Joe Labozzetta Photo

Tiz the Law to stay on early Kentucky Derby trail, still to decide between G2 Remsen or G2 Kentucky Jockey Club for next spot

by NYRA Press Office

• Cox proud of effort from Arklow in G1 Joe Hirsch; Finalizing Breeders' Cup contingent
• Hennig impressed with Saturday maiden winners
• Brown brigade breeze on the green
• Week 7 stakes probables

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law came out of his impressive four-length win in Saturday's Grade 1 $500,000 Champagne for 2-year-olds in good order, trainer Barclay Tagg said Sunday morning.

The Constitution colt improved to 2-for-2 in his career, building on his 4 ¼-length debut at 6 ½ furlongs on August 8 by besting a six-horse Champagne field in a one-turn mile, drawing away from favorite Green Light Go to hit the wire in a 1:35.41 final time.

Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred to win the Champagne in 50 years [Silent Screen in 1969], earning an automatic entry to the Grade 1, $2 million Breeders' Cup Juvenile in November at Santa Anita.

But Tagg said Tiz the Law, who earned 10 qualifying points to the 2020 Kentucky Derby, will likely skip that race and next target another prep race for the "Run for the Roses," with either the Grade 2, $250,000 Remsen on December 7 at Aqueduct Racetrack or the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club on November 30 at Churchill Downs the likely next spot. Both races carry the same 10-4-2-1 points structure for first-through-fourth place finishes that the Champagne awarded.

"He came out of it great," Tagg said. "I was very happy with him. He did everything right. Seeing him this morning, there isn't a blemish on him. So far, so good. Nothing fazed him.

"We haven't decided what we're doing next. We're still calling people and seeing what they want to do, so we'll see."

While the Kentucky Derby remains far in the future, Tiz the Law would represent Tagg's sixth career starter in the race. He last participated in 2008, when he saddled both Tale of Ekati [fourth] and Big Truck [18th]. His best showing came with his first Derby starter, when Funny Cide, a New York-bred like Tiz the Law, won the 2003 edition and captured the Preakness as well before running third in the Belmont Stakes.

"It's exciting. It's what you hope for," Tagg said.

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Cox proud of effort from Arklow in G1 Joe Hirsch; Finalizing Breeders' Cup contingent

Arklow picked up his first career Grade 1 win with his first victory of the year in Saturday's $500,000 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic.

Owned by Donegal Racing, Joseph Bulger, and Pete Coneway, the hard-trying 5-year-old finally got the dream trip he was waiting for under new rider Junior Alvarado after previously finishing second by a neck twice on the Widener turf course this year in the Grade 1 Man o' War in May and the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup in June.

"I thought Junior did a good job," said conditioner Brad Cox. "The only thing we told him is that he's a little slow getting out of the gate, but Junior did a good job getting him in a good spot and comfortable to where he finished well."

The victory marked the third Grade 1 victory this year for Cox, who said he would make a decision soon on pointing to the Breeders' Cup Turf.

"I'm just really happy for the connections," said Cox. "He's a horse that's been consistent his entire career and especially this year. He always brings his 'A' game and he's really run well in all his races. It's nice to see everyone involved getting to celebrate winning a prestigious race like the Joe Hirsch, especially after coming so close in the Man o' War. From here he'll ship back to Kentucky in the next day or so and we'll make a decision on whether or not we'll enter the Breeders' Cup Turf."

Cox also reported 3-year-old multiple graded stakes winner Owendale is under consideration for a start in the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 2 at Santa Anita.

The son of Into Mischief rallied from off the pace to win the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby by 1 ¾ lengths on September 29 at Remington Park.

Briefly on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year after winning the Grade 3 Lexington in April at Keeneland, Owendale closed for third in the Grade 1 Preakness. He went on to win the Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in June before finishing fifth in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers at Saratoga.

"He's back at Churchill [Downs] and the way things are looking we're focusing on the [Breeders' Cup] Classic," said Cox. "We'll see how he breezes next week, but it's certainly into play the way he came back from the Oklahoma Derby and his steady improvement throughout the year. We think he deserves the shot to at least keep it in consideration."

Cox said turf juvenile Andesite, for owners Kent Spellman and Madaket Stables, would point for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf on November 1 following his second-place finish in the Grade 3 Pilgrim on September 28 at Belmont.

