breeders' cup classic | Horse Racing Free Tips

Tiz The Law Posts ‘Nice, Easy’ First Breeze Since Finishing Second In Kentucky Derby

Sackatoga Stable's four-time Grade 1 winner Tiz the Law was back to work on Friday morning to record his first breeze since finishing second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on September 5 at Churchill Downs with a half-mile work over a fast main track at Belmont Park.

Under mostly sunny skies, the 3-year-old son of Constitution covered four furlongs in 50.07 seconds with regular exercise rider Heather Smullen aboard.

“It was a nice, easy work,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “I wasn't looking for much. I just wanted him to go out there and stretch his legs. He hadn't done anything in three weeks.”

Prior to his last-out second in the Kentucky Derby, where he finished 1 1/4-lengths back to Authentic, Tiz the Law had won his prior four starts this season in dominant fashion taking the Grade 3 Holy Bull and Grade 1 Florida Derby, both at Gulfstream Park, before a sensational 3 ¾-length victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 ahead of a 5 ½-length romp in the Grade 1 Runhappy Travers on August 8 at Saratoga.

During his 2-year-old season, Tiz the Law won the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park in his second start after besting fellow New York-breds in his career debut at Saratoga.

The connections of Tiz the Law opted to bypass the Grade 1 Preakness on October 3 at Pimlico, and instead will train up to the Grade 1, $6 million Breeders' Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland, where he will face older horses for the first time. He will attempt to become the 13th 3-year-old to score a victory in the Classic.

Bred in the Empire State by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law is out of the graded stakes winning Tiznow mare Tizfiz and was purchased for $110,000 from the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Yearling Sale of New York-breds.

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Weekend Lineup: Awesome Again Highlights Stakes Action At Santa Anita

The upcoming week is highlighted by the opening of Santa Anita Park's fall meet, which was delayed by a week due to wildfires in the region. The weekend's slate features seven Breeders' Cup Challenge Series “Win and You're In” races including Saturday's headliner, the Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes, which offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders' Cup Classic.

TVG is the go-to network for comprehensive coverage of racing at Santa Anita Park, starting on opening day September 25. TVG will also feature racing from marquee venues across the country including Gulfstream Park, Monmouth Park and more.

Racing from Belmont Park and Churchill Downs continues on “America's Day at the Races” which airs on either FS1 or FS2. Check the schedule below for air times. The weekend's coverage on “America's Day at the Races” is highlighted by Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Sprint.

Friday September 25

6:12 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Bob Baffert holds a strong three-card hand in the Chillingworth Stakes at Santa Anita, with his streaking 4-year-old Qahira, who is in search of her fourth consecutive win, rating top billing among a field of seven fillies and mares three and up going 6 ½ furlongs. Baffert will also be well represented by classy Quality Response, a restricted stakes winner at two who will be making her second start of the year on Friday and by recent restricted stakes winner Message, a 4-year-old filly that will be shortening up out of four consecutive routes.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA6-EQB.html

6:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Eddie D. Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A graded stakes winning turf sprinter who was most recently a close fourth in a Grade 1 sprint on dirt, trainer Doug O'Neill's Wildman Jack looks like the horse to beat among a field of seven 3-year-olds and up in Friday's Eddie D. Stakes to be run at 5 ½ furlongs on turf. A W.C. Racing homebred 4-year-old gelding by O'Neill's 2013 Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents, Wildman Jack was last seen at Santa Anita winning the Grade 3 Daytona Stakes three starts back on May 23.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092520USA7-EQB.html

Saturday September 26

2:16 p.m.—$125,000 Grade 3 Ontario Fashion Stakes at Woodbine on TVG

Sav chases her second added-money title in Saturday's $125,000 Ontario Fashion, a six-furlong main track event which has attracted six starters. Trained by Ricky Griffith for owner Steven Duffield, Sav, who took last year's La Prevoyante Stakes, will go after her second straight win after a half-length score over seven furlongs on the E.P. Taylor Turf Course on August 15.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/WO092620CAN3-EQB.html

4:35 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Chandelier Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

