ARCADIA, Calif - In the days leading up to Saturday's $1 million Santa Anita Handicap, little went smoothly for Tiznow, the 2000 Horse of the Year.

	Tiznow will be favored to become the first reigning Horse of the Year to win the Big Cap since John Henry succeeded in 1982

He was bothered by a quarter crack on Monday and Tuesday, a disrupted training schedule caused by wet weather all week, and a saddle that slipped during a routine gallop on Wednesday.

Hardly a day went by without something drawing concern from trainer Jay Robbins, who as late as Wednesday afternoon was dealing with the patch that protects the quarter crack on Tiznow's troubled right front foot.

But in approximately two minutes on Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita, the frustration may be forgotten.

Tiznow will be favored to become the first reigning Horse of the Year to win the Big Cap since John Henry succeeded in 1982. His opponents will include Guided Tour, after trainer Niall O'Callaghan decided at the last moment to remain in town rather than ship to Fair Grounds for the New Orleans Handicap.

After Tiznow galloped on a muddy track on Thursday, Robbins was confident in his colt. "He was very aggressive and strong," Robbins said.

On Wednesday afternoon, the patch was replaced after it became separated from the foot during the morning gallop. The supporting wiring and screws holding the quarter crack together were not damaged, Robbins said.

"The patch looks good, that's the important thing," Robbins said.

Despite his reputation, Tiznow has not scared away the competition.

There are 13 entrants for the Big Cap, including Guided Tour, the winner of the San Antonio Handicap on Feb. 4, and Wooden Phone, who upset Tiznow in the Strub Stakes on Feb. 3.

Guided Tour has been based at Santa Anita since the San Antonio. He had been expected to ship to Fair Grounds for Sunday's $500,000 New Orleans Handicap, but O'Callaghan and owner Morton Fink changed their mind on Wednesday night and decided to stay.

In addition, the longshot Nurdlinger, fifth in the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes and the Strub Stakes at this meeting, joined the field on Thursday morning.

The weather could play a factor in the size of the field because of a chance of rain on Saturday. Tiznow, who was listed by trainer Jay Robbins as "day-to-day" for much of the week, is expected to start regardless of track condition.

Owned by Michael Cooper and the children of the late Cecilia Straub-Rubens, Tiznow won four consecutive stakes before the Strub Stakes, a span that included the Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs.

"He's done more than we ever could have hoped, and everything else is a bonus," Cooper said on Thursday morning at Robbins's barn. "It's good to see him looking good and feeling good."

A victory on Saturday would firmly establish Tiznow's status as the nation's leading handicap horse. A loss, combined with a win by anyone other than Wooden Phone or Guided Tour, would throw the division wide open.

Customarily, Tiznow leads or disputes the pace, which could be a tough assignment on Saturday. Irisheyesareflying, the winner of an allowance race on Feb. 16, and Wooden Phone, who was third to Tiznow in the San Fernando Breeders' Cup Stakes on Jan. 13, are likely to contribute to the pace.

For Irisheyesareflying, who was claimed last summer for $50,000, there is no alternate style, trainer John Dolan said.

"Maybe I should go like crazy and say, 'If you want to, come and get me,' but you can't go too crazy," Dolan said. "Hopefully, the jockey will be smart enough to save a little."

Bienamado and Beat All, stakes winners on turf who are making their first starts on dirt; and Jimmy Z and Lethal Instrument, who were third in the Strub and San Antonio, respectively, are capable of winning with their best efforts, especially if a fast pace develops.

Wooden Phone, who led throughout the Strub Stakes, is considered the biggest danger to Tiznow, but missed a week of training because of a virus in February.

"We don't know if that will affect him, and we won't know until we turn for home," trainer Bob Baffert said. "So far, it looks like he's come back, but it's in the back of our minds."

"Tiznow is still by far the best horse in the race. We got lucky to beat him."