Kentucky Derby Top 10: Tiz the Law ascends

Tiz the Law! Thousand Words! Max Player!

A trio of promising 3-year-olds took center stage on the Road to the Kentucky Derby last Saturday.

Tiz the Law is the horse everyone is talking about, following his eye-catching triumph in the Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park, but Thousand Words also made a nice impression with his professional victory in Santa Anita’s Robert B. Lewis (G3).

Max Player took a big step in the right direction with his wide-rallying win in the Withers (G3) at Aqueduct, though his effort came back slower on the speed-figure scales, and he ran greenly at a couple of points.

 

Where do the weekend prep winners rank in my latest Kentucky Derby Top 10? Let me know if you agree.

1. Nadal

There’s no telling where Nadal might turn up next. He could jump straight into stakes company, or trainer Bob Baffert could follow the Justify path and try to find an easy two-turn allowance race.

2. Blackberry Wine

His form was flattered yet again when Hieronymus—who defeated Blackberry Wine in a grass allowance race at Fair Grounds on Dec. 28—returned to crush Saturday’s Randy P. Romero Memorial at Fair Grounds by 9 3/4 lengths.

3. Tiz the Law

He may have raced a bit greenly down the homestretch, but Tiz the Law was still impressive in the Holy Bull. His 108 Brisnet Speed rating was massive, and he showed some tenacity to come back and win, after he was wrestled off the pace and steadied in traffic early on.

 

4. Anneau d’Or

Aiming for a start in the Feb. 15 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds, Anneau d’Or turned in another stamina-building workout Saturday, when he clocked 7 furlongs in 1:29.80 at Golden Gate Fields.

5. Thousand Words

He wasn’t flashy, but Thousand Words got the job done in the Robert B. Lewis. He turned in a professional effort to relax behind the leaders, split horses at the top of the stretch, and win comfortably. This versatile colt seems to do just enough to win and may step up his game against faster rivals.

 

6. Storm the Court

He wrapped up his preparations for Sunday’s San Vicente (G2) with a 5-furlongs in 1:01.20 at Santa Anita. A 7-furlongs race seems like a good seasonal starting point for the champion 2-year-old male of 2019.

7. Maxfield

The Daily Racing Form has reported Maxfield is back galloping at Palm Meadows, which is a positive development for one of the most visually impressive juveniles of 2019.

8. Authentic

He went a bit easier in a 5-furlong workout at Santa Anita on Thursday, when he covered the distance in 1:01.40. Breezing once every seven or eight days will put him on target for the Mar 7. San Felipe (G2).

9. Dennis’ Moment

Trainer Dale Romans got serious with Dennis’ Moment on Sunday, when he sent out the son of Tiznow to rocket 5 furlongs in :58.47 at Gulfstream. It was the quickest move of the morning by 0.36 seconds.

10. As Seen On Tv

The stoutly bred son of Lookin At Lucky continues to train forwardly at Palm Meadows, where he clocked 5 furlongs in 1:00 Thursday. Since As Seen On Tv skipped the Holy Bull and hasn’t been mentioned as a candidate for Saturday’s Sam F. Davis (G3), so the Feb. 29 Fountain of Youth (G2) could be next on the agenda.