Tiz the Law surpasses Justify, posts top Speed Rating in Kentucky Derby qualifier

Tiz the Law registered a 115 Brisnet Speed rating for winning the Travers (G1) on Aug. 8, the top figure since the Kentucky Derby’s points-based system was introduced for the 2013 Kentucky Derby. The 2020 3-year-old crop has proven fast so far, with four of the six highest Speed ratings by winner being posted this year, and Derby contenders Honor A. P. (108) and Authentic (107) are listed along with Tiz the Law, who also earned a stellar 108 for his Holy Bull (G3) score back in early February.

More prep races were added and the four-month Derby delay, from the first Saturday in May to the first Saturday in September, yielded higher numbers during the summer months. Horses still had their schedules altered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and 3-year-olds were posting big Speed ratings before the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes in mid-June.

Kentucky Derby contender Speed Ratings

The table below shows the highest Brisnet Speed ratings earned by winners of Kentucky Derby qualifiers since 2013, with 2020 Derby horses italicized:

Art Collector (104) and Thousand Word (104) make it a total of five contenders this year listed above.

Travers runner-up Caracaro (109) and Haskell (G1) runner-up Ny Traffic (107) also are bound for Churchill Downs after registering significant Speed ratings in the final prep race.

Numbers are strong for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and Tiz the Law has been a dominant presence.