Tiz the Law Wins Travers in Runaway

The Triple Crown champions Sir Barton (1919), Omaha (1935), Whirlaway (1941), Count Fleet (1943) and Citation (1948) each competed in a race between the Preakness and the Belmont, typically the final two legs. All but Omaha were victorious.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has reshuffled seasons for many sports, has upended the thoroughbred racing calendar. Instead of the Kentucky Derby serving as the first leg of the Triple Crown on the first Saturday in May, the Belmont Stakes took the leadoff spot for the first time in history, on a Saturday in June.

Tiz the Law’s victory in the Travers was particularly sweet for Jack Knowlton, the stable’s managing partner. In 2003, Knowlton commanded a New York-bred gelding, Funny Cide, who made the Sackatoga partnership semifamous by winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness.

Knowlton, who lives in Saratoga Springs, and many of his partners were heartbroken 17 years ago when Funny Cide got sick and was scratched the day before the Travers.

Saturday’s victory was the latest bit of consolation. After the Belmont victory, Knowlton and his 34 current partners sold Tiz the Law’s stallion rights in an eight-figure deal with Coolmore America’s Ashford Stud. Knowlton would not reveal the exact price, but he acknowledged that Sackatoga would receive bonuses if Tiz the Law were to win the Travers, the Derby, the Preakness and the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which is scheduled for November.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/08/sports/horse-racing/tiz-the-law-travers.html