Tiz the Law skipping Preakness

September 23, 2020 at 4:00 a.m.

by Bob Wisener

Tiz the Law (8), with jockey Manny Franco up, approaches the finish line on June 20 on his way to winning the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y. Tiz the Law won’t run in next month’s Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico concludes this year’s reconfigured Triple Crown series, which was run out of order because of the coronavirus pandemic. - Photo by Seth Wenig of The Associated Press
Tiz the Law (8), with jockey Manny Franco up, approaches the finish line on June 20 on his way to winning the 152nd running of the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, N.Y. Tiz the Law won’t run in next month’s Preakness, spoiling what would have been a highly anticipated rematch with Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. The Preakness on Oct. 3 at Pimlico concludes this year’s reconfigured Triple Crown series, which was run out of order because of the coronavirus pandemic. - Photo by Seth Wenig of The Associated Press

With no Triple Crown to shoot for, Tiz the Law will miss the Preakness Stakes, the last leg of the series, Oct. 3 at Pimlico in Baltimore.

In a schedule affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiz the Law finished second to Authentic in the Kentucky Derby Sept. 5 after winning the Belmont Stakes June 20. The Belmont came after Grade 1 scores in the Florida Derby and in last year's Champagne Stakes.

"Disappointing that Tiz will not be able to run in the Preakness," lead owner Jack Knowlton posted on the Sackatoga Stable account on Twitter. "Our primary interest is doing what's right for the horse (and) in this case he's not ready."

Knowlton said Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg, will train up to the $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic Nov. 7 at Keeneland. The Classic is a mile and a quarter on dirt, same distance as the Kentucky Derby and Travers.

Following a record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby victory, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is readying Authentic for the Preakness. One betting shop makes the Into Mischief colt an 8-5 favorite with the defection of Tiz the Law, who had been slightly more than 4-1.

Baffert plans to enter a second Preakness starter, last-out Del Mar stakes winner Thousand Words, who was scratched in the Derby after flipping in the paddock. Grade 2 Blue Grass winner Art Collector, another scratched from the Derby because of injury, is targeting the Preakness along with third-place Derby finisher Mr. Big News.

Horse Racing Nation lists 12 possible for the Preakness including filly Swiss Skydiver, winner of Oaklawn's Grade 3 Fantasy and second against males in the Blue Grass, and two-time Oaklawn winner Pneumatic. Swiss Skydiver, trained by Ken McPeek, comes off a second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks to Shedaresthedevil, owned in part by Hot Springs horseman Staton Flurry. Pneumatic, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, is last-out winner of the Pegasus at Monmouth Park.

Upcoming Events