Tiz the Law Expected to Top Travers Stakes Field

It looks as though 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 possible starters 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, and 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.

Other possible starters are Mystic Guide, who was beaten 3 1/2 lengths when third in the Peter Pan, and South Bend, a fast-closing second in the Ohio Derby (G3).

South Bend, campaigned by Sagamore Farm through his first 11 starts, including a victory in the Street Sense Stakes last fall at Churchill Downs and grade 3 placings on both turf and dirt, was acquired by the partnership of Gary Barber, Wachtel Stable, Peter Deutsch, and Pantofel Stable.

His new trainer is Hall of Famer Bill Mott.

"We're leaning toward the Travers. The partnership group wants to have a good look at that," he said. "We're seriously thinking of the Travers right now. He'll work probably the first part of the week."

Mystical Guide's participation in the Travers could also be determined by a workout at Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland, a drill that will come with blinkers on. 

"He'll work tomorrow and we'll know more after he works," trainer Mike Stidham said. "Ultimately, he has to put himself in a better position early. You can't win those types of races with that much to do late in the race. Our goal was to try blinkers on him and see what type of response he gives so we can try to be a little bit closer."

The Travers will 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 favorite than Tiz the Law as only three fillies are considered likely starters to face Gamine.

The Baffert trainee created quite a stir on the June 20 Belmont Stakes Day card when she posted a frontrunning 18 3/4-length victory in the Longines Acorn Stakes (G1), covering the mile in a stakes-record 1:32.55.

In the Test, Gamine will cut back to seven furlongs.

Though the field is expected to grow in the coming days, the only other projected starters are Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) runner-up Venetian Harbor; Saratoga grade 1 winner Perfect Alibi, who was fifth in the Acorn; and Up in Smoke, who is coming off a fourth in the Victory Ride Stakes (G3).