Tiz the Law extends Kentucky Derby points lead; Cafe Pharoah in control of Japan Road

Jun 22, 2020 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

When Tiz the Law drew clear in Saturday’s $1 million Belmont S. (G1), the 4-5 favorite was also widening his advantage on the Kentucky Derby (G1) points leaderboard.

Tiz the Law entered the starting gate with 122 points, and the 150-point windfall to the Belmont winner more than doubled his tally to 272. His other major wins have come in last fall’s Champagne (G1), also at Belmont Park, along with this season’s Holy Bull (G3) and Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. 

Trained by Barclay Tagg for Sackatoga Stable – the connections of 2003 Derby and Preakness (G1) champion Funny Cide – Tiz the Law was capturing the classic that had eluded his fellow New York-bred 17 years ago. In the topsy-turvy Triple Crown of 2020, however, Tiz the Law’s Belmont was very different from Funny Cide’s. Not only was it out of order as the first of the three classics, but it was also shortened to 1 1/8 miles. 

Tagg expects to use the Aug. 8 Travers (G1) at Saratoga as Tiz the Law’s final stepping stone to the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. Moved a bit earlier on the calendar to give spacing ahead of the rescheduled Derby, the Travers offers points on the 100-40-20-10 scale while retaining its 1 1/4-mile distance. 

The other big movers on the leaderboard were Dr Post and Max Player, the respective second and third in the Belmont. Dr Post made an excellent impression in his first try at a scoring race, banking 60 points that propelled him into eighth in the rankings. Max Player, who had been unraced since taking the Feb. 1 Withers (G3), continued his progress by rallying for 30 points. Combined with his 10 from the Withers, Max Player now has 40 overall, good for 12th on the list.

Belmont fourth Pneumatic also helped his cause. A late nominee to the Triple Crown, he added 15 points Saturday to his prior 10 for finishing third in the Matt Winn (G3), for a total of 25 points. Pneumatic is 20th in order now, but as with many other contenders, needs more to ensure a spot in the Derby starting gate. Ten more U.S. points races are still to come, and invitations are still pending for the European and Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby. 

While the possibility of a European representative will be determined after the July 12 Ballysax (G3) at Dundalk, the recently announced finale to the series, the Japan Road provided welcome clarity when Cafe Pharoah dominated Sunday’s UnicornCafe Pharoah dominated Sunday’s Unicorn (G3) at Tokyo.

In the meantime, the points action is all stateside for the next two weekends. Saturday’s Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown is on the agenda for Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) champion Storm the Court, and the July 4 Los Alamitos Derby (G3) is expected to attract Thousand Words. Both the Ohio Derby and Los Alamitos Derby, along with the July 8 Indiana Derby (G3) have a points structure of 20-8-4-2. Then the July 11 Blue Grass (G2), during Keeneland’s ad hoc meet, offers the richer 100-40-20-10 points scale.