In each of Tiz the Law 's two defeats, both at Churchill Downs, the Constitution colt had not worked previously on the surface.
That won't be an excuse leading into the $6 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland Nov. 7. Before daybreak Oct. 23, he breezed six furlongs in 1:13 1/5 on a fast track, one of two major local breezes he is expected to have prior to the 1 1/4-mile Classic.
Clockers timed the 3-year-old in fractions of :26 and :49 3/5 before catching him galloping out seven furlongs in 1:25 4/5 under Heather Smullen for trainer Barclay Tagg.
"The first time he works at a track, he looks around," Smullen said. "Today he went out and did his job and galloped out nicely. His next work he'll be more aggressive, and that should set him up nicely for the race."
Here's another look at Tiz the Law's impressive work (6f in 1:13.20). Thanks! @Play_Da_Ponies @sackatogastable #BC20 pic.twitter.com/50fLR0WOEx
— Keeneland Racing (@keenelandracing) October 23, 2020
The Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner owned by Sackatoga Stable arrived at Keeneland Oct. 18 after traveling from Belmont Park in New York.
"I wanted to get him used to the track, and I think he gets over any track better than Churchill," Tagg said. "If he shows improvement next week, even better."
Tiz the Law was not the only Breeders' Cup hopeful to work at Keeneland on Friday. Later in the morning, Southern Equine Stable's Keepmeinmind , the runner-up in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1), and stablemate Dreamer's Disease, an easy local allowance-level winner Oct. 3, drilled five furlongs in company in preparation for possible starts in the $2 million TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Nov. 6.
With trainer Robertino Diodoro watching trackside, Keepmeinmind with David Cohen aboard broke off three lengths behind Dreamer's Disease and Adam Beschizza. At the wire, the difference was a length with Keepmeinmind credited with a :58 1/5 clocking and Dreamer's Disease in :58 3/5. The duo galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.40.
Diodoro believes Keepmeinmind deserves a shot at the Breeders' Cup even though the son of Laoban is a maiden after two starts. His resume going into the Breeders' Cup is similar to Good Magic , who won the 2017 Juvenile and earned the Eclipse Award as champion 2-year-old male.
"In the Breeders' Futurity, he got in some traffic on the turn, but then David (Cohen) tipped him to the outside and he came on again," Diodoro said about Keepmeinmind. "I may have different thoughts if he had had the perfect trip, but there are two factors here: one, the trouble he had in the last race, and two, the way he has been training."
Diodoro said if Dreamer's Disease, another Southern Equine homebred by Laoban, does not get in the Juvenile field, he would pass on running the colt in the Nyquist Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on the first Breeders' Cup undercard and likely wait for a race at Churchill Downs in November.
More potential Breeders' Cup starters tuned up Friday at Churchill Downs, where 2019 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner War of Will was one of almost a dozen hopefuls to record breezes. The Mark Casse trainee went five furlongs in :59 4/5 in preparation for the Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (G1).
Also working for Casse was Got Stormy, who went a half-mile in :47 1/5, likely toward the Turf Sprint (G1T). She was second in the Mile (G1T) last year.
Essential Quality , winner of the Breeders' Futurity and part of a large group of horses Brad Cox is pointing for the Breeders' Cup, went six furlongs in 1:13. The Tapit colt, with Florent Geroux up, started his work one length behind older graded stakes-winning turf horse Mr. Misunderstood and finished on even terms.
Essential Quality outside Mr Misunderstood 6F 1:13. Splits: 13.1, 36.4, 48.4, 1:00.3/1:26.2. #BC20 pic.twitter.com/8Vz9V9ps4J
— Kevin Kerstein (@HorseRacingKK) October 23, 2020
Stakes winners Aunt Pearl and Emro also worked together for Cox, with five furlongs in 1:00 4/5, both pointed toward the Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1T).
On the @ChurchillDowns track this morning 2 @BreedersCup bound fillies for @bradcoxracing Ermo (inside) & Aunt Pearl (outside) looking superb. 🐎
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) October 23, 2020
Stay tuned to @TwinSpires’ Twitter account for all #BC20 works this weekend. pic.twitter.com/MCRuMKO9Ms
Other Breeders' Cup hopefuls who worked Friday at Churchill were Mr. Money , Silver Dust, Girl Daddy, Sittin on Go, and Bell's the One.
The morning of Oct. 24 at Churchill is likely to be just as active, with works slated from Monomoy Girl, Swiss Skydiver, and Tom's d'Etat .
