Kentucky Derby draw delivers a huge favorite and a small field. Here are the odds.
Only one horse is capable of winning the Triple Crown in 2020 and, on Tuesday, the handlers of Tiz the Law received a massive jolt of confidence that their 3-year-old Thoroughbred is well on his way to doing so.
Tiz the Law, owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, was made the overwhelming 3-5 favorite for Saturday’s 146th running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville during the annual post-position draw at the track’s Aristides Lounge.
To win, Tiz the Law will have to become the first horse ever to do so from post position No. 17. Forty-one horses have tried previously.
The Kentucky Derby, normally the first jewel of the Triple Crown, holds the middle spot this year after being postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Like the Belmont Stakes in New York, which Tiz the Law won at 1 1/8 miles on June 20, the 1 1/4-mile Run for the Roses will be raced without spectators in attendance. The third leg of the Triple Crown, the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, is set for Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Eighteen Thoroughbreds were entered Tuesday morning for the 2020 Derby, a total that does not include the horse most perceived as the second choice behind Tiz the Law. Art Collector, winner of the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in July and the Ellis Park Derby last month, was pulled out of contention earlier Tuesday with what Churchill Downs called a “minor foot issue.”
Art Collector’s departure removes a hometown favorite. The colt is owned by Bruce Lunsford of Louisville and trained by Kentucky-based Tom Drury. A late entrant Tuesday was Bill Mott-trained South Bend, who finished fourth in the Travers Stakes last month.
A Kentucky Derby field of 18 — assuming there are no additional defections before Saturday — would be the smallest since 18 left the starting gate in the 2015 race won by eventual Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. That year was the only time since 2004 that fewer than 19 participated in the race.
Tiz the Law enters the Kentucky Derby on a four-race winning streak, having taken the Holy Bull Stakes and Florida Derby at Gulfstream on Feb. 1 and March 28 before capturing the Belmont on June 20 and the 1 1/4-mile Travers at Saratoga on Aug. 8.
Tiz the Law, who will be ridden by Manny Franco, has suffered only one career defeat in seven races, finishing third in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes in his only previous appearance at Churchill Downs last November.
Honor A. P., winner of the Santa Anita Derby in June, was made the 5-1 second choice behind Tiz the Law. Honor A. P. will race from post position No. 16 under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has two entrants in Authentic (8-1) and Thousand Words (15-1).
2020 Kentucky Derby
When: 7:01 p.m. Saturday
Where: Churchill Downs in Louisville
TV: NBC-18
Distance: 1 1/4 miles
Purse: $3 million
This story was originally published September 1, 2020 at 11:30 AM.