Tiz a Slam Could Command Sky Classic Field

Chiefswood Stable homebred Tiz a Slam has a chance to dominate Woodbine's $175,000 Sky Classic Stakes (G2T) on the turf Aug. 19.

Coming into the 1 3/8-mile contest Sunday, Tiz a Slam is the only horse to have recently won back-to-back graded stakes. While the 4-year-old son of Tiznow  had been successful in the past at the graded level, consistency has been lacking. 

However, after starting the year with three losses, the Roger Attfield trainee turned his form around with scores in the July 1 Dominion Day Stakes (G3) at 1 1/4 miles on the all-weather track and the July 22 Nijinsky Stakes (G2T) going 1 1/2 miles on the turf.

"He's just developed, and now he's 4 and getting close to maturity now," Attfield said. "He's just grown into a nice big, strong horse, and he's come into himself very well.

"I was actually going to miss this race and go to the Northern Dancer (G1T), but he'd been training so very well that I decided I would run him."

Last year, Tiz a Slam won only the Ontario Derby (G3) in nine starts. With morning-line odds of 9-5, he is slated to leave post 4 with jockey Steven Ronald Bahen aboard.

Attfield also brings Charles Fipke's Danish Dynaformer into the mix. The 6-year-old son of Dynaformer finished second two starts back in a Woodbine allowance but hasn't seen the winner's circle since the 2016 Singspiel Stakes (G3T).

Trainer Graham Motion has entered the most likely threat. Utmost, a son of Giant's Causeway, raced in Ireland until his July 7 North American debut in the Cape Henlopen Stakes at Delaware Park, where he finished third.

Black Sea was group 2-placed in France but has not been able to duplicate since coming to the U.S. in May 2017. Allowance winners Seeking Albert and Drumcliff round out the field.