And just like that, the first leg of the 2020 Triple Crown has come and gone. The Belmont Stakes, which was only 1 1/8 miles in length this year (instead of the usual 1 ½) saw betting favorite Tiz the Law rush first to the finish line, confirming the suspicion of racing pundits.
The next leg, the Kentucky Derby, will not take place until Labor Day weekend, giving the horse racing community some time to regroup after Belmont and figure out which horses will enter the gates at Churchill Downs.
Weekend Racing Recap
Saturday, June 20: The Belmont Stakes
The last time a horse bred in New York State won the Belmont Stakes, Chester Arthur was President. That’s right, it was 1882 when Forester won the Belmont Stakes. Tiz the Law, owned by Barclay Tagg and ridden by Manny Franco, had the 8th post position and ran to victory, paying off on odds as the heavy favorite.
Tap It to Win set the early pace, but then after the race’s single turn, Tiz the Law hit the gas and ran to victory, beating Dr Post by 3 ¾ lengths. Max Player came in third. By the time the race finished, Tiz the Law’s odds had dropped to 4/5, and he paid $3.60 to win, $2.90 to place and $2.60 to show.
Tiz the Law is trained by Barclay Tagg and owned by Sackatoga Stable. In 2003, this partnership almost won a Triple Crown, as their horse Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes before finishing third at Belmont Park. Tiz the Law is a son of Constitution and a grandson of Tapid, who had already sired three Belmont Stakes winners (Tonalist in 2014, Frosted in 2016 and Tapwrit in 2017). Tiz the Law has just one loss in six career starts. But can he stay healthy and in condition until September 5, when the Kentucky Derby will take place? The next scheduled race for Tiz the Law is the Travers Stakes, on August 8 at Saratoga.
Betting Future
So what will Tiz the Law’s starting price be at the Kentucky Derby? Obviously, we’re well over a month away, but he is now the prohibitive favorite at 5/2. When futures wagers first opened for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, his odds were 20/1, so the spring and his win at Belmont Park have changed things significantly. Honor A.P. had been the favorite after opening at 50/1, but now he is in second, with 7/2 odds. He did not run at Belmont Park but did win the Santa Anita Derby. Authentic is the only other Kentucky Derby candidate with single-digit odds. Authentic won the Grade II San Felipe Stakes and came in second to Honor A.P. at the Santa Anita Derby. Dr Post, the Belmont runner-up, sits at 16/1 after opening at 100/1, and Max Player, who had opened at 75/1 and came in third at the Belmont, sits at 60/1.
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