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Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz The Law will miss Saturday week’s Preakness Stakes and is set to target the Breeders’ Cup Classic on November 7 at Keeneland.

With four G1 victories on his CV, the son of Constitution suffered only his second career defeat when going down by a length and a half to Authentic at Churchill Downs earlier this month.

His owners Sackatoga Stables issued a statement on Tuesday saying he will bypass the Preakness, the final leg of the Triple Crown in this topsy-turvy coronavirus year.

"Tiz The Law officially skipping Preakness," said Sackatoga operating manager Jack Knowlton in a tweet, adding: "Disappointed that Tiz will not be able to run in the Preakness, our primary interest is doing what's right for the horse & in this case he's not ready. We look forward to training him up to the Breeders' Cup Classic on 11/7."

Speaking to the Daily Racing Form, trainer Barclay Tagg expanded on the decision. "Since we have no shot at winning the Triple Crown, our big goal with this colt is of course the Breeders' Cup," he said. 

"We really want to go into the Breeders' Cup with a fresh, happy horse. He came out of his last race a little stiff, no real physical problems, but a little stiffness. We've taken our time coming back with him. Now he seems just right."

After winning the G1 Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old, Tiz The Law added top-level successes in the Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers Stakes before his Kentucky Derby defeat.

According to the Form, he could have his first proper workout since Churchill Downs on Saturday morning.