Tiz the Law gets easy final drill for Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – There would be no lightning-fast workout this time.

Tiz the Law, the presumptive favorite for Saturday’s $1 million Belmont Stakes, completed his serious preparations for the race by working a controlled half-mile in 50.42 seconds early Sunday morning at Belmont Park. With jockey Manny Franco up, Tiz the Law went his opening quarter in 26.47 and his final quarter in 23.95. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.35 and six furlongs in 1:16.86.

“I just wanted to get a little something into him, that was all,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He’s had plenty of training.”

The work was in sharp contrast to the final move put in by Funny Cide – also trained by Tagg – leading up to the 2003 Belmont Stakes. On the Tuesday before the race, Funny Cide worked five furlongs in 57.82, much too fast for a horse coming off victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and attempting to run 1 1/2 miles. Funny Cide would finish third to Empire Maker.

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“That thing has come back in my mind many times, that five-eighths,” Tagg said. “I try not to think about that.”

Of course, circumstances are completely different this year. Tiz the Law has not run since winning the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness have been moved to Sept. 5 and Oct. 3, respectively. The Belmont, typically run after those two races and at 1 1/2 miles, will be run at 1 1/8 miles this year.

Still, there was a concerted effort Sunday to make sure the work was an easy one. The work was done shortly after the main track opened at 5:30 a.m., and assistant trainer Robin Smullen was in contact with Franco via two-way radio.

Tagg, on the stable pony, accompanied Franco and Tiz the Law from the wire to the 1 1/16-mile pole before turning him loose. Sensing freedom, Tiz the Law got a little aggressive on Franco for about an eighth of a mile before the jockey reined him in.

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“When Barclay turned me loose he kind of got strong a little bit until we passed the seven-eighths, three-quarters, then he started settling down a little bit,” Franco said.

After Tiz the Law went his opening eighth in 13.86, Smullen, who watched from the grandstand, told Franco “go ahead and let him pick it up a little.” He went the next eighth 12.61.

Smullen said she did not contact Franco until after the horse galloped out, just to remind him “don’t keep going. And he still had a hard time pulling up. We didn’t want much.”

Tagg said when he went to get Tiz the Law to bring him back through the paddock, “you wouldn’t have known he took a breath. He blows right off. I’ve never seen a horse blow off that easily.”

With all the major work done, it is now time to wait for race day. Entries will be drawn and post positions assigned Wednesday. The race is scheduled for 5:42 p.m. on Saturday.

“I’m really confident in my horse, just need a good trip and try to do the best we can,” Franco said. “I think we have the best horse in the race.”