Tiz the Bomb takes Bourbon Stakes, gains BC Juvenile Turf berth

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Tiz the Bomb was ready to run on Sunday at Keeneland - a bit too ready.

As jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., sitting in post 12 in the field of 14 juveniles, prepared his colt for the break of the Grade 2, $200,000 Bourbon Stakes, favored Tiz the Bomb leapt forward and broke through the starting gate, a circumstance that is never viewed favorably.

“I had his head kind of turned,” Hernandez said. “When the last horse was walking in, I straightened him up to make sure we were gonna be in good order to leave the gate well. And when I did that, he thought it was his cue, so he went forward.”

After going shy of a furlong, Hernandez was able to pull the colt up with the help of an outrider. He was quickly jogged back to the starting gate, cleared by the track veterinarian, and reloaded. And less than two minutes after leaving the starting gate again, with the rest of the field this time, Tiz the Bomb crossed the wire ahead of all, securing a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf on Nov. 5 at Del Mar.

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The victory gave trainer Ken McPeek and Hernandez a pair of graded victories with juveniles on Keeneland's opening weekend, as they teamed up 24 hours earlier to win the Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders' Futurity with Rattle N Roll. That colt earned an automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with the win, which McPeek said he is not certain to take [https://www.drf.com/news/rattle-n-roll-surges-breeders-futurity-triumph]. McPeek has, several times, expressed a desire to try Tiz the Bomb ($7.80) on dirt, but for now, his plans are certain.

"We'll run him in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, for sure," McPeek said. "If we take the other horse, then you certainly don't have an issue with Brian riding both horses. I do think this colt could very well end up on the dirt. We'll probably nominate him to the English Derby. If we're able to run him over there, I'd like to do that. I think he's a horse that could handle that."

After leaving the gate, Tiz the Bomb patiently settled to track the pace set by Heaven Street. The colt was fifth, but less than three lengths back and in the clear, through six furlongs in a moderate 1:12.86 on a course officially rated good, but with plenty of cut in it after heavy rain midweek in the Lexington area.

“The second time, he left the gate in great order,” Hernandez said. “He was able to get himself in position quickly early, and just kind of handled it all from there.”

Hernandez swung his colt six wide into the lane, and Tiz the Bomb reached out steadily to wear down second choice Red Danger, who had briefly inherited the lead. The colt got up in the late stages to cross the wire three-quarters of a length in front, finishing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.69.

“The turf course is really soft out there, and he’s got a big, long stride,” McPeek said. “And he showed the turn of foot that he’s got when they straightened out. He’s special. We’re gonna have a lot of fun with him.”

Stolen Base, who was 11th at the midway point, rallied to be second, another half-length clear of Credibility, who edged Red Danger by another three-quarters for third. They were followed, in order, by Dowagic Chief, Rocket One, Play Action Pass, Lucky Boss, On Thin Ice, Brit's Wit, Martini'nmoonshine, Heaven Street, Fast N Ready, and Waita Minute Hayes.

Tiz the Bomb, a son of 2015 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It a Bomb, races for Phoenix Thoroughbreds. He has now won three times from four career outings, and came in to the Bourbon off a victory in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile.

Averly Jane wins Indian Summer

Two races earlier, Averly Jane punched her own ticket to the Breeders' Cup in style, winning the $200,000 Indian Summer Stakes by three lengths in a stakes-record time of 1:02.65 for the 5 1/2 furlongs despite the testing turf. The race awarded an automatic berth into the Juvenile Turf Sprint, the newest Breeders' Cup race.

Averly Jane ($3.80), sent away favored, is now unbeaten in four starts. The Midshipman filly, who races for Hat Creek Racing, added the Indian Summer - in which she led every step of the way - to previous stakes scores in the Kentucky Juvenile at Churchill Downs and the off-the-turf Skidmore Stakes at Saratoga. This was her first try on turf.

“[The surface] doesn’t really matter," jockey Tyler Gaffalione said. "She’s just a quality filly. She’s got a tremendous amount of speed, and she just keeps going. She’s one of the fastest [out of the gate] I’ve ever been on. She almost throws you in the back seat. She’s a lot of fun.”

Kaufymaker, Averly Jane's Wesley Ward-trained stablemate, rallied to be second by a neck over longshot Circle Back Jack. They were followed home by Detroit City, Pure Panic, Roman Poet, Big Boss Ben, Bonus Appreciation, and Diamond City.