ARCADIA, Calif. -- The problems that plagued 2000 Breeders' Cup Classic winner Tiznow in late December and early January are behind him for the moment.

Trainer Jay Robbins said Tuesday that Tiznow emerged from victory in Saturday's Grade 2 San Fernando Breeders' Cup Handicap at Santa Anita without any foot problems, which previously had been a concern. The 4-year-old Tiznow had bruised his left front foot in December, and developed a crack in his right front foot in January, which later was patched.

Tiznow wore the patch Saturday in his 1 1/4-length victory over runner-up Walkslikeaduck, and, Robbins said, it caused no problems during the race. "Everything looks good still," he said. "The patch stayed intact and the foot is ice cold.

Tiznow took longer than many expected to take control of the San Fernando. He stalked pacesetter Wooden Phone on the first turn and the backstretch, and was third entering the stretch behind Wooden Phone and Walkslikeaduck. Racing three-wide, he responded to jockey Chris McCarron's urging to take the lead in the final eighth.

Tiznow's next start be in the $500,000 Strub Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Feb. 3, when he will probably face largely the same field as he faced on Saturday.

The race comes five days after the Eclipse Award dinner in New Orleans, where Tiznow is likely to be named Horse of the Year for 2000, a title earned largely last fall with wins in the Super Derby, Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap, and, most importantly, the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Robbins and co-owner Michael Cooper said Tiznow's schedule will be similar this year; he will stay in California until the end of the summer when Breeders' Cup preps begin in earnest.

His main goals are the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap March 3, the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup July 1, and the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August en route to the Breeders' Cup at Belmont Park in November.