Kentucky Derby Profile: Tiz the Bomb

Tiz the Bomb has had - shall we say - an 'interesting' year or so with that bizarre win/non-win at the BC Juvenile Turf being talked about to this back. Back-to-back wins on the Tapeta have given him the points to race in the Derby and his connections have decided to roll the dice. JN Campbell takes us through his thoughts on the three-year-old...

I remember walking by Tiz the Bomb in Barn Y at Del Mar just before he was going to run in the BC Juvenile Turf (G1), and wondering if he had the ability to step-up in class and win such a prestigious race on the grass … Well, he did … and he didn’t … The BC contest ended up being nothing short of a mess for the betting public, as Charlie Appleby’s Modern Games was victorious. He ran for “purse money only,” so it was Kenny McPeek’s son of Hit It a Bomb (owned by his Magdalena Racing) that recorded the “win.”

Strange set of affairs on one of horse racing’s biggest stages … McPeek & Co., then decided it was time to test the Derby Trail in the new year, and they made the decision to enter the Holy Bull S. (G3) at Gulfstream Park. The colt didn’t appear to have any issues … he just never fired with regular rider Brian Hernandez sitting helpless on his back. The Lexington-based conditioner decided that Turfway Park would be a better spot to take his charge, that way he could take advantage of the flexibility of the Tapeta surface ... ala Animal Kingdom … With wins in the Battaglia Memorial S. and the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), backers saw the power that this colt displayed as proof-positive that he could get the “Classic” distance, and could facedown a large field.

Brian Hernandez continues to be an underrated rider, in the estimation of this turfwriter. However, I am not necessarily a fan of this one. While Hit It a Bomb is in Spendthrift Farm’s lineup, and a half to Preakness winner War of Will, I still think he is more of a turf horse than one that belongs on dirt. In short, I am against …

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