Twisted Tom faced older horses for the first time in his career in Saturday’s $300,000 Empire Classic H. at Belmont Park, and the Creative Cause 3-year-old came away with a convincing three-length win in the 1 1/8-mile contest.
The chestnut sophomore has been a win machine for owners Cobra Farm, RR Partners and Head of Plains Partners, taking seven of his 10 starts, including five stakes, while earning $680,131. He is the leading earner this year for Creative Cause, whose $3.16 million in progeny earnings ranks fourth on the 2017 Second-Crop Sire list.
Javier Castellano put Twisted Tom into the race early, battling with Control Group up until mid-stretch, when he pulled away to stop the timer in 1:49.38 on a fast track.
“He put me in a good position right out of the gate, I dictate the pace, I dictate my position,” Castellano said. “I asked a little bit because you don’t know who’s going to close. He’s the kind of horse you have to ride a little bit, you have to keep busy on. The more you ask, the more he gives you.”
Twisted Tom was bred by Dr. William Wilmot and Dr. Joan Taylor. He is out of Tiffany Twister, who has six winners from as many foals.
