Jack Knowlton of Sackatoga Stables announced today on Twitter that their Belmont-winning colt, Tiz the Law, will skip the last leg of the Triple Crown on October 3 at Pimlico. The Constitution colt will make his next start at Lexington in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7.
Knowlton expressed disappointment about not running in the Preakness but stressed this is in the best interest of Tiz the Law, who finished second to Authentic in the Kentucky Derby on September 5.
After the Derby, Knowlton had made it known that he would have liked his colt to make the Preakness. Trainer Barclay Tagg said his preference would be to skip the Preakness. Tagg told the press the horse would tell him if he was ready after a workout this week. Tiz the Law has had no recorded workout since August 28.
Tiz the Law will now have 63 days between the Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is worth $6 million to the Preakness $1 million purse. Running well off long layoffs, the colt has won four races this year by a combined 16 1/2 lengths. Tiz the Law has six wins in eight career starts, with both his losses coming at Churchill Downs.
Tiz the Law’s only loss before the Kentucky Derby was in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes GII in November. He finished third behind Silver Prospector and Finnick the Fierce almost catching the latter for place.
From November until September he had remained undefeated in four starts – all graded stakes, three Grade I’s and a Grade III. Should Tiz the Law win the Breeder’ Cup Classic GI he would be a real contender for Horse of the Year honors.
“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.”
By Mb Kalinich
Photo: Tiz the Law grazing after a Kentucky Derby workout. Credit: Churchill Downs/Coady Photos
