Holy Bull sets a familiar scene for Tagg

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – In the winter of 2003, trainer Barclay Tagg brought his New York-bred Funny Cide to South Florida to launch his 3-year-old campaign in the Holy Bull Stakes. He finished fifth – losing virtually all chance upon drawing post position 13 given the short run to the first turn in races decided at 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park.

Seventeen years later Tagg, is back with another New York-bred Kentucky Derby prospect, Tiz the Law. Only this time, there will be no excuses with the Grade 1 winner breaking from post position 3 against only six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, the first of two important local preps leading up to the $1 million Florida Derby here on March 28.

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The Grade 3 Holy Bull, which awards Kentucky Derby points to the first four finishers on a 10-4-2-1 scale, tops a 12-race program that includes four other 3-year-old stakes. First post is at noon.

Of course, Funny Cide went on to win both the Derby and Preakness in 2003 before having his Triple Crown aspirations come to an end with a third-place finish behind Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes. Tagg trained Funny Cide for Sackatoga Stable, the same group who owns Tiz the Law.

“I don’t remember anything about Funny Cide’s race in the Holy Bull. Actually, I just try not to think about it,” Tagg said with a laugh. “At least there’s no worry about the post with only seven in there this time.”

Tiz the Law figures to go postward a prohibitive favorite in the Holy Bull as not only the lone Grade 1 winner in the field, but the only graded stakes winner of any kind in the compact lineup. A son of Constitution, Tiz the Law was an instant sensation after winning his maiden by 4 1/4 widening lengths while earning a 90 Beyer Speed Figure debuting last summer against statebreds in Saratoga.

Tiz the Law had a mild setback coming out of his maiden win, and Tagg bided his time before bringing him back in the Grade 1 Champagne at Belmont Park on Oct. 5, where he was rewarded with a similarly impressive four-length victory over the 6-5 favorite Green Light Go. Tagg held Tiz the Law out of the Breeders’ Cup, opting instead to take him to Churchill Downs for the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club with the idea to give him some experience over the track. Tiz the Law would finish a troubled and disappointing third as the odds-on favorite in a race decided in miserable conditions over a sloppy racetrack.

Tiz the Law shipped right from Kentucky to Tagg’s winter base at the Palm Meadows training center. He’s had five works prepping for his return, including five furlongs in 1:01.40 at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 19.

“I’m very happy with him, he’s doing everything right,” Tagg said while watching Tiz the Law school in the walking ring here Wednesday. “He’s calm, cool, and collected and we’re doing everything we can to get him used to things. Nothing fazes him.”

Tagg said his two main goals on Saturday are to win the race and for Tiz the Law “not to get hurt.” When asked if he’d also like Tiz the Law not to have to empty the tank to win his 3-year-old debut, Tagg replied “we won’t empty his tank.”

Regular rider Manny Franco, who flew down twice from New York to breeze Tiz the Law last month, has the assignment in the Holy Bull.

Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. would likely have had the second choice had he started Chance It in the Holy Bull. Instead, he decided to hold his top 3-year-old prospect out to await the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on Feb. 29. But Joseph will still be represented in the race by the undefeated former claimer Uncork the Bottle, who is perfect in three starts and coming off a one-length victory going a mile on turf against starter-allowance competition at Tampa Bay Downs.

“We’re going to take a chance now to see what kind of horse he is,” said Joseph. “He’s hasn’t beaten much, but he’s 3 for 3, so what we want to find out now is if we should be realistic or unrealistic.”

Joseph is hoping lighting will strike with Uncork the Bottle as it did a year ago with Math Wizard, whom he also claimed for $16,000 and ultimately took to the upper echelon of the 3-year-old division with a victory nine months later in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby.

Ete Indien and Toledo finished first and second, respectively, in a one-mile allowance and optional-claiming race here on Dec. 30 and will meet again in the Holy Bull.

Ete Indien contested the pace before edging away to a 2 1/2-length victory over the 7-10 Toledo while making his main track debut in his 2-year-old finale. Toledo did not have the cleanest of trips that day while finishing 10 1/2 lengths clear of the rest of the field and earning a career-best 82 Beyer Speed Figure in the process.

“He’s an improving horse by his numbers, he’s been getting faster with every start,” trainer Chad Brown said of Toledo. “He seems to be doing well. We’re trying him around two turns for the first time and I think it’s worth taking the shot.”

Relentless Dancer makes his first start since winning a seven-furlong stakes restricted to Louisiana-breds by 10 1/2 lengths at Delta Downs on Oct. 19. He got sick shortly after the race and missed some time.

“He’s doing well and we’re just glad to have him back at the races again,” said trainer Mike Maker. “He had us worried there for a while.”

Clear Destination and recent maiden winner Mayberry Deputy complete the field.