Tiz the Law Expected to Top Field of 6-8 in Travers
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
Tiz the Law trains at Saratoga July 18
It looks as if Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) winner Tiz the Law will face a modest number of rivals in the $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 8 at Saratoga Race Course.
As of July 30, there were only six likely starters and two possibilities to join the field for the 1 1/4-mile stakes for 3-year-olds.
Aside from Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law, a Barclay Tagg-trained son of Constitution who is No. 1 in the latest National Thoroughbred Racing Association Top 10 3-year-old poll, the field is expected to include Uncle Chuck, Max Player, Country Grammer, Caracaro and Shivaree.
Uncle Chuck, trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, has won both of his starts, a maiden race and the Los Alamitos Derby (G3).
Country Grammer won the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) by a neck over Caracaro on opening day at the Spa, while Max Player rallied from ninth to finish third in the Belmont.
Shivaree is exiting a disappointing 11th-place finish in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Those deemed possible to start are Mystic Guide, who beaten 3 1/2 lengths while third in the Peter Pan, and South Bend, a fast-closing second in the Ohio Derby (G3).
The Travers will also offer 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifying points to the top four finishers.
The Longines Test Stakes (G1) for 3-year-old fillies, also Aug. 8 at Saratoga, could possibly wind up with an even bigger post-time favorite than Tiz the Law as only three fillies are considered likely starters at the moment to face Gamine.
Trained by Baffert, Gamine created quite a stir on the June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card when she posted a landslide, front-running 18 3/4-length victory in the Acorn Stakes (G1), covering the mile in a stakes-record 1:32.55.
In the Test, Gamine will be cutting back to seven furlongs while seeking back-to-back grade 1 wins.
While the field is expected to grow in the coming days, Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) runner-up Venetian Harbor, Saratoga grade 1 winner Perfect Alibi, who was fifth by 31 lengths in the Acorn, and Up in Smoke, coming off a fourth in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3), are currently the only other projected starters.