Phoenix Thoroughbreds’ potential Kentucky Derby candidate Tiz The Bob returned to the work tab for the first time since his second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf.
Among the early favourites for the first leg of the Triple Crown, Kenny McPeek’s charge had an easy breeze over three furlongs at Gulfstream Park, clocking :37.84.
“Basic stuff, three-eighths. Just keeping him going,” McPeek said of the New Year’s Day works before adding Tiz The Bomb may work alongside fellow Derby hope Smile Happy next weekend.
A winner on dirt by a wide margin on his second start Tiz The Bomb then quickly made a name for himself on turf. A winner of the Kentucky Downs Mile Stakes, he added the G2 Castle And Key Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland before his excellent run in the Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar.
No firm plans are yet in place for the colt’s three-year-old campaign, although Mcpeek is considering the Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oaklawn Park and Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream as possible targets. The Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs is yet another option, with all three races run over 1 1/16 miles.