by Mike Curry

Out of Control (Brz) earned his first career stakes victory on Saturday at Hollywood Park by stunning one of the top turf horses in the United States.

The four-year-old Vettori colt finished gamely on the outside to wear down four-time Grade 1 winner The Tin Man and prevail by head in the $250,000 American Invitational Handicap (G2).

The Tin Man, who carried a four-race winning stretch into the race, stalked pacesetter Willow O Wisp through a half-mile in :48.38 and powered past that foe leaving the final turn in the 1 1/8-mile turf race. Under Michael Baze, Out of Control rallied to challenge The Tin Man from three wide and the duo battled through stretch.

“At the quarter pole, both horses were digging in hard and I was trying to keep him there because I know how much heart The Tin Man has,” Baze said.

The Tin Man, ridden by Victor Espinoza, maintained a slim lead in early stretch but Out of Control gradually drew even. The Tin Man, who was conceding ten pounds to Out of Control, dug in along the inside but could not turn back the determined victor.

Trained by Bobby Frankel for owner-breeder TNT Stud, Out of Control completed the distance on turf rated as firm in 1:46.89.

“He ran a great race today, said Humberto Ascanio, assistant to Frankel. “When you beat a horse like The Tin Man it really shows the kind of heart this horse has.”

Grade 1-placed stakes winner Fast and Furious (Fr) closed from last in the six-horse field to finish third, a half-length behind The Tin Man.

The Tin Man, who carried high weight of 123 pounds, entered off a win on May 28 at Hollywood Park in the Shoemaker Mile Stakes (G1), which was his third straight Grade 1 win.

“We ran a great race,” said Richard Mandella, who trains The Tin Man for owners Ralph and Aury Todd. “The horse had a perfect trip, and we have no excuses. It just wasn’t good enough to give [Out of Control] ten pounds today, that’s all.”

Out of Control, who is out of the Fitzcarraldo mare Heavenly Dancer, entered off a 1 1/4-length victory in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race on May 27 at Hollywood Park. He improved to four wins in eight starts and more than doubled his career earnings to $249,371.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times daily news editor