Barclay Tagg, the trainer for Tiz the Law, is happy this weekend’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and not Churchill Downs.
Tiz the Law, installed as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line for Saturday’s $6 million Classic, has lost only twice in eight career starts and both defeats came at Churchill Downs.The most disappointing loss was his runner-up finish behind Authentic in the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5.
“He beat 14 or 15 other top 3-year-olds in the Kentucky Derby, but he got beat in it, too,” Tagg said Monday morning before Tiz the Law drew the No. 2 hole hours later during the post-position draw.
Tagg is convinced Tiz the Law does not like the Churchill Downs surface, which has been the case for a lot of horses over the years.
“He did look like he was swimming coming down the stretch,” he said.
Tiz the Law has normally enjoyed at least seven weeks between races, but he had only a four-week respite between his impressive victory in the Travers Stakes and the Derby.Is there a chance the son of Constitution was a tired horse heading into the Run for the Roses?
“I don’t think he was tired,” Tagg said. “He didn’t like the track. You could see it coming down the stretch. The jock jumped off and says, ‘He hated this track, Mr. Tagg.’ If he felt that way and I felt that way, that’s good enough for me.”
Tiz the Law faces a formidable task if he hopes to score his fourth Grade I victory of 2020 and secure Horse of the Year honors.
Trainer Bob Baffert has entered a trio of top contenders in 5-2 morning-line favorite Improbable, Maximum Security (7-2) and Authentic (6-1). They drew the three outside posts as Baffert tries for his fourth victory in the Classic after winning three consecutive from 2014-16 with Bayern, American Pharoah and Arrogate.
Toss in other top contenders, such as Tom’s d’Etat and By My Standards, and this is one of the deepest Classics in years.
This time, Tiz the Law will be coming back on nine weeks’ rest after skipping the Preakness on Oct. 3 and pointing for the World Championships, which was Tagg’s decision.
“It wasn’t tough for me,” he said. “It didn’t make the owners too happy, but they understood. Jack’s (co-owner Jack Knowlton) a great guy. He lets me do what I want. I couldn’t have a better guy to work for.”
Trainer Kenny McPeek made it official that Preakness winner Swiss Skydiver will square off against members of her own sex when he bypassed the Classic and entered his talented filly in the $2 million Distaff.
She’ll battle Monomoy Girl, who’s three-for-three this year after missing all of 2019 because of a mild case of colic and a pulled gluteal muscle. Monomoy Girl drew the outside post in a 10-horse field and is the 8-5 morning-line favorite. Swiss Skydiver will break from the No. 5 gate and is 2-1.
Jockey Luis Saez, who will ride Maximum Security in the Classic, will be a busy man this weekend. He has mounts in 13 of the 14 races that total $31 million in prize money, including all five races on Future Stars Friday.
The busiest local rider will be Flavien Prat, who is booked to ride eight horses, including 20-1 longshot Higher Power in the Classic.tiz the la
The heaviest favorite of the 37th Breeders’ Cup is the unbeaten Jackie’s Warrior in the $1 million Juvenile on Friday. The Maclean’s Music colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, has won his four starts, including a pair of Grade I stakes, by a combined 13 1/4 lengths and is 7-5 on the morning line.
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BREEDERS’ CUP FACTS
What: 14 championship races worth $31 million in purses.
When: Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7
Where: Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
Biggest race: $6 million Classic, which includes the Bob Baffert trio of Improbable (5-2), Maximum Security (7-2) and Authentic (6-1).
Heaviest favorite: Jackie’s Warrior (7-5) in the Juvenile.
TV times: Friday, 11 a.m., on NBC Sports Network; Saturday, 9 a.m., NBCSN, and 11:30 a.m., NBC.
Tiz the Law might benefit from Breeders’ Cup Classic being at Keeneland posted first on https://anaheimsignsorangecounty.blogspot.com
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