Kentucky Derby: Tiz the Law beats the rain with fast five-furlong drill
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Mother Nature fought the Law and the Law won.
Before the rain came Saturday morning in upstate New York, Tiz the Law completed his major preparation for next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby by working a fast five furlongs in 58.96 seconds over a fast Saratoga main track.
Owing to the threat of wet weather this weekend in upstate New York, trainer Barclay Tagg wasn’t sure if he would be able to work Tiz the Law on Saturday or Sunday. When forecasted overnight rain did not come to fruition, Tagg took advantage of a back-raked but dry main track to work Tiz the Law at about 5:45 a.m.
Not much can be seen at that time other than Tiz the Law’s white blaze and exercise rider Heather Smullen’s white jersey and white cap.
Accompanied by Tagg atop a stable pony, Tiz the Law backed from the six-furlong gap to the eighth pole. After standing briefly – during which Tagg gave a playful pat on the head to Tiz the Law and Smullen – Tagg let Tiz the Law go at the finish line, and he galloped, with his head cocked, before disappearing into the dark around the clubhouse turn.
Tiz the Law broke running at the five-furlong pole, and Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch caught his first three furlongs in 35.97. With Smullen really not doing much on the horse, Tiz the Law came home in 22.99. Welsch caught him galloping out in 1:11.89.
“Barclay said make sure he runs down the stretch,” Smullen said. “I came off the turn I’m like I’m not doing anything at this point in time, he’s already running, so I just sat there.”
Said Tagg: “I didn’t really want him to go quite that fast, but I don’t mind either. Fast horses work fast. When he came around that upper turn, he looked like a machine running around there.”
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Tagg said while he would have preferred to work Sunday, he was relieved to get the work in over a dry track.
“I’m very happy now, I was glad to get it in, glad he came out of it good, I was glad I could be there to watch it,” Tagg said.
Tagg is leaving for Kentucky on Sunday morning after training. Tiz the Law will be able to train Monday at Saratoga before flying to Kentucky later that afternoon.
Tiz the Law, with victories this year in the Holy Bull, Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes, and Runhappy Travers Stakes, is expected to go off a strong favorite in the Kentucky Derby. He will be ridden by Manny Franco.
– David Grening
Pair of works at Churchill
At Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., a pair of Derby starters were out for their final pre-race workouts when breezing over a freshly harrowed track that still held considerable moisture during the 7:30 a.m. training period reserved for Derby and Oaks starters. Owing to overnight rain, the track had been muddy and sealed for earlier training.
Enforceable went a half-mile in 49.60 just before King Guillermo went the same distance in 52.20. Neither colt was asked for much.
Enforceable, with Derby jockey Adam Beschizza up, went in splits of 12.80 and 24.80 before proceeding through the clubhouse turn in a five-furlong time of 1:03.20, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.
King Guillermo, who will be racing in the Derby off a four-month layoff, was kept several paths off the rail by exercise rider Edgar Garcia when proceeding through easy eighths of 14.40 and 27.20, going out five furlongs in 1:05.20.
Five Derby candidates who recorded final pre-race breezes Friday at Churchill all took it easy Saturday, the most notable of those being Art Collector, one of the top favorites.
Entries for the Derby will be drawn Tuesday morning at 10:45 in the Aristides Lounge. As of Saturday, it does not appear the 20-horse limit will be reached, as the connections of Dr Post and Rushie have indicated they’re likely not to enter.
The long-range weather forecast for Louisville for Derby Day calls for sunny skies and a high of 78.
– Marty McGee
Early birds work at Del Mar
At Del Mar on Saturday morning, two Derby prospects - Storm the Court and Thousand Words - worked early, hours before Honor A. P. was scheduled for his final drill.
Storm the Court, trained by Peter Eurton, worked alone and went six furlongs in 1:12.80. Thousand Words, trained by Bob Baffert, worked five furlongs in 59.80 seconds.
Both are scheduled to fly to Kentucky on Monday, along with fellow West Coast Derby runners Authentic and Honor A. P.
Authentic is scheduled to have his final work on Sunday.
– Jay Privman