Can Tiztastic be fantastic in the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1)?
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen, looking to snap an 0-26 run in the Run for the Roses, found himself another contender on Saturday with Tiztastic, who vaulted to the top of the 2025 Kentucky Derby leaderboard with a late-running 2 1/4-length victory in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2) at the Fair Grounds.
The win -- the colt's first of the year, first on dirt, and first in graded stakes -- earned Tiztastic 100 2025 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, giving him 119 overall and clinching a spot in the Derby field, which is limited to 20 starters.
“The horse rose to the occasion -- he's getting better," said Asmussen, who won his fifth Louisiana Derby. “It's where we want to be. Maybe he's the one to get us over the hump.”
Ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Joel Rosario, who won the Kentucky Derby in 2013 with Orb, Tiztastic sat well behind fractions of 22.99, 46.84, and 1:11.03 set by 4-5 favorite John Hancock. Moving up widest of all on the turn, the dark bay son of Tiz the Law swept into the lead with a furlong to go and hit the wire in 1:56.20 for his first victory in three starts as a 3-year-old.
Tiztastic returned $17 for a $2 win bet and earned $600,000, boosting his bankroll to $1,549,800 for owners Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
Overall, Tiztastic is 3-1-2 from eight starts, with his previous victories coming on turf at Kentucky Downs as a 2-year-old. Most recently, he was fifth in the Rebel (G2) on Feb. 23 and third in the Southwest (G3) on Jan. 25 in his sophomore debut.
Runner-up Chunk of Gold added 50 points for 75 points on the board, and third-place finisher Instant Replay earned 25 points. John Hancock got 15 points and now has 35 points for 15th on the leaderboard. Built, who was fifth, moved to 45 points and 13th on the leaderboard.
Completing the order of finish were Vassimo, Hypnus, Caldera, Furio, and Yinzer.
Unbeaten Good Cheer rolled to her sixth victory by seizing control in the stretch and won the Fair Grounds Oaks by 3 ½ lengths over Alavah, giving the Brad Cox-trained filly 100 qualifying points for the 2025 Kentucky Oaks (G1) for a first-place total of 145 on the leaderboard.
Good Cheer, the 4-5 favorite in the field of eight, covered the 1 11/16 miles in 1:43.44 and returned $2.80 on a $2 win bet. Alavah earned 50 points for second, Gowells Delight 25 for third, Quickicks 15 for fourth, and Her Laugh 10 for fifth.
Touchuponastar ($15) and Hall of Fame ran 1-2 from the start, with 3-year-old champion Sierra Leone failing to deliver his usual late run and finishing a surprising third in the $500,000 New Orleans Classic (G2).
The Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) winner, making his 4-year-old debut, lacked the vigor he displayed last year in running second in the Kentucky Derby in a three-horse photo finish.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
