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Tiz the Law Set To Go Against Eight In Kentucky Jockey Club

Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Friday November 29, 2019
Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law, who has been undefeated, will go on the road for the Kentucky Derby trail. He is based in New York with trainer Barclay Tagg and arrived at Churchill Downs on Nov. 25. The Champagne Stakes (G1) winner will head a field of nine in the $300,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) on Saturday.

The 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-olds will award points to the top finishers. They will be awarded on a 10-4-2-1 scale and go toward a place in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) starting gate. That race will run on May 2.

Tiz the Law’s Career

Sackatoga Stable took the 2003 Kentucky Derby with Funny Cide, whose trainer was also Tagg. The members of their team took a school bus to Churchill Downs. According to managing partner Jack Knowlton, over 50 people are expected for Tiz the Law on Saturday at the Louisville track. 

Tiz the Law is a New York-bred colt by Constitution. He won on debut Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course after pulling ahead by 4 1/4 lengths to take a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. 

On Oct. 5, he returned in the Champagne at Belmont Park. In that race, he stumbled in the beginning and got stuck in traffic, but he was eventually able to break free and win by four lengths. He completed the mile in 1:35.41.

"He surprises us every day with what he has," Tagg said. "It's what we look for and hope for."

Manny Franco was the jockey onboard for Champagne, and he will take that position once again on Saturday from post 3. Before shipping out to Louisville, Tiz the Law had a five-furlong breeze in :59 3/5 on Nov. 23 to prepare for the Kentucky Jockey Club.

One of Tiz the Law’s biggest competitors in the race will likely be Churchill-based South Bend. He is perfect in three starts for trainer Stanley Hough, comes from Sagamore Farm, and has two wins over the Churchill dirt. Those wins are highlighted by the Oct. 27 Street Sense Stakes at one mile. The Algorithms colt broke his maiden on Sept. 14 at Churchill, and he took an Oct. 5 allowance at Keeneland. 

"He appears to be growing up and maturing," Hough said.

Julien Leparoux was aboard for all three of South Bend’s previous starts, and he will do the same from post 4 on Saturday.

Rest of the Field

Walking L. Thoroughbred’s Fighting Seabee will also run in the race. He was second beaten a length in the Street Sense, and the colt’s first three career starts were on turf. The first time he ran on dirt was in the Street Sense, and he won first out at Ellis Park for trainer Kenny McPeek. 

Fighting Seabee then went on to take the 1 1/16-mile With Anticipation Stakes (G3T) at Saratoga, and he finished fifth in Keeneland’s Dixiana Bourbon Stakes (G3T) Oct. 6. 

Regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will be aboard from post 2.

John Oxley’s grade 1-placed Enforceable will run from the rail. The son of Tapit out of multiple grade 2 winner Justwhistledixie is a full brother to Mohaymen, the multiple grade 2 winner and 2016 Kentucky Derby fourth-placed runner. 

He is also the full brother to La Jolla Handicap (G3T) winner Kingly. Mark Casse is the trainer for the two-turn Saratoga maiden winner, and he finished third in the Oct. 5 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. Florent Geroux will be the jockey on top.