Tiz The Law Nabs First Leg Of Asterik Triple Crown

KAZ’S KORNER

I was amazed last Wednesday when I saw an article previewing the Belmont Stakes

running Saturday without any fans,

Wait a minute!! The Belmont Stakes in normally the final leg of horse racing’s Triple

Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness,

The key word is “normally”. Since the coronavirus pandemic nothing has been normal,

especially in sports which has been shut down just like everything else.

So instead of the three Triple Crown races being run in a period of five weeks, the

pandemic has forced the series to run out of order over 15 weeks. Winning the 2020 Triple

Crown will be a tough assignment, being almost an impossible task.

Rather than the usual 1¼-mile Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May, then the

Preakness at a mile and three-sixteenths two weeks later, then the Belmont Stakes at 1½ miles

three weeks after that, Saturday’s Belmont was set a mile-and-an eighth.

The Kentucky Derby won’t be run for 11 weeks (Sept. 5) and the Preakness four weeks

after that (Oct. 3).

The 10-horse Belmont field, rescheduled from June 6, was led by heavily-favored Tiz

The Law, a three-year-old that was the only member of the field that had even run in a Grade I

race and this horse ran in two.

But the only weakness the rail birds could find with Tiz The Law was that he was bred in

New York, The last New York-bred horse that won the Belmont was Forester and it happened in

1882.

On Saturday I did what I’ve been doing for the last 40 years and made the 15- minute trip

to Vinton to place a small wager at Delta Downs. I hate to bet the favorite—especially when the

odds at 4-5, but I did it anyhow.

I hooked up the favorite with No. 9 Dr. Post on an exacta bet, mainly because he was

trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, and won enough money to pay for the small amount of

gas I burned on the short round trip.

Tiz The Law won the 152 nd running of the Belmont Stakes by 3¾-lengths, earning the top

share of the $1 million purse, but paid a skimpy $3.50 to win, $2,90 to place and $2,60 to show

on a traditional $2 bet. The top four horses (Tiz The Law, Dr. Post, Max Player and Pneumatic)

all earned Kentucky Derby qualifying points.

The Belmont was Tiz The Law’s fifth victory in six career starts with his next planned

outing being the Travers on Aug 8 at Saratoga, his home track. It’s where he won his first race

last August. Then comes the Kentucky Derby on Sept. 5 and the Preakness on Oct. 3 to close out

the Triple Crown.

Instead of running in the Derby five weeks after his Florida Derby victory, Tiz The Law

had to wait 12 weeks for the Belmont to open the Triple Crown series.

The bay colt, which was purchased for a meager $110,000, plans on finishing the year in

the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

KWICKIES…Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott reportedly signed a $31.4

million franchise tender Monday as he and the Cowboys remain at an impasse on a long-term

extension, according to ESPN’s First Take” Monday morning. The two sides have until July 15

to work out a long-term deal. He earned $2 million last season after making $630,000 in 2018,

$540,000 in 2017 and $450,000 during his rookie season in 2016.

Webb Simpson won the rain-delayed PGA Tour RBC Heritage Sunday by one stroke

over Abraham Ancer at Hilton Head Island, S.C. by firing a seven-under 64 to become the new

FedEx Cup points leader. But the big news was that Dylan Frittelli tied the RBC Heritage record

by starting the day in 47 th place and finishing tied for eighth after tying the course record with a

nine-under-par 62 on Sunday.

The Philadelphia Phillies shut down their spring training complex last weekend after five

players tested positive for COVID-19. The Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and the Toronto

Blue Jays also shuttered their respective training sites.

And while on the subject of players testing positive for COVID-19, former Houston

Texans defensive back Kareem Jackson, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott and

Denver Broncos outside linebacker Von Miller are among NFL players who have tested positive.

Jim Kiick, who helped the Miami Dolphins achieve the only perfect season in 1972, died

Saturday at 73 after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Kiick was part of a formidable backfield

that included Pro Football Hall of Fame fullback Larry Csonka, his best friend.

Former U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie West gave birth to daughter

Makenna Kamalei Yoona West Friday. Michelle’s husband is Jonnie West, the son of NBA

legend Jerry West.

JUST BETWEEN US…I was saddened to learn of Andy Conner’s passing last week.

Although he was not supposed to live beyond the age of three due to Down Syndrome, Andy

fooled everyone by living 61 years. He was proud to be a member of the Men’s Golf Association

at Sunset Grove Country Club for many years and rarely missed its monthly breakfast meeting

on the third Saturday of every month. Andy was cremated and his ashes will join those of his

Dad’s Ray Conner in Pennsylvania. Memorial contributions can be made in Andy’s name to the

OCARC.