Tiz the Law Set to Skip Over Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes

However, he ended up finishing second to Authentic in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs. That loss was his second in eight career starts, both of which took place at the track. 

The son of the Constitution came out of his defeats looking rough, which is why his connections have decided to bypass the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course. 

According to Sackatoga Stable operating manager Jack Knowlton on Sept. 22, he talked with trainer Barclay Tagg and assistant trainer Robin Smullen, and the trio decided to keep Tiz the Law out of the Preakness. Instead, he will train up to the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland. 

"You have to listen to your horse. We didn't feel we would have him 100% ready for the Preakness, so we decided to train up to the Breeders' Cup. Barclay and Robin felt he wasn't ready to do his two breezes that we believed were necessary for the Preakness," Knowlton said. "We couldn't do it this past weekend, and we were looking at (Sept. 23), but that didn't work out.

"So we said we don't have to go to the Preakness. We have a bigger prize at the end of the year at the Breeders' Cup. We know he runs very well off long layoffs, so that's the decision we made. It's off to a new chapter, and we have a $6 million race to look forward to, which is great for a small stable like ours."

It has been a while since Tiz the Law has worked, with the last one coming around his Sept. 5 loss at Churchill Downs. At the track, he also finished third in last year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2). 

"Robin said the same thing happened after his other race at Churchill Downs. The two races at Churchill Downs are the two races he did not come out like a fresh horse for his next start," Knowlton said. "After the Travers, he put in his two works with no issue whatsoever. For some reason, he didn't agree with Churchill Downs."

According to Knowlton, Tiz, the Law will probably begin prepping for the one 1/4-mile Classic with a workout at Belmont Park during the Sept. 25 weekend. 

"He'll work this weekend," Knowlton said. "They say he's back to normal today. He's the 'Tiz' we know and love, but to go to the Preakness off one work would be asking too much. Would I like to go? Of course, but you have to be sensible."

Tiz the Law will also ship to Keeneland early in order to work over the track in Lexington before the event.

There will be a nine-week period in between the Kentucky Derby and Classic, and Tiz the Law has proven to do well with the long break in the past.

He has total earnings of $2.6 million, and he was bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm and purchased for $110,000 from the Sequel New York consignment at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearling Sale. 

Tiz the Law took the Florida Derby following an eight-week rest, the Belmont Stakes off 12 weeks, and the Travers off seven weeks.