A year in the making: Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law, a timeline

When Tiz the Law was assigned 3-5 morning line odds for the 2020 Kentucky Derby the Sackatoga Stable runner was placed in a very familiar position as the favorite.

The road to the 2020 Derby spanned an entire year, from the Iroquois on Sept. 14, 2019 to the first Saturday in September, instead of the usual eight months. Tiz the Law was a constant presence on the Derby trail since he won the Champagne in the third points prep race on Oct. 5, 2019.

After that victory at Belmont Park, Tiz the Law was the favorite in almost every instance as he piled up a record number of qualifying points with 372. The only time he was not top betting choice happened in Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3 right after Authentic won the San Felipe (G2) at Santa Anita over Honor A. P. and Storm the Court.

The timeline below shows the odds that Tiz the Law carried in his races on the Derby trail along with all seven of the Kentucky Derby Future Wagers and the William Hill Derby futures.

Since the points system was instituted in 2013, there are three factors that have stood out for the horse that crossed the finish line in first in the Kentucky Derby – they were undefeated in their 3-year-old year, a winner of a 100-point prep race, and possess a stalking running style. In this year’s field of 18, Tiz the Law is the only horse that meets those three criteria.

On Saturday, Tiz the Law will try and complete a trip as the favorite from the entire Derby trail to the winner’s circle at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in September.

•Oct. 5, 2019 – 1^st Champagne (G1) – 1.40-1 - 10 Derby points

•Nov. 30, 2019 – 3^rd Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) – .60-1* - 2 Derby points (total 12)

•Dec. 1, 2019 – Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 1: 11.90-1*

•Dec. 1, 2019 – Kentucky Derby Sire Wager: Constitution, 5.80-1*

•Jan. 20, 2020 – William Hill Kentucky Derby future odds: 8-1*

•Feb. 1, 2020 – 1^st Holy Bull (G3) – 1.30-1* - 10 Derby points (total 22)

•Feb. 9, 2020 - Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 2: 8.80-1*

•Feb. 24, 2020 – William Hill Kentucky Derby future odds: 6-1*

•Mar. 8, 2020 – Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 3: 7.20-1

•Mar. 28, 2020 – 1^st Florida Derby (G1) – 1.40-1* - 100 Derby points (total 122)

•Mar. 30, 2020 – William Hill Kentucky Derby future odds: 7-2*

•Apr. 5, 2020 – Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 4: 5.80-1*

•Jun. 20, 2020 – 1^st Belmont Stakes (G1) – .80-1* - 150 Derby points (total 272)

•Jun. 28, 2020– Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 5: 2.20-1*

•Jul. 19, 2020– Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 6: 2.60-1*

•Aug. 1, 2020 – William Hill Kentucky Derby future odds: 2.20-1*

•Aug. 8, 2020 – 1^st Travers (G1) – .60-1* - 100 Derby points (total 372)

•Aug. 9, 2020 – Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool 7: 1.10-1*

•Aug. 28, 2020 – William Hill Kentucky Derby future odds: 4-5*

•Sept. 1, 2020 – Kentucky Derby morning line favorite: 3-5*