Tiz the Law works six furlongs for Breeders' Cup Classic
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Barclay Tagg can only hope Tiz the Law likes Keeneland better than Churchill Downs. After all, in eight career starts, the only two defeats for the standout 3-year-old colt have come at Churchill.
So when Tiz the Law had his first work over the Keeneland surface before dawn Friday, Tagg couldn’t help but believe the colt stands a good chance when the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic is run Nov. 7 at the Lexington, Ky., track.
“I think he gets over any track better than Churchill,” Tagg told Keeneland publicity.
Guided by his regular exercise rider, Heather Smullen, Tiz the Law went through a solo breeze in 1:13.20 in his penultimate work toward the 1 1/4-mile Classic. Splits were 26 and 49.60 seconds, with a seven-furlong gallop-out time of 1:25.80.
“I wanted to get him used to the track,” said Tagg. “If he shows improvement next week, even better.”
Tiz the Law, who arrived in Lexington on Oct. 18 from his New York base, is the second wagering choice behind Improbable among the prospective Classic field, according to the latest Daily Racing Form projections. Owned by Sackatoga Stable, the colt has wrapped victories in such major races as the Champagne, Belmont Stakes, and Travers around his two Churchill defeats, those coming in the Kentucky Jockey Club last fall and the colt’s most recent race, the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby.
Tagg said Tiz the Law will have a final pre-Classic work late next week.
“His next work he’ll be more aggressive,” said Smullen, “and that should set him up nicely for the race.”
All Breeders’ Cup pre-entries are due Monday.
Silver State rolls sevens
Silver State earned a 97 Beyer Speed Figure, a career high, when returning from a seven-month layoff with a seven-length victory Thursday in an about seven-furlong allowance at Keeneland.
Trainer Steve Asmussen had expressed doubt beforehand that Silver State would be fully ready off the shelf, but the 3-year-old Hard Spun colt showed absolutely no rust when suggesting he could be a force in upcoming races by widening late to complete the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in a swift 1:26.12. He paid $7.20 as a slight favorite.
Silver State, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Willis Horton, had been regarded as a possible contender for the spring classics when finishing second in the Lecomte in January and third in a division of the Risen Star in February, but Asmussen gave him time off after the colt was seventh in the March 21 Louisiana Derby.