Preakness still an option for Tiz the Law, owner says
Four-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law has settled back in at trainer Barclay Tagg's Belmont Park-based stable after a hard-fought second as the beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs.
Jack Knowlton, operating manager of owner Sackatoga Stable, said the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes on October 3 at Pimlico Race Course, the final leg of this year's Triple Crown, is still an option for the talented son of second crop sire Constitution with a work next week being a deciding factor.
"He'll be doing his regular gallops and as long as everything continues along well, then we'll have a work next weekend to assess where we are," said Knowlton. "We want to make sure he comes out of the race well and acts like he did after the Travers. That's what we'd like to see moving forward."
Tiz the Law arrived at the "Run for the Roses" off an unbeaten 3-year-old season which included victories in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 30 at Gulfstream Park, the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 and the Grade 1 Travers on August 8 at Saratoga Race Course. Last season, he gave Sackatoga Stable their first Grade 1 triumph since Funny Cide [2004 Jockey Club Gold Cup] when winning the Champagne in only his second start.
Bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the Tiznow mare Tizfiz, boasting six victories from eight lifetime starts and earnings of $2.61 million.
Following last Saturday's Kentucky Derby, Knowlton purchased a New York-bred yearling on behalf of Sackatoga Stable at the Fasig-Tipton Sale for $300,000. Bred in the Empire State by Barry Ostrager, the yearling son of Tiznow is out of the stakes-placed Gilded Time mare Eternal Grace, who produced multiple turf graded stakes placed Bye Bye Bernie. He was consigned by Hunter Valley Farm.
"We got a nice Tiznow colt that we really like a lot," Knowlton said. "There were only a couple horses we bid on, but we persevered and got him. He's down in Ocala now and hopefully Tony Everard [of New Episode Training] can work his magic. If he can run in New York stakes races, that's our hope. It's not always easy getting those."