Additionally, New York-bred Dot Matrix is expected to make his next start on Empire Showcase day on Saturday, October 19 in the $200,000 Mohawk following his win in the Ashley T. Cole on September 22.

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Hennig impressed with Saturday maiden winners

Trainer Mark Hennig secured a pair of maiden victories on Saturday afternoon with 2-year-olds Maedean and Sonneman, both of which are owned by Courtlandt Farms.

Maedean, a Tapit gray filly out of Grade 1-placed Summer Solo, went last-to-first en route to victory while her stablemate Sonneman laid mid pack and made a wide move to get up for his win.

Both maiden winners were purchased from last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Maedean was acquired for $450,000 while Sonneman, a son of Curlin out of graded stakes winner Zardana, was bought for $375,000.

"I thought they were both professional efforts. They settled in, took a lot of dirt, and didn't let it bother them," Hennig said. "They both finished up with good energy and I thought they galloped out really well. Each of them gave no indication that we've reached their distance limitations. We have a nice group of babies and we've known that all along. We just waited on them to get ready. It's always nice when the babies are performing well."

Hennig, who sent out Americanus to a first out maiden victory last week, has not penciled in a next start for both horses, but stated that they will be nominated for stakes action at Aqueduct, targeting the Grade 3, $150,000 Nashua on November 3.

"We'll nominate up to the races around Breeders' Cup weekend," said Hennig. "Both Americanus and Sonneman will be nominated to the Nashua. We'll see how they train up. I really look forward to get them both around two turns."

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Brown brigade breeze on the green

Three-time Eclipse Award winner Chad Brown sent out a six-pack of stakes horses to work on the Belmont turf Sunday morning.

Klaravich Stables and William H. Lawrence's Bricks and Mortar, perfect in five starts this season, breezed five furlongs in 1:01.76 in company with Michael Dubb, Madaket Stables, Wonder Stables and Bethlehem Stables' graded stakes winner Olympico.

John Gunther's Without Parole, who captured the Group 1 St. James's Palace in June 2018 at Ascot worked five furlongs in 1:03.55 in company with Peter Brant's multiple graded-stakes placed Blowout.

The Brant-owned Shelter Island, an impressive debut winner on September 1 at Belmont, covered a half-mile in 49 flat in company with Wonder Stables, Madaket Stables, Michael Dubb, Chris Mara, and Robert Masiello's French-bred Olendon.

Brown enjoyed a successful Saturday afternoon at Keeneland where Michael Dubb, Head of Plains Partners Robert LaPenta, and Bethlehem Stables's Uni surged to victory in the Grade 1 First Lady with stablemate Rushing Fall, owned by eFive Racing Thoroughbreds, in fourth. Valid Point was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile.

Brown saddled a trio of starters in graded stakes on opening day of the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Racing Festival with Standard Deviation and Digital Age finishing third and fifth respectively in the Grade 2 Hill Prince; while Ya Primo was off-the-board in the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes.

A busy Sunday stakes lineup for Brown will see Sistercharlie and Thais contest the Grade 1 Flower Bowl at Belmont, while Dunbar Road will seek success in the Grade 1 Spinster at Keeneland.

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Belmont Park Week 7 stakes probables

Saturday, October 12

Grade 2, $200,000 Sands Point
Probable: Dyna Passer (Tom Albertrani); Feel Glorious (Christophe Clement); Magic Star (Chad Brown); New and Improved (Brown); Olendon (Brown); Romantic Pursuit (Kiaran McLaguhlin)

$100,000 Floral Park
Probable: Fear No Evil (Albertrani); Fire Key (Jim Ryerson); I'llhandalthecash (Raymond Handal); Lady Mamba (Cherie DeVaux); Misericordia (Jorge Duarte); Mominou (Jimmy Toner)
Possible: Enthusiastic Gal (Steve Klesaris); Stillwater Cove (Wesley Ward)

Sunday, October 13

$100,000 Point of Entry
Probable: Carlino (Mark Hennig); Marzo (Mike Maker); Petit Fils (Clement)

Monday, October 14

Grade 2, $200,000 Knickerbocker
Probable: Argonne (James Bond); Dr. Edgar (Barclay Tagg); Olympico (Brown); Paret (James Lawrence) Possible: Carlino (Hennig); Lucullan (McLaughlin)