Not only will Tiz the Law try to keep his hopes for the Triple Crown alive on Saturday in the 2020 Kentucky Derby, he'll also attempt to redeem himself on the track on which he suffered the only loss of his career. After winning his first two starts, the three-year-old finished third at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes on Nov. 30, three-quarters of a length behind Silver Prospector. Tiz the Law has gone on a winning streak since then and seeks his fifth straight victory in the Kentucky Derby 2020 on Saturday. He is a 5-8 favorite in the latest 2020 Kentucky Derby odds from William Hill.
The top contender to upset Tiz the Law is Honor A.P., who is listed at 6-1 in the latest Kentucky Derby odds 2020. Authentic (8-1) and Thousand Words (12-1), who are prepared by two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert, also are high on the board. Before the horses go to post at 7:01 p.m. ET on Saturday, look at the 2020 Kentucky Derby picks from SportsLine's resident horse racing guru, Jody Demlng.
A fixture in the horse-racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2020 Kentucky Derby on a major heater on his horse-racing picks. He has picked the winner in six of his last seven races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes. At the Belmont, the first Triple Crown race of 2020, Demling called Tiz the Law the class of the field, and he pulled away for a convincing victory.
This is the same handicapper who hit the Oaks-Derby double at Churchill Downs nine times in the last 11 years. That means he held a ticket with the winners of the Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby all but twice in his last 11 tries. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, Demling has analyzed the entire 2020 Kentucky Derby lineup and released where he believes every horse will finish. You can only see them here.
2020 Kentucky Derby predictions for Authentic, Tiz the Law
One shocker: Demling is fading Authentic, even though he is one of the favorites at 8-1. In fact, Demling says the Baffert-trained horse barely cracks the top five. Authentic has won four of his five career starts, but his most recent victory in the Haskell Stakes was a close one, as he beat Ny Traffic by just a nose. Prior to that outing, he finished second to Honor A.P. in the Santa Anita Derby.
Both of those races were 1 1/8 miles, the longest distance in Authentic's brief career. With the Kentucky Derby being 1 1/4 miles and an outside draw, Demling is "not sure Authentic wants the added distance" and recommends avoiding the horse in your 2020 Kentucky Derby bets.
Demling has locked in his 2020 Kentucky Derby picks for Honor A.P., who is among the favorites at 6-1. Honor A.P. has begun his career with an interesting trend, as he's neatly sandwiched a pair of victories between three second-place finishes. The tendency suggests a victory on Saturday, and he will have the perfect man for the job sitting in his saddle in Mike Smith.
A Hall-of-Fame jockey and the all-time leader in Grade 1 wins, Smith has won a total of seven Triple Crown races, leading Justify to victory in all three legs in 2018. The 55-year-old also teamed with Honor A.P. trainer Shirreffs to guide Giacomo to the winner's circle in the 2005 Kentucky Derby.
Tiz the Law (5-8) enters Saturday as the reigning Belmont Stakes champion. His lone loss in seven career starts came in his only race at Churchill Downs last November. The three-year-old colt finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club, three-quarters of a length behind Silver Prospector on a sloppy track.
The conditions will be better on Saturday, as the 2020 Kentucky Derby weather forecast is calling for sunny skies. Tiz the Law has reeled off four consecutive wins since his first appearance on the track, each coming by at least three lengths. His most recent was a 5 1/2-length victory in the Travers Stakes on Aug. 8.
How to make Kentucky Derby 2020 picks
Demling is revealing his exact finish positions for Thousand Words, Tiz the Law, and every other horse in the 2020 Kentucky Derby field. He's especially high on an epic long shot who "will be running in the end." He's using him prominently in his exactas, trifectas, and superfectas, and so should you. Find out who it is, and get his full 2020 Kentucky Derby picks, only at SportsLine.
So which horse wins the 2020 Kentucky Derby? Where do Tiz the Law and Honor A.P. finish? And what massive long shot does Demling say contends? Visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the 2020 Kentucky Derby, and find out.
2020 Kentucky Derby odds
Tiz the Law 5-8
Honor A.P. 6-1
Authentic 8-1
Thousand Words 12-1
NY Traffic 16-1
Money Moves 18-1
Max Player 20-1
Enforceable 24-1
Sole Volante 35-1
Attachment Rate 45-1
Storm the Court 45-1
South Bend 50-1
Major Fed 60-1
Mr. Big News 80-1
Necker Island 85-1
Winning Impression 100-1