With three out of the five runners in the Chandelier Stakes, Bob Baffert would appear to “have 'em surrounded” indeed, as his budding starlet Princess Noor fairly towers over her competitors, based upon two impressive tallies at Del Mar over the summer. Princess Noor has done little wrong in two starts, taking her 5 ½ furlong debut by 2 ½ lengths at 3-5 on August 22 and crushing five rivals by 6 ½ lengths at 3-5 in the Grade 1 Del Mar Debutante going seven furlongs on September 6.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA3-EQB.html

4:42 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Feel Glorious (GB) has finished on the board in each of her last six starts and will look to win her second consecutive stakes contest in Saturday's Noble Damsel for fillies and mares 3-years-old and up on the Belmont Park Widener turf. Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Tango Uniform Racing, Feel Glorious defeated fellow Noble Damsel-contender Chaleur in the 1 1/16-mile Perfect Sting on August 14 over firm Saratoga Race Course turf. That marked the Bated Breath filly's first win in three attempts of her 4-year-old campaign, which started with a third-place effort in the Grade 2 New York going 1 1/4 miles on June 27 at Belmont.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA8-EQB.html

4:53 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Ack Ack Stakes at Churchill Downs on FS2

Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables' multiple stakes winner Warrior's Charge tops a full field of 14 that were entered in the one-mile Ack Ack. Trained by Brad Cox, Warrior's Charge was elevated to first in last month's Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth after interference by Pirate's Punch in the stretch. Warrior's Charge, a 4-year-old son of Munnings, won the Grade 3 Razorback at Oaklawn earlier this year and finished second behind By My Standards in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CD092620USA9-EQB.html

5:14 p.m.—$150,000 Grade 2 Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park on FS2

Six-time graded stakes winning millionaire Firenze Fire will take on five others in Saturday's Vosburgh Stakes over six furlongs. Firenze Fire has won four of his seven starts over Big Sandy, including a 1 ½-length score in the Grade 2 True North on June 27 three starts back. During his juvenile season, the Florida homebred son of Poseidon's Warrior bested subsequent champion Good Magic in the Grade 1 Champagne on October 2017 and was a runaway nine-length winner of the Grade 3 Dwyer in July 2018.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/BEL092620USA9-EQB.html

6:41 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Blessed with a pair of talented turf distaffers, trainer Richard Baltas has a big look at the Rodeo Drive Stakes at Santa Anita, as his Lady Prancealot (IRE), a fast closing second in her most recent start, has solid distance credentials, while his Bodhicitta is in top form although distance may be a question. A winner of the Grade 1 American Oaks in her only try at the Rodeo Drive distance five starts back on December 28, Lady Prancealot is winless in four graded stakes this year, but she flew late to be beaten a diminishing neck in the Grade 2 John C. Mabee Stakes at Del Mar September 5 and merits top billing.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA7-EQB.html

7:12 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 American Pharoah Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A gutty runner-up in two summertime starts, Bob Baffert's highly regarded Spielberg looms the horse to beat in the American Pharoah Stakes. Most recently second, beaten 1 ¾ lengths in the Grade 1 Del Mar Futurity going seven furlongs on September 7, Spielberg, a $1 million Keeneland September Yearling, will try two turns for the first time and be ridden for the first time by eastern-based Luis Saez.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA8-EQB.html

7:43 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

A winner of three out of his last four starts and no worse than third in his last nine, Richard Mandella's classy United heads up a field of eight 3-year-olds in Saturday's John Henry Turf Championship. Most recently second, beaten a diminishing head at 3-5 in the Grade 2 Del Mar Handicap, United will again use the John Henry as a springboard to the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland, a race in which he was a close second to eventual Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar last year at Santa Anita.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA9-EQB.html

8:14 p.m.—$300,000 Grade 1 Awesome Again Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Unbeaten in two starts for Bob Baffert, Gary and Mary West's homebred Maximum Security, the No. 1-ranked horse in the NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll, heads a field of field of five in Awesome Again Stakes. Maximum Security comes off a huge three length win in the Grade 1 Pacific Classic on August 22 and will once again be a prohibitive favorite. Baffert's Improbable, winner of the Grade 1 Whitney Stakes at Saratoga August 1, will be bidding for his third consecutive win.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092620USA10-EQB.html

