Derby Dozen: Contenders That Fit the Mold

1. Tiz the Law 

Trainer/Owner: Barclay Tagg/Sackatoga Stable

Pedigree: Constitution —Tizfiz, by Tiznow 

Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm (NY)

As spectacular as he has been so far, he elevated his status even higher in capturing the Aug. 8 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1). Eased over the final furlong, he still finished his closing quarter-mile in :24.53 to complete 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.95. If that performance is replicated at Churchill Downs—where his only loss in seven starts came in the slop when third in last year's Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2)—expect to see him wearing the roses.

2. Art Collector

Thomas Drury Jr./Bruce Lunsford

Bernardini —Distorted Legacy, by Distorted Humor 

Bruce Lunsford (KY)

Tiz the Law is not the only colt heading to Louisville Downs unbeaten at 3. So is this colt, who improved to 4-for-4 in 2020 by winning the Runhappy Ellis Park Derby by 3 1/4 lengths. The 2-5 favorite after capturing the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2), he took pressure early and still won under a hand ride. His time of 1:48.02 for 1 1/8 miles earned a third consecutive triple-digit Beyer Speed Figure.

3. Honor A. P.

John Shirreffs/C R K Stable

Honor Code —Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush

George Krikorian (KY)

The Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner returned to breezing just one week after his runner-up finish in the Shared Belief Stakes with three furlongs in :37 4/5 at Del Mar. He did get hot in this leg-stretcher, with sweat apparent on his right front shoulder. As talented and as physically imposing as he is, he still is untested shipping and lacks stakes experience in a large field. 

4. Authentic 

Bob Baffert/Spendthrift Farm, MyRaceHorse Stable, Madaket Stables, and Starlight Racing

Into Mischief —Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

He also took a spin at Del Mar Aug. 8 with an un-Baffert-like five-furlong breeze in 1:03. Before one frets about the time, realize Authentic was under a firm hold and in little more than a fast gallop. Baffert has said he doesn't require as much training as some 3-year-olds. More of a concern is the :13.23 final eighth he posted in winning the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1). 

5. Ny Traffic

Saffie Joseph Jr./John Fanelli, Cash is King, LC Racing, and Paul Braverman

Cross Traffic —Mamie Reilly, by Graeme Hall

Brian Culnan (NY)

Recording his first breeze since nearly catching Authentic in the Haskell, this colt turned in a maintenance work at Saratoga Race Course Aug. 6 with a half-mile in :49.72 and an enthusiastic gallop out. With six weeks rest between the Haskell and the Derby, more demanding works should follow. He reportedly ran a "4" on the Ragozin Sheets in the Haskell, a number that rates him as one of the fastest 3-year-olds.

6. King Guillermo

Juan Avila/Victoria's Ranch

Uncle Mo —Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

Carhue Investments, Grouseridge, and Marengo Investments (Ky.)

Roughly three months after his runner-up finish behind Nadal in a division of a split Arkansas Derby (G1), no competitor from his division has won a stakes race. That negative key-race angle noted, several have not had a chance to win due to being sidelined. He returned to the work tab after a two-week absence with a half-mile in :48 1/5 Aug. 8 at Churchill Downs. He was one of the first arrivals for the Derby.

7. Caracaro

Gustavo Delgado/Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing

Uncle Mo—Peace Time, by War Front 

SF Bloodstock (KY)

Making his second start following a sixth-month layoff in the Travers, he improved upon his July 16 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) runner-up performance. Even so, Tiz the Law was too good, 5 1/2 lengths the best while geared down. Gotta praise this one for rallying for second, two lengths ahead of third-place Max Player. The Derby would represent the third start of his current form cycle.

8. Dr Post

Todd Pletcher/St. Elias Stable

Quality Road —Mary Delaney, by Hennessy

Cloyce C. Clark (KY)

He is twice grade 1-placed, having run second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and third in the Haskell. This colt worked a half-mile in :50.55 Aug. 7 at Saratoga for Pletcher, who might opt for more conservative placement. If he goes in the Derby, seven weeks rest should assist. He ran well after eight weeks off in the Belmont before his Haskell regression on half that turnaround.

9. Max Player

Steve Asmussen/George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds

Honor Code—Fools in Love, by Not For Love

K & G Stables (KY)

Speed figures say he ran his fastest race in the Travers, but his effort seemed no better than his comeback third in the Belmont from a visual standpoint. Urged to sit closer to the leaders, he largely stayed in a steady pace from start to finish—though he did briefly loom a threat leaving the second turn. Jockey Joel Rosario was already asking him, and the colt seemed to flatten out.

10. Thousand Words

Bob Baffert/Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm

Pedigree: Pioneerof the Nile—Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy

Breeder: Hardacre Farm (FL)

He has won three graded stakes at 1 1/16 miles but is winless beyond that distance in two starts, having run 11th in the Oaklawn Stakes and second in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3). Granted, he never had much of a chance in the Oaklawn after stumbling at the start, and his Los Alamitos Derby runner-up finish came after a layoff. His dam, the graded stakes-winning Pomeroys Pistol, was a sprinter.

11. Sole Volante

Patrick Biancone/Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Andie Biancone, and Limelight Stables

Karakontie —Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Flaxman Holdings (KY)

Although coming off an uninspired sixth in the Belmont, a race that came on short rest, some horses with grass influences in their bloodlines have done well in the Derby (i.e. Barbaro and Animal Kingdom). This gelding fits that mold, having turf blood on both sides of his pedigree and also having grass racing experience. Biancone gave him a mile workout Aug. 9 on the grass at Palm Meadows in 1:40. 

12. Enforceable

Mark Casse/John Oxley

Tapit —Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

Clearsky Farms (KY)

Fourth in the Blue Grass, he is trying to buck recent Derby history. All but one Derby winner since 2010 has been first or second in his last prep—the exception being Country House, who was awarded the 2019 Derby upon the disqualification of Maximum Security. Enforceable outworked his company with a five-furlong move in 1:01 at Churchill Downs Aug. 8, galloping out six panels in 1:14 2/5.