By J.N. Campbell
Tiztastic (Tiz the Law) used his late speed to effect and took home the second black-type for his first-crop sire (by Constitution) in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile on Sunday. A well-beaten fifth on debut over the main track at Saratoga July 27, the dark bay won against restricted auction company going 6 1/2 furlongs north of the Tennessee line Aug. 29.
Showing an affinity for the unique course and as a 9-2 shot here, the juvenile took up a position mid-pack up the backstretch. Beginning to make up some ground to the outside around the far turn and primed entering the lane, the colt had a clear line of vision to the wire and was set down to the task at hand. The problem was that to his inside West Beach (Omaha Beach) had the same idea. Locked in a battle in the final sixteenth the pair slugged it out all the way to the wire with Tiztastic sealing the deal in a squeaker.
“Last year Aspenite was second in the same race [Keeneland sales allowance on opening day], this horse pulled off the double,” said trainer Steve Asmussen. “Very proud of him to win today. Obviously, an excellent race. Irad [Ortiz] gave him a great trip. Great ownership group with a very nice horse.
Tiztastic's older half-sister Interpolate was a $300,000 purchase by Cayuga Capital at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Yearling Sale. Herself a half-sister to SW Steady On (Pioneerof the Nile), Keesha handed the winner a full-sister last year and was bred to Practical Joke for next term.
KENTUCKY DOWNS JUVENILE MILE S., $998,550, Kentucky Downs, 9-8, 2yo, 1mT, 1:34.53, fm.
1–TIZTASTIC, 118, c, 2, by Tiz the Law
1st Dam: Keesha, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Wile Cat, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Strategic Maneuver, by Cryptoclearance
($80,000 Ylg '23 KEEJAN; $335,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith; B-Capital Bloodstock (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Irad Ortiz, Jr. $588,300. Lifetime Record: 3-2-0-0, $742,300. *1/2 to Interpolate (Into Mischief), SW & GSP, $213,750.
2–West Beach, 118, c, 2, Omaha Beach–Limari, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($100,000 2yo '24 OBSMAR). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Qatar Racing LLC; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $193,000.
3–Ready for Peace, 120, c, 2, More Than Ready–Peace Process, by War Front. ($47,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Ikhana Farm; B-Ikhana Farm & More Than Ready Syndicate (KY); T-Ignacio Correas, IV. $96,500.
Margins: NK, 3 3/4, 2. Odds: 4.63, 7.42, 12.80.
Also Ran: Coal Battle, The Brigade, Turnbuckle, I'm Otter Here, Reach for the Rose, Emmett, Kirin, Mika, Forged Steel. Scratched: Homie, Lush Lips (GB), The Count Is On.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#10 TIZTASTIC ($11.26) battled with West Beach in the final furlong, but hit the wire a nose in front to win the $1 million Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile at @KYDownsRacing!
Tiztastic becomes the second stakes winner for @coolmoreamerica's first-crop stallion Tiz the Law. pic.twitter.com/WyyiHnM1eJ
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 8, 2024
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