Tiz the Law is a big favorite in the Travers at Saratoga
Tiz the Law is a big favorite in the Travers at Saratoga
By the NY Hot List // Thursday, August 6, 2020
When the 2020 stakes schedules around the country were changed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the $1 million Grade 1 Travers was moved three weeks earlier than usual and Saratoga’s Mid-Summer Derby became an official prep race for the Kentucky Derby.
The New York-bred Tiz the Law, who has been on top of every Kentucky Derby contender list all year long, is listed as the even money favorite in the field of eight. Tiz the Law is owned by Sackatoga Stables which is based in Saratoga Springs.
The eight 3-year-olds face the difficult task of running a mile and a quarter for the first time in their careers.
Tiz the Law (ML 1-1) is unbeaten in 2020 with three wins for trainer Barclay Tagg including the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes.
“He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. We’ve been very fortunate,” Tagg said. “I don’t think any distance makes a difference for this horse. From what I’ve seen, I just don’t have any feeling that he can’t handle it. It would be nice to win it if we could.”
Bob Baffert sends the heavily hyped and lightly raced Uncle Chuck (ML 5-2) to try the Travers with wins in his only two career starts, most recently in the Los Alamitos Derby (G2).
“He’s quick,” Baffert said. “He’s a big, tall horse but he’s really quick on his feet. He’s got a tremendous stride. That’s why I thought the mile and a quarter would suit him well. If you can win the Travers, it’s a big thing. But Tiz the Law looks unbelievable. I watched his last work and he looked tremendous, so Uncle Chuck will have to step it up. It should be a great race.”
Linda Rice had to change the schedule of Max Player (ML 6-1) several times this year, yet still he was a fast closing third in the Belmont Stakes after a long layoff.
“He was closing ground at the end of the mile and an eighth in the Belmont, so I’m hoping the extra distance only works in his favor,” Rice said. “It would be great if we had an honest pace in this race, so it would set up better for a horse coming from off the pace.”
New York native Chad Brown has always wanted to win the Travers and he’ll try with Country Grammer (ML 6-1) who earned a chance when he won the Peter Pan (G3) which was run at Saratoga this year.
“He’s looking for more ground,” said Brown. “He’s going to have to step it up obviously on short rest and the fact that it’s a much tougher race. But the horse, physically, is doing everything you want him to do. We’re excited to participate and give him a shot.”
The $1,000,000 Travers Stakes (G1), Saratoga, Saturday, Race 11.
(6) Tiz the Law has done nothing but win impressively by large margins this year. The big powerful colt is versatile and will no doubt thrive going the classic distance. (3) Uncle Chuck comes to Saratoga with as much hype and potential as any Bob Baffert runner has had. He won both of his races impressively, but now he must make a very big step forward to beat the likes of Tiz the Law going ten furlongs. Baffert has successfully brought others to do this in the past. (4) Max Player came running late to finish third in the Belmont Stakes behind Tiz the Law and should appreciate the added distance and will pass those that do not. (8) South Bend won the first three races of his career but has not found the winner’s circle since after racing mostly in stakes company including five runs on the turf. Last time he was back on the dirt and made a big run to miss the win by less than a length in the Ohio Derby (G3) since then he switched to the barn of Bill Mott.
Analysis of the other 11 races on the Travers Day card which includes four more graded stakes and the Special Saturday Pick 3, all from the New York Hot List team, is available free of charge at this website.