Tiz the Law Draws Post 17, Made 3/5 Favorite for Kentucky Derby

LOUISVILLE, KY – Sackatoga Stable’s Tiz the Law drew post 17 and was made the 3/5 morning line favorite for the $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Saturday’s feature event at Churchill Downs.

Morning line oddsmaker Mike Battaglia gave Tiz the Law the lowest odds since 1989, when the coupled entry of Easy Goer and Awe Inspiring was 3/5 at the onset before closing at 4/5. Tiz the Law is also the lowest single entry since Spectacular Bid (3/5) won the 1979 edition.

The Kentucky Derby is a 1 1/4-mile dirt route for 3-year-olds that attracted a field of 18 for the 2020 edition. The Derby has a scheduled post time of 6:50 PM Eastern.

Tiz the Law has done nothing wrong all year, winning each of his 4 starts by open lengths while facing much of the sophomore male division’s best. Those victories came at distances ranging from 1 1/16 to 1 1/4 miles, covering the latter distance in the Travers Stakes (G1) at Saratoga in his most recent start.

After winning the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) and the Florida Derby (G1) to start 2020, he gave Sackatoga Stable and trainer Barclay Tagg their first victory in the Belmont Stakes (G1), completing a journey 17 years after they had teamed up to win the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1) with Funny Cide (he was third in that year’s Belmont).

Jockey Manny Franco retains the mount on the New York-bred son of Constitution for the seventh straight time. With a record of 7-6-0-1, Tiz the Law will try to avenge his only career defeat, which came in last November’s Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) over a sloppy Churchill Downs course.

Trainer John Shirreffs and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith reunite with Honor A. P. in hopes of winning their second Derby together (Smith won the 2018 edition for a different trainer). The two veterans previously teamed up to take 2005’s Run for the Roses with Giacomo, who pulled off the 50/1 upset to return a $2 win wager of $102.60, at the time the second-highest in Derby history.

Honor A. P.’s record of 5-2-3-0 includes winning June’s Santa Anita Derby (G1) while covering 1 1/8 miles, to date the longest distance that he’s attempted. His twin runner-up efforts this season came while going shorter, including last time out in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, but many experts have long-held the belief that he will excel with added range.

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Here is the full field for Saturday’s $3 million Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1):