Sunday September 27

5 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Zenyatta Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

An impressive gate to wire winner of her last two starts, the Gary and Mary West homebred Fighting Mad looms a standout in the Zenyatta Stakes, to be contested at 1 1/16-miles. Trainer Simon Callaghan's Harvest Moon, a 3-year-old daughter of Uncle Mo, has won her last three starts and is an up and comer that will attract considerable pari-mutuel attention. Hard Not to Love, a Grade 1 winner and well accomplished, comes off a dull sixth behind Fighting Mad in the Grade 1 Clement Hirsch at Del Mar and will hope to rebound for trainer John Shirreffs.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA4-EQB.html

5:24 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Remington Park Oaks at Remington Park on TVG

Trainer Kenny McPeek has three of the eight horses entered for the Remington Park Oaks, including the heavy 7-5 morning-line favorite Envoutante. McPeek is looking for his second victory in this race, having won the 2013 edition with Montana Native. His other two entrants also certainly have a shot Sunday with Jeweled Princess at 4-1 and Curls and Bows at 6-1. That gives him three of the top four favorites in this field.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA4-EQB.html

7 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

Trainer Mark Glatt's red-hot Collusion Illusion, who seeks his fourth consecutive win and C Z Rocket, in search of his fifth consecutive win photo, headline a solid field of five 3-year-olds and up in Sunday's Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. A winner of five out of six starts, Collusion Illusion was all heart in taking Del Mar's Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes by a nose on August 1, while C Z Rocket, in his first graded stakes assignment, proved best by half a length in the Grade 2 Pat O'Brien going seven furlongs on August 29.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA8-EQB.html

8 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Tokyo City Cup Stakes at Santa Anita Park on TVG

In a marathon devoid of any clear standout, Tizamagician, Azul Coast and Combatant all figure prominently among a field of seven in the Tokyo City Cup. A gate to wire first condition allowance winner going one mile on September 5 at Del Mar, Tizamagician broke his maiden on January 1 and now has two wins from six starts this year. A non-threatening fifth on turf in the Grade 3 La Jolla Handicap August 9, Azul Coast was second to his eventual Kentucky Derby winning stablemate Authentic five starts back in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes January 4.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/SA092720USA10-EQB.html

8:12 p.m.—$200,000 Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park on TVG

A competitive field of nine horses were drawn for the Oklahoma Derby with Indiana Derby winner Shared Sense being made the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The three horses with top earnings in the field are close in talent and in odds with Dean Martini at 7-2. He comes in as the winner of the Grade 3, $500,000 Ohio Derby and the top money earner in the field of nine horses at $393,202. Rowdy Yates, trying to become only the third Oklahoma-bred to win the Oklahoma Derby, is second in earnings with $346,556, and listed as the third-choice in the morning line at 4-1 odds.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/RP092720USA10-EQB.html

11:55 p.m.—$100,000 Grade 3 Canadian Derby at Century Mile on TVG

Trainer Robertino Diodoro has won four of the last seven Canadian Derbies. He goes for his fifth on Sunday with Something Natural, who was third in the Manitoba Derby behind Mongolian Wind and Mr. Unusual, who have both come to Edmonton. Something Natural did run second to eventual Louisiana Derby winner Wells Bayou at Oaklawn Park and also won a solid allowance race at Oaklawn.

Entries: https://www.equibase.com/static/entry/CTM092720CAN10-EQB.html

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Baffert Appears to Have Stranglehold on Awesome Again

Twice in its last seven runnings, the GI Awesome Again S. has produced the winner of the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic, with Mucho Macho Man (Macho Uno) and Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky) completing the double in 2013 and 2018, respectively. Just a field of five faces the starter this weekend for the nine-furlong test–a ‘Win and You’re In’ qualifier for the Classic–but the two marquee horses have legitimate claims at Keeneland in six weeks’ time.

