It’s that time of the year when we ask questions, questions, and more questions. Okay, I realize a lack of intelligence means “that” time of year comes with more frequency for guys like me. Nevertheless, we pose the aforementioned interrogative. Can a Kentucky Downs graduate win the Kentucky Derby?
In recent times, Kentucky Downs has become a big-time player in the Thoroughbred game. A massive infusion of cash has thrust this little country track into the conversations of all the major players in the sport. Because the meet is run in late summer, the two-year old program during the richest seven days of racing in North America is normally very good. Now, considering this is a grass only race track, the likelihood one of these two-year olds running in September would be donning the dirt at Churchill downs the following first Saturday in May might not be likely.
Wait a minute….hold the chalupa… Tiztastic has earned a spot in the starting gates for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby with an authoritative win in the Louisiana Derby. A quick look at the past performances tells us this son of Tiz The Law earned his first career victory at Kentucky Downs back on August 29, 2024. And for good measure, this Steve Asmussen trained grandson of Tapit came back just ten days later and notched another win over this same Kentucky Downs grass in the Juvenile Mile Stakes.
Obviously Asmussen saw something that triggered the move from the Franklin, Kentucky grass to a drive over the dirt we call the road to the Kentucky Derby. His first start on dirt was October 27, 2024 where he finished a distant but closing second in the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill Downs. His next three starts all came in graded stakes company on dirt with some nice but less than stellar performances in two third place finishes (Kentucky Jockey Club, Southwest Stakes) and a fifth (Rebel Stakes).
Feeling as though Tiztastic deserved another look, Asmussen entered him in the historic Louisiana Derby and was rewarded. Masterfully guided by jockey Joel Rosario, this Kentucky Downs graduate navigated the backstretch and made a sweeping move into the long home stretch of the Fair Grounds. Gobbling ground with every stride, Tiztastic pulled away late and thrust himself onto the list of real Kentucky Derby contenders.
So can a Kentucky Downs graduate win the world’s most famous race? Recent times has seen the last four winners of the Kentucky Derby come home at double digit odds. Considering the predictable unpredictability of this game, the answer is …it’s ahorse race and that means ANYTHING can happen.
