Tiz the Law, Math Wizard look good in works
Tiz the Law departed South Florida for Belmont Park on Monday, one day after turning in the last of a very impressive series of local works prepping for his upcoming start in the Belmont Stakes on June 20. Tiz the Law worked an easy half-mile in 48.20 seconds on Sunday morning at Palm Meadows.
:: Belmont Stakes news, contenders, and more
Tiz the Law, idle since his easy victory in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on March 28, galloped out five-eighths in 1:01.60, according to Palm Meadows clocker Brian Walls, while well in hand throughout under regular work rider Heather Smullen.
“He was just on cruise control the whole way,” Smullen said. “You could tell how relaxed he was by just looking at his ears. I can’t fault anything with him right now.”
:: KENTUCKY DERBY 2020: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more
At about the same time Tiz the Law was going through his paces at Palm Meadows, Grade 1 winner Math Wizard was turning in an eye-catching five-furlong drill of his own at Gulfstream Park. Trained by Saffie Joseph Jr., Math Wizard broke five lengths behind two stablemates as targets, then pulled away with complete authority from midstretch to the wire, covering the distance in 58.07 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:11.74.
“This might have been the best work he’s ever had for me,” Joseph said Monday morning. “He went a little too quick early, but he didn’t flatten out like he has been in recent works. That’s why I put blinkers back on for this work, a fuller cup, too, because in all his previous works he’d get to his target and just stay with them. Today, he kept going about his business.”
Math Wizard has raced without blinkers in his last six starts, including his victory in the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby last September at Parx Racing, but will have blinkers back on for his next outing, which will come locally either against allowance or stakes company. There is a $55,000 overnight handicap for 3-year-olds and up going a mile in the condition book on June 13.