Tiz the Law among favourites for Kentucky Derby

Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law will bid to capture the second leg of US racing’s Triple Crown on Saturday at the 146th Kentucky Derby.

The biggest event on the US racing calendar is taking place without any of its usual pomp and ceremony, with the threat of COVID-19 meaning the usual crowd of 150,000 spectators will not be allowed at Churchill Downs.

The coronavirus pandemic upended the US racing season, forcing the Kentucky Derby to be moved from its slot on May 2, and rearranging the normal timetable for Triple Crown events.

The Belmont Stakes was shortened and delayed two weeks but run in June as the Triple Crown opener instead of the finale, with the Derby second in the order and the Preakness, usually the middle leg, set for Oct.3 at Pimlico in Baltimore.

While the order is shuffled and the recovery time for horses is greater, it’s still no small feat to seek a sweep in the US dirt classics.

Tiz the Law, ridden by jockey Manny Franco, won two Florida prep races before taking the Belmont and last month’s Travers Stakes, the latter over the same 1 1/4-mile distance as the Derby.

“He usually breaks sharp and puts Manny right in the race,” said Jack Knowlton, manager at Tiz the Law owners Sackatoga Stable. “We all have a lot of confidence in him.”

Tiz the Law, fancied by bettors at 3-5, will leave from the 17th of 18 gates alongside his two closest rivals among oddsmakers, Honor A.P. at 5-1 in post 16 and 8-1 Authentic on the far outside.

“It’s not ideal for Authentic, but I’m OK with it,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who seeks a sixth Derby triumph. “He’s out of harm’s way. Just glad to be in the gate.”

Not since 1992 has a Derby favorite left the gate at even odds or shorter.

Tiz the Law trainer Barclay Tagg is fine with his horse’s gate, even though it’s the only one from 1-20 that has not produced a derby winner.

“I like being on the outside,” Tagg said. “I didn’t particularly want to be out that far but he seems to handle everything that’s thrown at him, so we’ll just have to leave it up to him.

“It gives you a chance, if you have any speed at all, it gives you a chance to get a better position.”

Tagg, 82, isn’t a believer in curses and hopes gate 17’s time as finally arrived after 41 failed attempts.

“I just put those kind of things out of my mind,” Tagg said. “There are a lot of horses who didn’t win the Derby, so frankly I’m not that worried about it.”

Rain dampened workouts Wednesday and Thursday, allowing Tiz the Law only a two-mile jog on Thursday.

“I wish I could have done more with him, but couldn’t because we’ve had two days of hard rain,” Tagg said. “He’ll gallop tomorrow.”

Tiz the Law’s only career loss came at the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last year at Churchill Downs when he was third.

“He’s the same horse. He’s more experienced,” Tagg said. “I don’t think it was a lack of experience that got him beat last year. It was an off track and he came out a bit slow. The pace cooked him. He has been pretty nice ever since.”

Agence France-Presse