Travers Stakes (Grade 1)

THE Kentucky Derby may not be until September this year but the American classic will be worth the wait as it has a hugely popular favourite and an owner/trainer combination that are one of the best stories in world racing.

Jack Knowlton, the founder and manager of Sackatoga Stable, owns the New York-bred Tiz The Law, 17 years after he had another Triple Crown contender in Funny Cide, also trained by veteran trainer Barclay Tagg.

This was not a weekend when Saratoga flew its Graveyard of Favourites banner and after Gamine had put up a dazzling performance in the Grade 1 Test, Tiz The Law put up an even better display, roaring home by five and a half lengths, eased down and heading for Kentucky with two of the season’s biggest prizes in the bag. He also added the Travers to the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes. The white-faced son of Constitution cost Knowlton $110,000 at Fasig-Tipton in August 2018.

Bob Baffert had hoped for a fourth Travers win and Uncle Chuck was the 5/2 second choice. He set the pace for the first six furlongs but as has been the case in his wins this season, Franco never let the leader get away as he moved Tiz The Law to within a half-length of Uncle Chuck after three-quarters of a mile in a steady 1m 11.95secs.

From there, it was a one horse race as Tiz The Law moved past Uncle Chuck to lead at the top of the stretch and once straightened up, he extended the margin until he was eased down approaching the line. Tiz The Law covered the 10 furlongs in 2m 00.95secs.

As Uncle Chuck disappointingly dropped back to sixth, Caracaro took second by two lengths from Max Player.

The thrill was huge too for the man on board, jockey Manny Franco.

“He gave me chills. When I pressed the button, he just took off. He accelerated really hard. After that, I took a peek back and he was going away, and I just saved horse. I’m looking forward to the next race.”

“I think he’s proven today that he’s certainly a mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Knowlton, who was on track, said afterwards. “It’s quite an accomplishment for our little stable of New York-breds, and for Barclay Tagg training them, to win the two biggest races in New York. We’re just thrilled to death.”

“I’ve always wanted to win the Travers. It’s been in my head my whole life. I don’t know why, but now it’s happened and I couldn’t be happier,” Tagg added and expressed his gratitude to groom Juan Barajas Saldana and his assistant trainer Robin Smullen for their role in the success of Tiz The Law

The bay colt improved his earnings to $2,015,300 and registered a career-best 109 Beyer Speed Figure.

The Derby will be a different challenge with a bigger field and Baffert has Haskell winner Authentic as a more battle-hardened rival and Art Collector has impressed in his latest runs but there appears no holes in Tiz The Law.

Baffert joked that Tiz The Law may scare away some of the Derby opposition. “I don’t think they are going to need a 20-horse starting gate.”

All sources betting on Travers Day came to a whopping $39,464,558.