Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Tiz the Law settles in for the Breeders’ Cup
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Tiz the Law, one of the top contenders for the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland, arrived at Keeneland on Sunday from New York and was out for an easy jog early Monday with trainer Barclay Tagg alongside on his stable pony.
“Everything is good,” said Tagg. “He’ll probably breeze Friday or Saturday and we’ll go from there.”
Tagg said he and Heather Smullen, the exercise rider for Tiz the Law, drove down from New York, pulling into Keeneland about two hours before the colt arrived following a long van ride.
Tiz the Law, a romping winner of the June 20 Belmont Stakes and Aug. 8 Travers prior to finishing second to Authentic in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, did not run in the Oct. 3 Preakness in order to better prepare for the BC Classic. The Constitution colt is the 4-1 second choice behind Improbable in the latest Daily Racing Form projections for the 1 1/4-mile Classic.
‘Stars’ card starts Churchill
An 11-race card with the traditional Stars of Tomorrow format will be staged for the limited number of fans in attendance Sunday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, where a pair of $98,000 stakes will serve as the opening-day highlights.
Entries will be drawn Thursday for the Street Sense and Rags to Riches, the 1 1/16-mile co-features, with maidenspecial and allowances making up the balance of a card exclusively for 2-year-olds. The Street Sense and Rags to Riches lead to the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club and Grade 2 Golden Rod on Nov. 28.
Fans are being admitted through purchase of online tickets. Except for the summer meet at Ellis Park, this is the first time during the pandemic that fans will be permitted at a Kentucky track. The no-fan policy still will be in effect at Keeneland for the Nov. 6-7 Breeders’ Cup.
Forging ahead at Turfway
Plans are being finalized for makeshift accommodations at Turfway Park, where the backside is undergoing repairs and other upgrades prior to opening for horsemen on Nov. 1.
Churchill Downs Inc., which bought Turfway last year, is in the process of constructing a racino-type facility with a wide variety of features. A new Tapeta surface is expected to be ready for training when the stable area opens, but with the old grandstand having been razed, temporary facilities will be in use throughout the winter, including frontside for racing officials and on the backside for owners and trainers. The paddock and jockeys’ room remain in place.
The holiday meet will run Dec. 2-31, with the three-month winter-spring meet starting without interruption on Jan. 1.
◗ Even without fans at the track, Keeneland is still going ahead Friday with the College Scholarship Day it hosts every meet in conjunction with the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association. Scholarships totaling $30,000 will be raffled off during the afternoon. Full information is available on the track website, keeneland. com.