Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Tiz the Law points to Travers
ELMONT, N.Y. – Though he basked in the quietude of a spectator-less Belmont Park on Saturday, trainer Barclay Tagg knows the noise level will be ratcheted up a few notches as the summer rolls on.
“You gotta get used to it, it’s the job,” Tagg said Sunday morning.
On Saturday, Tagg, Tiz the Law, and jockey Manny Franco did their job flawlessly as Tiz the Law rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory in the revamped $1 million Belmont Stakes, which officially kicked off the Triple Crown series. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Belmont was the first of the three-race series, with the Kentucky Derby moved from May 2 to Sept. 5 and the Preakness from May 16 to Oct. 3. The Belmont was only two weeks later than originally scheduled, but its distance was shortened to 1 1/8 miles from 1 1/2 miles.
“I would have preferred this be the real Belmont Stakes,” Tagg said. “I know they’re going to put an asterisk up there. I don’t think they should because the timing [of the Triple Crown] has not always been that way. It’s never been perfect . . . there’s always something to get in the way.”
Nothing got in Tiz the Law’s way Saturday as he sat a perfect three-wide stalking trip under Franco, took control turning for home, and cruised to a decisive victory over Dr Post in the Belmont. Tiz the Law, a New York-bred son of Constitution owned by Sackatoga Stable, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:46.53 and earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
On Sunday morning, Tiz the Law was described as perfect by Tagg and his assistant Robin Smullen.
“He came out great, he grazed for an hour, his legs were good,” Smullen said. “He has an acupuncturist, and the acupuncturist said his energy is good and he doesn’t need any work.”
Before he runs in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Tiz the Law will be pointed to the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes on Aug. 8 at Saratoga. The Travers is typically run the last weekend in August, but has been moved to four weeks out from the Derby. It will retain its 1 1/4-mile distance.
“If he goes into the Travers really good I’m not going to worry about him being good for the Derby because I’m sure he will,” Tagg said. “Nothing takes anything out of him mentally or physically. Nothing fazes him.”
Tagg said Tiz the Law would likely go back to the track Wednesday and return to the work tab in about two weeks. He will likely head to Saratoga a few days before the meet starts on July 16.
Meanwhile, Belmont Stakes runner-up Dr Post came out of the race in good order, according to trainer Todd Pletcher.
He will be pointed toward the Kentucky Derby with a start in either the $1 million Haskell on July 18 at Monmouth or the Travers.
Pletcher said it’s a matter of whether he wants to run against the multiple graded winner Authentic in the Haskell and have seven weeks to the Derby or wait seven weeks and face Tiz the Law again in the Travers with four weeks to the Derby.
Pletcher was pleased with Dr Post’s effort, noting that his horse won his maiden March 29, the day after Tiz the Law won the Florida Derby.
“To go from that point to being second in the Belmont, that’s quite a lot of progress in a relatively short period of time,” Pletcher said Sunday morning. “Yesterday, Tiz the Law was simply a better horse. We’re hoping we can close the gap with more experience and with more racing.”
Pletcher said Farmington Road, who finished eighth in the Belmont, would likely not be pointed to the Kentucky Derby.
Max Player, who finished third in the Belmont off a 140-day layoff, could be a candidate for the Peter Pan on July 16 at Saratoga, the Haskell, or the Travers, trainer Linda Rice said.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment in the Belmont was Sole Volante, the Tampa Bay Derby runner-up, who finished sixth, beaten 15 3/4 lengths. Trainer Patrick Biancone said Sole Volante didn’t handle the track and “it was very tough to come from behind from what I could see.”
Biancone said Sole Volante came out of the race sound and would return to South Florida on Tuesday. Biancone said Sole Volante remains under consideration for the Kentucky Derby, though he could return to turf for his next start.
“We’re not going to make too many plans yet,” Biancone said.