Chiefswood Stable's Tiz a Slam (Tiznow) closed well to complete the exacta behind runaway Queen's Plate S. heroine Holy Helena (Ghostzapper) in the first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown July 2, and now looms as the one to beat in Tuesday evening's Prince of Wales S. at Fort Erie. His morning line favoritism does not come without a healthy share of questions to answer. While no entrant in the Prince of Wales owns a previous win on dirt, Tiz a Slam is a stakes winner on turf by virtue of his win in the Ontario-bred Cup and Saucer S. at Woodbine last October. He has yet to reach the winner's circle in three starts on Woodbine's Tapeta this year, placing second in the May 7 Wando S. prior to a fourth-place effort in the nine-furlong Plate Trial S. June 11. He has posted two five-furlong works over the dirt training track in Toronto since his runner-up finish in the Queen's Plate.
Tiz a Slam may also be at the mercy of an uncertain pace scenario. While he is by no means a one-run closer, the bay will likely have to catch GI Kentucky Derby pacesetter State of Honor (To Honor and Serve), who projects to be loose on the lead. Clearly holding an experience edge on dirt, the bay finished third in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 11 prior to a pair of runner-up efforts in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 11 and GI Florida Derby Apr. 1. He faded to finish 19th in the Run for the Roses, and has recently leveled off to check in third and eighth in the Plate Trial and Queen's Plate, respectively. The colt has never finished off the board in four tries over a fast dirt track.
Schickedanz and Howard's Woodbridge (Langfuhr) is another who must prove his ability on the unfamiliar surface, but he is twice stakes-placed over the turf at Woodbine, including a recent third in the July 2 Charlie Barley S. Cool Catomine (Spring At Last) captured a 1 1/16-mile maiden heat earlier on that same card and jumps straight in to stakes company Tuesday.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
