Tiztastic – Kentucky Derby Context

After placing in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2), Street Sense (G3), and Southwest (G3), Tiztastic put it all together in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds, earning a Kentucky Derby (G1) berth. The sophomore colt rallied four-wide to record a 7-1 upset win. The confirmed closer overcame conditions that appeared to favor speed and inside paths, displaying the progress needed to compete at the highest levels. Tiztastic will be a candidate to outperform his projected double-digit odds with another forward move in the Kentucky Derby. 

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OWNER: Tiztastic is campaigned by Winchell Thoroughbreds (Ron and Joan Winchell) and Coolmore connections (Mrs. John Magnier, Derrick Smith, and John Tabor). Winchell Thoroughbreds, which was started by the late Verne Winchell, Joan’s husband and Ron’s father, has campaigned more than a dozen horses in the Kentucky Derby (sole owner or partnership), with their top result coming via runner-up Epicenter in 2022. Winchell also co-owned Gun Runner, who finished third in the 2016 Kentucky Derby before going on to earn Horse of the Year honors in 2017. Prior to his involvement in Coolmore-affiliated partnerships, Tabor owned 1995 Kentucky Derby winner Thunder Gulch. Magnier, Smith, and Tabor, who co-owned 2024 Kentucky Derby runner-up and champion three-year-old male Sierra Leone, are seeking their first Kentucky Derby win under the Coolmore banner.

TRAINER: North America’s all-time leading trainer by wins, Steve Asmussen, has won nearly 11,000 races since his first in July 1986. He seems destined to eventually win the Kentucky Derby, but it remains one of the few major dirt races to elude him, compiling a 26-0-3-2 mark. A former jockey, the Hall of Famer has finished second with Epicenter, Lookin at Lee, and Nehro, and his third-place finishers, Curlin and Gun Runner, went on to be named Horse of the Year. Asmussen has compiled more wins at Churchill Downs than anyone, and the 59-year-old horseman seeks to become the sixth living trainer to win all three Triple Crown races. He also will saddle Publisher in this year's Kentucky Derby.

JOCKEY: Fourth when making his Kentucky Derby debut in 2010, Joel Rosario captured the 2013 edition aboard late-running Orb in his fourth appearance. His overall record reads 13-1-1-0. Winner of the Eclipse Award for leading jockey in 2021, Rosario guided champion three-year-old male Epicenter to runner-up finishes in the 2022 Kentucky Derby and Preakness (G1) for Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds.

BREEDER: A $335,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, Kentucky-bred Tiztastic will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for breeder Capital Bloodstock. 

SIRE: From the second crop of 2020 Belmont (G1) winner and Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law, a New York-bred son of Constitution, Tiztastic will be the first Kentucky Derby starter for his sire.

DAM: Tiztastic is the second stakes winner out of the unraced Tapit mare Keesha, a half-sister to turf sprint stakes winner Shumoos and stakes-winning miler Steady On. One of the great stallions of the modern era and the leading broodmare sire of 2023, Tapit is known for siring a quartet of Belmont winners. As broodmare sire, Tapit counts 2023 Belmont winner and champion three-year-old male Arcangelo and 2023 Kentucky Oaks winner and champion three-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous among his accolades. With the mighty Storm Cat as his second maternal damsire, Tiztastic is bred to appreciate the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance on both sides of his pedigree.

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