Tiz the Law back on work tab with half-mile breeze

ELMONT, N.Y. – Though Wednesday was a dark day on this circuit, Manny Franco was at Belmont Park bright and early on a beautiful summer morning. Franco was on-site to climb aboard his 3-year-old Tiz the Law for the first time since he won the abbreviated Belmont Stakes here June 20.

Shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m, Franco guided Tiz the Law through an easy half-mile work that Daily Racing Form clocker Mike Welsch timed in 49.89 seconds over the main track. After going a slow opening quarter of 26.71, Tiz the Law came home in 23.18 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.22 It was his first work on the road to the Grade 1, $1 million Runhappy Travers Stakes on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

“I was going a little slow early, so I was able to let him run a little in the stretch; stretch his legs a little bit,” Franco said. “I’m happy.”

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Franco got on Tiz the Law in the paddock and was accompanied to the track by trainer Barclay Tagg aboard a stable pony. Tiz the Law stayed with the pony all the way to the five-furlong pole before Tagg turned him loose.

“That was his plan and that was great for me, because he’s getting a little bit tough,” Franco said. “That made it easier for me.”

Tagg said he “wasn’t looking for anything much. I usually breeze him back 10 days. This is 12 days later.”

Tagg has been extremely pleased with how Tiz the Law has come out of the Belmont, a race this year that was run at 1 1/8 miles. Tiz the Law won by 3 3/4 lengths over Dr Post.

“He wasn’t under pressure at any point of it, which is fine with me,” Tagg said. “The more easy wins the better.”

Tiz the Law could have two more workouts at Belmont before shipping to Saratoga the week of July 13.