Maximum Security (New Year’s Day), whose topsy-turvy championship sophomore season saw him miss a start in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, is on track for this year’s race and looks to remain perfect in three tries for the Bob Baffert barn since being transferred from Jason Servis. Given plenty of time to recover from his hard-fought success in the $20-million Saudi Cup in February, the bay overcame an eventful trip to defeat Midcourt (Midnight Lute) by a nose in the GII San Diego H. at Del Mar July 25, but looked a different sort altogether when taking out the GI TVG.com Pacific Classic, scoring by three front-running lengths in a result that never truly looked in doubt. Luis Saez, who missed the two post-Saudi rides owing to COVID-19 travel restrictions, makes the trek west Saturday.

In the form of stablemate and ‘TDN Rising Star‘ Improbable (City Zip), Maximum Security faces his most formidable rival since besting champion Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute) in Riyadh some seven months ago. A low-odds fifth in last year’s GI Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, the blaze-faced chestnut turned in an enormous effort from a double-digit gate to finish 3/4 of a lengths behind Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) in the Oaklawn Mile Apr. 11. An easy winner of the 10-furlong GI Gold Cup at Santa Anita June 6, he accounted for next-out GII Alysheba S. hero By My Standards (Goldencents) and the slow-starting, but fast-finishing Tom’s d’Etat in the GI Whitney S. at Saratoga Aug. 1.

Midcourt was in receipt of five pounds and had the benefit of recency in the San Diego, but was a no-match third at level weights in the Pacific Classic. He’ll get two pounds under the conditions of this race. Sleepy Eyes Todd (Paddy O’Prado) earned this chance via his powerful 7 1/2-length score in the GII Charles Town Classic Aug. 28, but will need a lot to go his way to be a factor. Take The One O One (Acclamation) comes off a one-mile Del Mar allowance win Aug. 22, but also looks in too deep.

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The House that Awesome Again Built

All eyes will be on Santa Anita for their opening weekend feature in the GI Awesome Again S. as Bob Baffert trainees Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) and Improbable (City Zip) go head to head for the first time since that consequential first Saturday in May last year.

The $300,000 Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” contest could mark the emergence of an unusual stablemate rivalry.

Over two decades ago, the race’s namesake was part of a different rivalry– one for 1998 Horse of the Year.

Awesome Again had gone undefeated that year, claiming five consecutive victories in the GII Stephen Foster H., GI Whitney, GII Saratoga Breeders’ Cup H., GIII Hawthorne Gold Cup H. and finally the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic.

While his chief competitor Skip Away ended up finishing sixth in that year’s Classic, his five Grade I wins from earlier in the year were enough for Skip Away to be named Horse of the Year.

Adena Springs Stallion Manager Bill Drury admits his bias, but he said he still believes Awesome Again should have received the title from his Classic victory.

“That year’s Classic was the strongest field of horses ever put together in the same race,” he said. “I think he should have got Horse of the Year off that. Had he beat Skip Away twice, he would have.”

To prove his point, Drury can rattle off the field’s Grade I winners by heart: Awesome Again, Skip Away, Silver Charm, Arch, Gentlemen (Arg), Coronado’s Quest, Touch Gold, Swain (Ire) and Victory Gallop.

The horseman remembers being in the Churchill Downs’ grandstand that day.

“I didn’t see him cross the finish line because I knew I wanted to be in that winner’s circle,” he recalled. “When I saw Pat Day lead him between those horses, I knew he had it. It was such a thrill. I knew he was coming to my stallion barn and I was on cloud nine when he won that race.”

Drury said that Awesome Again got his Horse of the Year vengeance soon after taking up stud duty.

Awesome Again wins the Breeders’ Cup Classic with Pat Day aboard | Horsephotos

“I tell people that when he didn’t get it, it ticked him off so he said, ‘I’ll make my own Horse of the Year,’ and he produced Ghostzapper in his first crop.”

2004 Horse of the Year and Hall of Fame inductee Ghostzapper is one of the 14 Grade I winners, 13 millionaires and four Breeders’ Cup Champions that Awesome Again has produced. Ghostzapper’s win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic made his sire the first Classic winner to also sire a Classic winner.

