Tiz the Law to skip Preakness and point for Breeders' Cup Classic

ELMONT, N.Y. -- Making official what had been widely expected, Tiz the Law, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, will skip the Preakness Stakes on Oct. 3 and point to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 7, trainer Barclay Tagg said Tuesday.

“Since we have no shot at winning the Triple Crown, our big goal with this colt is of course the Breeders’ Cup,” Tagg said. “We really want to go into the Breeders’ Cup with a fresh, happy horse. He came out of his last race a little stiff, no real physical problems, but a little stiffness. We’ve taken our time coming back with him. Now he seems just right.”

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Tiz the Law, the Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes winner, finished second to Authentic in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on Sept. 5. He had been a little lackluster in his training since returning to Belmont Park.

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Tiz the Law galloped 1 1/2 miles Tuesday morning over the Belmont main track, and exercise rider Robin Smullen and Tagg agreed it was his best day of training since the Kentucky Derby.

“Today was the first really good day that we felt comfortable about him,” Tagg said. “However, he’s had no breezes so we’re going to skip the Preakness and concentrate on the Breeders’ Cup.”

Tagg said it is possible that Tiz the Law could have his first workout since the Derby on Saturday morning at Belmont.

Tagg said he would like to ship Tiz the Law to Kentucky in time to get at least one, perhaps two, workouts over Keeneland’s main track.

Tiz the Law, a New York-bred son of Constitution owned by Sackatoga Stable, also won the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 3 Holy Bull earlier this year. At 2, he went 2 for 3 including a victory in the Grade 1 Champagne.