Tiz the Law to skip Preakness and prepare for Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland
After finishing second in the Kentucky Derby, Tiz the Law will skip the Preakness and concentrate on the Breeders’ Cup, his trainer told the Daily Racing Form on Tuesday.
“Since we have no shot at winning the Triple Crown our big goal with this colt is of course the Breeders’ Cup,” Barclay Tagg told David Grening of DRF. “We really want to go into the Breeders’ Cup with a fresh, happy horse.”
After winning the Florida Derby, Belmont and Travers, Tiz the Law was runner-up in the Kentucky Derby to Authentic on Sept. 5. After the race, Tagg indicated he would like to skip the Preakness, to be held Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, but owner Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stable said the Preakness was a definite option.
“I definitely want to go to the Preakness if the horse is going well,” said Knowlton after the Derby.
Instead, the connections have decided to focus on the Breeders’ Cup Classic. The Breeders’ Cup is set for Nov. 6-7 at Keeneland. The Classic will be run on the 7th. The track has announced that attendance will be limited to essential personnel.
Trained by Bob Baffert, Authentic worked 5 furlongs in :59.20 at Churchill Downs last Saturday in preparation for the Preakness. After finishing second in the Santa Anita Derby to the now-retired Honor A.P., Authentic rebounded to win the Haskell before giving Baffert his sixth Kentucky Derby victory.
“Everything is all systems go for the Preakness,” Baffert said after the workout.
Baffert also plans to run Thousand Words in the Preakness. The winner of the Shared Belief at Del Mar, Thousand Words flipped in the paddock at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby and was scratched.
Blue Grass Stakes and Ellis Park Derby winner Art Collector is also pointing toward the Preakness. A hoof injury suffered early during Derby week kept the Bruce Lunsford-owned colt out of the Sept. 5 race, but trainer Tom Drury reports that Art Collector has worked well since then.
Preakness Stakes
What: Third leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.
When: Oct. 3.
Where: Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.
TV: NBC-18.
Purse: $1 million (Grade 1).
Distance: 1 3/16 miles.
Probable entrants: Art Collector, Authentic, Jesus’ Team, Liveyourbeastlife, Mongolian Wind, Mr. Big News, Pneumatic, Thousand Words.
Possible entrants: Dr Post, Happy Saver, Mystic Guide, Swiss Skydiver.
This story was originally published September 22, 2020 at 11:48 AM.
