Tiz the Law returns to vintage form in Holy Bull

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. -- Tiz the Law got back on the winning track and did so in impressive fashion, pulling away through the final furlong from a game Ete Indien to register a popular three-length victory launching his 3-year-old campaign in Saturday’s $250,000 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park.

Tiz the Law came into the Grade 3 Holy Bull idle since finishing a troubled third as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club, decided over a sloppy track on Nov. 30. That was his lone defeat during a three-race 2-year-old campaign highlighted by a convincing victory in the Grade 1 Champagne.

With regular rider Manny Franco aboard, Tiz the Law broke very alertly and was on even terms inside Ete Indien battling for the lead around the clubhouse turn. Franco took Tiz the Law in hand and back to fourth once settling down the backstretch, angling the favorite to the outside before eventually re-engaging Ete Indien approaching the five-sixteenths pole. Tiz the Law stuck his head in front a quarter-mile from home, lugged in a bit while switching leads, and edged clear a furlong out before readily extending his advantage under steady urging.

Ete Indien, a winner of two of his three previous starts, was easily second best, finishing 11 ½ lengths in front of the rail-skimming Toledo, who was the clear second choice. