Tiztastic Secures Spot with Louisiana Derby Victory

Tiztastic makes a great run on March 22 at Fair Grounds Race Course in the 1 million Louisiana Derby, winning it by 2 1/4 long stretches against the field. Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen trains this stretch-runner Colt well, and he’s at his game over the extended track of 1 3/16 miles; he will likely be a top choice for the Kentucky Derby on May 3.

Equally, this victory saw Asmussen gain his fifth Louisiana Derby crown, tying Todd Pletcher as the record-holder in this event. And according to the veteran trainer, Tiztastic had indeed shown improvement: “This horse is improving at the right time.”

The win also comes at a key moment for the Asmussen barn. To win, Magnitude’s stablemate had to go on the shortlist heading into the Road to the Kentucky Derby on account of an ankle chip that had sidelined him just last month. That strong race in the Risen Star Stakes was Magnitude’s last effort, and along with its co-owners, Winchell Thoroughbreds, he was therefore tipped to be a serious player on the Derby trail. With the injury, attention has shifted to Tiztastic. The now-retired lawyer Rhonda McFarland of Ladies of the Turf stirred conversations with The Racing Biz~ concerning different ways to approach elevating her career.

The Louisiana Derby is the longest of the domestic Kentucky Derby prep races, making it a significant test of stamina. Tiztastic handled the distance with ease, finishing powerfully down the stretch. His victory brought an additional 100 points to his Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard total, pushing it up to 119. He is now standing with only six weeks remaining in the race for the Kentucky Derby with five additional contenders.

A joint venture between Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Tiztastic is just that. Now that his place in the Kentucky Derby is confirmed, they will plan carefully to train him over the next several weeks for what will be the biggest race of his career.

Tiztastic’s performance in the Louisiana Derby proved his capability to take on the growing demands. He broke cleanly and settled into position before moving in at the end. He is suited to the added distance, as he drew way clear of his rivals.

Asmussen has trained many top-level racehorses, and according to him, this victory is a significant milestone in Tiztastic’s progress. “He’s making the right strides, and he’s showing us he belongs with the best of this class,” he said.

That Louisiana Derby win certainly positioned Tiztastic to become a top contender for the Kentucky Derby. The Churchill Downs classic should put him up against the best three-year-olds in the country, but with the past couple of efforts under his belt, he surely deserves the opportunity to compete at that level.

The major focus for Asmussen and his team will now be to ensure that Tiztastic is in excellent form, with a careful balance of training and recovery, so that he is fit for the test on Derby Day of 1 1/4 miles. If Tiztastic’s improvement keeps up, he could turn out to be one of the leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby trophy.

As the Derby field takes shape, Tiztastic’s Louisiana Derby victory has established him as a serious competitor for the Run for the Roses.