Tiz the Law named 6-5 morning-line favorite

The Florida Derby, which will be witnessed live by only a handful of people, will go on as scheduled Saturday, or at least that’s as of Wedneday’s draw.

The city of Hallandale Beach, where Gulfstream Park is located, has been trying to figure out if the horse track is complying with a Broward County decree that took effect Monday, ordering nonessential businesses to close down.

Four of the top 10 3-year-olds in most Derby rankings are among the 12 horses whose names were dropped into the entry box Wednesday for the stakes, whose purse has been cut from its traditional $1 million to $750,000 because of the lack of the usual huge crowd. There are 170 Kentucky Derby qualifying points (100-40-20-10) on the line, although the postponement of the Run for the Roses until at least Sept. 5 has reduced the urgency to compile points.

Tiz the Law, an eye-catching winner of the Holy Bull, is the strong 6-5 morning-line favorite from post 7. Tiz the Law, owned by the Sackatoga Stable which raced 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, earned his status by overcoming a challenging trip in the Holy Bull to run away from Ete Indien by 5 lengths, his third win in four starts.

Ete Indien, the 4-1 second choice from the outside post, made Tiz the Law’s win look even better when he rebounded to win the Fountain of Youth by more than 8 lengths. Normally a speed horse, he will almost have to gun from the start because of the short run to the first turn in the 1 1⁄8-mile race.

Gouverneur Morris, who will break from gate 5, is from the Team Valor connections of 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom. Gouveneur Morris, 8-1 on the morning line, has been highly regarded since he won his debut by 9 lengths at Saratoga last summer. He followed with a second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland.

He launched his 3-year-old campaign with a smart win at Tampa Bay Downs. Trainer Todd Pletcher said Gouverneur Morris’ most recent 5-furlong work was the colt’s best yet.

Trainer Michael Trombetta also is high on Independence Hall, who suffered his first defeat in four starts in the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay.

Trombetta said a lot of little things went wrong that day as Independence Hall, the 9-2 third choice from stall 9, was overtaken late in his first try around two turns by Ete Indien’s stablemate Sole Volante. He expects considerable improvement in the Florida Derby.

Some of the anticipated long shots also have shown the potential to jump up with a big race.

Candy Tycoon, a 20-1 shot from post 10, is also from the Pletcher barn. He has been highly touted since even before his debut last summer at Saratoga. He went off the odds-on favorite in his first two starts. He ran creditably but didn’t break his maiden until his fifth start. He came out of that race to run second in the Fountain of Youth.

As Seen On Tv, 12-1 from the rail, has never been out of the money in five starts and ran a gut-wrenching second to Chance It in the Mucho Macho Man. Chance He rebounded with the worst race of his career in the Tampa Bay Derby, raising the question of whether the stretch-long duel in the Mucho Macho Man might have drained him.

As Seen on Tv has been given three additional weeks to recuperate.

Stretch-running Ajaweed, 20-1 from No. 6, has given signs of being a horse who would improve as the distances extended. He comes out of a third-place showing in the Sam. F. Davis, but he was more than 11 lengths behind runnerup Independence Hall.

A win by any of the rest would be a shocker. Shivaree (30-1, post 2) is primarily a sprinter who was fifth in his only race around two turns. Disc Jockey (20-1, post 3, has won two of three starts but against much less formidable competition.

Soros (30-1, post 4) has a win and a second in two starts against less accomplished rivals. My First Grammy (50-1, post 8) has not won a race. Sassy But Smart, also 50-1 from post 11, will be trying the main track for the first time.

Only those directly responsible for getting the horses to the starting gate will be allowed into the track. Even owners and the media are barred.

Another complicating factor in the midst of the pandemic is Gov. Ron DeSantis’ edict Tuesday that he wants all people 65 and over to self-isolate. This could create problems for trainers Barclay Tagg and Patrick Biancone.

Tagg, who normally would saddle Tiz the Law, is 82. Biancone, conditioner of Ete Indien, is 67.

Those who wish to bet the race, which will be televised live on the NBC Sports Network, TVG and be available on Gulfstream’s streaming service, will be able to do so only through Advance Deposit Wagering Accounts, such as Gulfstream’s XpressBet.com.