Tiz the Law stays atop Kentucky Derby Dozen

1Ron Correll
Senior columnist
Tracksideview —-

Tiz the Law; Gulfstream Park Photo

The only thing that the Grade 2 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes proved on July 11 at Keeneland is there are very few challengers to Tiz the Law as the top 3-year-old and “early” favorite for this year’s Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Art Collector, the winner of the Blue Grass, only had a minor challenge from the filly Swiss Skydiver and he beat her by three-and-one-half lengths in a good time of 1:48.11 for the mile-and-an-eighth race. The the time was only .82 seconds off the stakes record. The third-place finishers was another four-and three-quarters lengths behind Swiss Skydiver.

The connections of Swiss Skydiver were thinking Kentucky Derby but after the race trainer Ken McPeek said they probably would keep here against fillies in the future.

Tiz the Law (Constitution) 272 points – won Belmont Stakes; Travers in his future.

Honor A.P. (Honor Code) 120 points – won the Santa Anita Derby; headed to Shared Belief
on Aug. 1 at Del Mar.

Art Collector (Bernardini) 100 points – impressive in the Blue Grass.

Authentic (Into Mischief) 100 points – second in the Santa Anita Derby. He didn’t get to the lead and that may have been his problem.

King Guillermo (Uncle Mo) 90 points – second behind Nadal in Arkansas Derby. He may be a Belmont horse.

Dr Post (Quality Road) 60 points – second in Belmont, but didn’t threaten the winner.

Ete Indien (Summer Front) 74 points – third in Florida Derby.

Basin (Liam’s Map) 50 points – second behind Charlatan in Arkansas Derby.

Uncle Chuck (Uncle Mo) 20 points – won Los Alamitos Derby may go to Travers.

Cezanne (Curlin) no points – May be headed to Shared Belief.

Gamine (Into Mischief) no points – won the Acorn and could be a filly looking for roses if she gets into a Derby prep race.

Modernist (Uncle Mo) 70 points – third in Louisiana Derby.