After 21 years at stud, Awesome Again was officially pensioned last year from stud duty.

“After all that he’s done for us, we decided to let him enjoy his retirement,” Drury said. “We had people begging, ‘I’ve got a mare I want to breed to Awesome Again,’ and we literally had to keeping saying no. He deserved retirement.”

Even still, when Drury introduces guests to the farm, the homebred for Frank Stronach is still the headliner.

“I always start by telling my visitors to Adena Springs, ‘Welcome to the house that Awesome Again built.’ He’s our corner-post stallion. He’s still a crowd favorite when people come. He’s our first homebred champion and we’ve gotten several champions by him.”

Drury and Awesome Again have formed a close bond over their many years together, and the 26-year-old bay will always have a place in Drury’s heart.

“We’re pretty good buddies,” he said with a smile. “I believe the saying that cream rises to the top. Well he’s got to be one of the sweetest creams there is. His personality is one in a million. He’s got the heart of a champion and he’s just a classy horse.”

Adena Springs Stallion Sales Manager Ken Wilkins spoke on the success the farm has had with the son of Deputy Minister.

“A phenomenon you don’t see that much anymore is people taking the time and patience to develop sire lines,” Wilkins said. “Deputy Minister had a huge impact in Canada and of course in the United States. Awesome Again was one of our foundation sires and that led to Ghostzapper, who’s been a star in his own right.”

Wilkins noted that the sire line has come full circle at this year’s yearling sales.

“This will be Awesome Again’s last crop of yearlings that will go to sale. But at the same time, the sire line has been carried on by our Shaman Ghost (Ghostzapper), whose first crop of yearlings are offered this year. So it’s kind of a transition. Our hope is that Shaman Ghost will carry the baton.”

Wilkins added that he expects breeders will soon find many of the same characteristics in Shaman Ghost as they did in his grandsire.

“Breeders recognized the quality and consistency that Awesome Again had as a sire,” he said. “One of the things he brought to the table was that he was a proven bet. We certainly bet on him over and over again, and we cashed a lot of tickets from making those bets.”

Frank Stronach greets Shaman Ghost after his win in the GI Santa Anita H. | Benoit

Game on Dude, an eight-time Grade I winner and record three-time GI Santa Anita H. winner, is Awesome Again’s leading earner and one of his five multi-millionaires.

“Game on Dude is probably Awesome Again’s fan-favorite offspring,” Wilkins said. “It seems like a week doesn’t go by without someone coming out here and mentioning him. The career that horse had was tremendous.”

Awesome Again’s four other multi-millionaires include Ghostzapper, Eclipse Champion Older Mare Ginger Punch, GI Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Champion Wilko and Awesome Gem.

Drury explained that he has found a common trait in many of his charge’s top progeny.

“He’s not a big horse, but he put a giant’s heart in his horses,” he said. “Ginger Punch, Wilko, Game on Dude- they’re not big horses, but they could run. You can’t even see Ginger Punch in the photo finish [of her win in the 2007 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff] because she was behind the horse that came in second. If there was one trait he passed on more than anything, it was the heart he put in the horse.”

In recent years, Awesome Again’s most successful progeny include last year’s GI Belmont S. winner Sir Winston, as well as Grade II winners Bravazo, Always Shopping and Something Awesome.

“That’s the sign of a great sire,” Wilkins said. “Great sires keep coming up with good horses. Then the next thing you see from a great sire is that they become a great broodmare sire.”

Awesome Again’s daughters have produced six Grade I winners, including Eclipse Champion Accelerate (Lookin At Lucky). Ghostzapper looks to continue the trend as the broodmare sire of Triple Crown hero Justify (Scat Daddy) and champion sprinter Drefong (Gio Ponti).

With Awesome Again’s final crops now hitting the track, Adena Springs hopes he can pass on the baton to the stallion empire he has constructed.

“He’s the center post of my stallion barn,” Drury said. “We’ve got his son, we’ve got his grandson and we have his half-brother Macho Uno (Holy Bull). He’s Adena Springs’ legacy, and I’m proud as I can be to have been with him.”

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