 17.59 seconds.

The meet’s leading trainer settled for second with Sum Special Strawfly in the $137,700 Governor’s Cup Derby. The Grade I was won by Magic And Rhythm, who has four victories in a row for Enrique Gonzalez’s EG High Desert Farms and trainer Concepcion Balderrama.

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Wando, the 7-5 favorite, won the $1-million Queen’s Plate, the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, by nine lengths Sunday at Woodbine.