Kentucky Derby: Owner will decide whether Tiz a Minister should run

Owner Stephen Young and trainer Paul Aguirre will decide on Monday whether Tiz a Minister, who finished third in Saturday’s $300,000 Snow Chief Stakes at Betfair Hollywood Park, will make a quick turnaround in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.

Aguirre has reserved a spot on a horse transport plane to Kentucky for Tiz a Minister on Tuesday. He said on Sunday that he will rely on Young to make the final call.

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“It will be his decision,” Aguirre said. “It’s a lot of money to go there. The horse is well enough to do it.”

Tiz a Minister finished 4 1/2 lengths behind Surfcup in the Snow Chief Stakes for California-breds over 1 1/8 miles. Tiz a Minister was last of eight and closed well in early stretch but did not threaten the winner, who raced near the pace throughout. Aguirre said that an early pace of 24.24 and 48.14 seconds hurt Tiz a Minister’s chances of challenging the winner.

“I don’t hold the race against the horse,” Aguirre said.

Claimed for $40,000 from a maiden race at Del Mar last summer, Tiz a Minister has won 2 of 12 starts and $360,780. If he starts, Tiz a Minister will be a longshot in the Kentucky Derby.

Third in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in March, Tiz a Minister has 20 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby.

With the weekend defections of Govenor Charlie, Code West, and Forty Tales, and the expected absence of Winning Cause, Tiz a Minister would rank among the top 20 in the points standings and gain a berth in the Kentucky Derby field.