Tiz The Law

With the racing and sales calendars turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic, buyers at the upcoming Keeneland September Sale and Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase will have a unique opportunity. Typically, the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks--as well as the rest of the Triple Crown trail for that matter--are long over by the time the major yearling auctions take place. But with those marquee sophomore races pushed back to the first weekend in September, buyers could have a chance to purchase a sibling to this year's Derby or...

LOUISVILLE, KY--The likely top three wagering choices for the GI Kentucky Derby will break next to each other on Saturday, with heavy favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) drawn in 17. GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby hero Honor A. P. (Honor Code) will be posted to his inside, and GI Haskell S. winner Authentic (Into Mischief) was assigned the far outside 18 hole during Tuesday morning's post draw. The 146th "Run for the Roses" lost a major contender earlier in the morning when streaking Art Collector (Bernardini) was ruled out due...

Likely GI Kentucky Derby favorite Tiz the Law (Constitution) topped a list of sophomores putting in their final breezes ahead of the Run for the Roses/Lilies Saturday, covering five panels in :59.21 (1/3) on the Saratoga main track. The native New Yorker was one of the first on the track at 5:45 a.m. in an attempt to beat the incoming rainstorm. With regular breeze rider Heather Smullen in the irons, the flashy bay covered his first three furlongs in :36.01 and galloped out in 1:12.01. "Everything went fine. He came...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - With a mix of optimism and respect, trainer Gustavo Delgado and his son and assistant, Gustavo Delgado Jr., have gone about their primary task of the summer: preparing Caracaro (Uncle Mo) of the GI Kentucky Derby. The Delgados are based in South Florida at Gulfstream Park West, but brought Caracaro to Saratoga Race Course in July with the goal of earning enough qualifying points to make the 20-horse Derby. Following second-place finishes in the GIII Peter Pan S. July 16 and the Aug. 8 GI Travers...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Every morning when Tiz the Law (Constitution) goes out to the track for his exercise, there is a Smullen from Oxford, PA on his back. Most days the likely favorite for the GI Kentucky Derby is carrying Robin Smullen, trainer Barclay Tagg's longtime assistant and life partner. Once a week, when the colt has his timed workout, though, Heather Smullen, Robin's 38-year-old niece, has the assignment. It is a challenge, she acknowledges, to keep the four-time Grade I winner to the task while not getting in...

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution), a looming prohibitive favorite in the GI Kentucky Derby, recorded his second-to-last breeze before the Sept. 5 Run for the Roses when covering five furlongs in a bullet :59.47 (1/39) over the Saratoga main track Sunday morning. The Barclay Tagg trainee was scheduled to breeze Saturday at the Spa, but had his work pushed back a day after a sudden downpour drastically changed the track conditions. Working under cover of darkness at 5:30 a.m. Sunday under exercise rider Heather Smullen, Tiz the Law clicked...

Lane's End's Grade I-winning millionaire sire Connect is just weeks from seeing his first yearlings enter the sales ring. The son of top sire Curlin was recognized for his commercial appeal with his weanlings last year, and the farm hopes to emulate that success again this fall. Advertised at a $20,000 stud fee for the past three years, his first weanlings averaged $65,120 with 29 of 38 sold. "Connect was well supported last fall with his first crop of weanlings averaging nearly four times his stud fee," said Allaire Ryan,...

Fresh off of a powerhouse victory by his Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution) in Saturday's GI Runhappy Travers S., Jack Knowlton joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday morning to talk about the imposing GI Kentucky Derby favorite. Calling in via Zoom as the Green Group Guest of the Week, Knowlton also discussed the deal struck with Coolmore to stand Tiz the Law at Ashford Stud, how much it meant to be in attendance for the Barclay Tagg trainee's Travers victory and whether or not this renewed...

Fresh off a trip to the winner's circle after Tiz The Law's romp in the GI Runhappy Travers S., Sackatoga Stable's Jack Knowlton joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss the GI Kentucky Derby favorite.

George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds's GI Kentucky Derby contender Max Player (Honor Code) has been moved from trainer Linda Rice to the Steve Asmussen barn, Rice confirmed via Twitter Tuesday. "Max Player has been moved to the Asmussen barn in order to prepare for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs," Rice said. "We are disappointed to see him go, but we wish George Hall and SportBLX the best of luck!" Winner of the GIII Withers S. this February at Aqueduct, Max Player finished third behind Tiz the Law (Constitution) off...

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley As spectacular as Gamine (Into Mischief) was in the GI Longines Test S., the win failed to answer the only question that remains unanswered when it comes to a filly who shows superstar potential. She demolished her opposition, including the talented Venetian Harbor (Munnings) in the seven-furlong race, but will she be able to do the same at nine furlongs in the GI Kentucky Oaks? Her two biggest wins, the Test and the GI Longines Acorn S., have come at a mile or...

Sackatoga Stable's GI Runhappy Travers S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution) was bright-eyed the morning after his dominant 5 1/2-length victory in Saratoga's marquee race, for which he received a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure. Shortly after training concluded for the morning, trainer Barclay Tagg was at his barn on the Saratoga backstretch standing next to the garland of carnations that had been draped around the now four-time Grade I winner's neck Saturday. Tagg said his star 3-year-old colt was in good order. "He looks fine," Tagg told the NYRA...