Derby Dozen Solidified

1. Tiz the Law 

Trainer/Owner: Barclay Tagg/Sackatoga Stable

Pedigree: Constitution —Tizfiz, by Tiznow 

Breeder: Twin Creeks Farm (NY)

Not asked late when romping in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), he still ran a career-best "3" on the Ragozin Sheets. The race also resulted in a lofty 109 Beyer Speed Figure and 115 Equibase Speed Figure. The ease of his Travers seemingly lessens the chance of regression after a career-best effort. Now he returns to the scene of his lone defeat: a third-place finish in last fall's sloppy Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).

2. Art Collector

Thomas Drury Jr./Bruce Lunsford

Bernardini —Distorted Legacy, by Distorted Humor 

Bruce Lunsford (KY)

He spent this past week at Skylight Training Center, about 35 minutes away from Churchill Downs. It's a quiet environment, and he can graze in a relaxing atmosphere. Ultimately he'll make his way to Churchill Downs, where he twice won allowance optional claiming races before taking the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby. He looked well, his coat glistening in the morning sun, when seen firsthand at Skylight Aug. 12.

3. Honor A. P.

John Shirreffs/C R K Stable

Honor Code —Hollywood Story, by Wild Rush

George Krikorian (KY)

Mike Smith expressed disappointment following the colt's second in the Aug. 1 Shared Belief Stakes about not being able to work him during the mornings due to COVID-19 restrictions. He finally got a chance to breeze him Aug. 15 in a move that came in the early afternoon. Smith got after him, and the colt clocked :59 2/5 for five furlongs, almost two seconds quicker than his best Del Mar move before the stakes.

4. Authentic 

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

Into Mischief —Flawless, by Mr. Greeley

Peter E. Blum Thoroughbreds (KY)

After an easy breeze Aug. 8, the TVG.com Haskell Stakes (G1) winner turned in the kind of workout Aug. 13 often seen from a Baffert stakes horse: a bullet. Spotting workmate Bronn a two-length advantage, he pulled clear late to get three quarters in 1:12 3/5, topped by a powerful final eighth around the clubhouse turn. "He's still learning, still green, and immature, but he's getting it down," Baffert said.

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)

Working with 2019 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) winner Math Wizard, the duo finished on near-even terms in a five-furlong move over the Saratoga main track Aug. 13 in 1:00 1/5. Ny Traffic seemed to be under more of a hold in a tandem breeze with a 4-year-old that was recently second in the Monmouth Cup (G3). This 3-year-old can handle the Churchill surface—he was second in the May 23 Matt Winn Stakes (G3).

6. King Guillermo

Juan Avila/Victoria's Ranch

Uncle Mo —Slow Sand, by Dixieland Band

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

Though he will enter the Derby unraced for four months since a second in a division of the Arkansas Derby (G1), he is unlikely to return as a short horse. He delivered a bullet breeze in :59 2/5 Aug. 15 at Churchill Downs. Just passing the finish line, he blew past a few slower-moving workers, knifing between them entering the clubhouse turn. The colt ran his finest race, the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2), when fresh.

7. Caracaro

Gustavo Delgado/Global Thoroughbred and Top Racing

Uncle Mo—Peace Time, by War Front 

SF Bloodstock (KY)

Many were encouraged by his runner-up finish in the Travers, and apparently so was Javier Castellano. The Hall of Fame rider is expected to travel to Kentucky to ride. Considering the business he has to leave behind in New York, extended due to COVID-19 protocols, that's an endorsement. This colt is lightly raced with the potential to improve.

8. Dr Post

Todd Pletcher/St. Elias Stable

Quality Road —Mary Delaney, by Hennessy

Cloyce C. Clark (KY)

Pletcher didn't immediately commit to the Derby after Dr Post's third in the Haskell. If the colt makes his way to Louisville, it would appear because his training warrants giving him a shot. In terms of Beyers (a pair of 95s), he ran an equivalent race in the Haskell as he did when second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), though the latter race was more pleasing visually.

9. Max Player

Steve Asmussen/George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds

Honor Code—Fools in Love, by Not For Love

K & G Stables (KY)

He is on the grounds at Churchill Downs, having been transferred from trainer Linda Rice to Steve Asmussen following the Travers. "I'm excited to get him to Churchill because I'm a believer it's good for a horse to train over a track he's going to run on for a period of time," George Hall said. The colt breezed five furlongs in 1:01 4/5 Aug. 17, galloping out in 1:14 3/5.

10. Thousand Words

Bob Baffert/Albaugh Family Stables and Spendthrift Farm

Pioneerof the Nile—Pomeroys Pistol, by Pomeroy

Hardacre Farm (FL)

Florent Geroux rides, the second straight year the jockey will pilot a colt for Baffert in the Derby. Last year he was aboard Roadster, who finished 15th. Though this colt won on the lead in the Shared Belief, it was a paceless affair. With others, such as stablemate Authentic, appearing speedier, anticipating he will revert to stalking tactics in the Derby. He worked six furlongs Monday in 1:11 4/5 at Del Mar.

11. Sole Volante

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

Karakontie —Light Blow, by Kingmambo

Flaxman Holdings (KY)

As a late runner, one of the keys to his Derby performance will be getting the right trip. Successful closers Mine That Bird (2009) and Street Sense  (2007) were able to accelerate through holes and pick off opponents, rather than lose ground on the outside. He does seem to need some pace. He breezed a mile in 1:39 Aug. 18 on turf at Palm Meadows, his second straight mile workout on the lawn.

12. Enforceable

Mark Casse/John Oxley

Tapit —Justwhistledixie, by Dixie Union

Clearsky Farms (KY)

Fourth last out in the Blue Grass, he is another that will be rallying from the rear half of the pack. At least he has shown he can catch up as early as midstretch. In his two victories he was just a head behind at the eighth pole in a maiden win last year and was in front at the same call in taking the Lecomte Stakes (G3). He breezed five furlongs from the gate Monday at Churchill Downs in 1:01 2/5.