Privman takes Tokyo City S. for first black type win

After placing in last month’s Goodwood S. (G1), Privman tallied his first stakes win Saturday at Santa Anita Park with a three-quarter length win in the Tokyo City S.

Privman, named former Daily Racing Form writer Jay Privman, is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Bashor, Determined Stables, Masterson, Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Donovan.

For the first half of Saturday’s one-mile contest, Privman was second and within half-length of Pony Express. Entering the final turn, Pony Express began to pull away and was three lengths in front of Privman at the top of the stretch. Seemingly defeated at the sixteenth pole, Privman used a final surge to get by Pony Express in a dramatic finish.

“He’s a tricky horse to ride. He’s quirky. That horse in front us is a good horse,” said trainer Bob Baffert of the winner. “I thought he was gone. But then all of a sudden when Juan started getting after him, he just took off again. I thought it was over. He’s very talented. He’s getting better mentally but is just very quirky.”

Privman, a 3-year-old son of Baffert’s 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, is now 3-3-1 in seven starts and has earned $230,278.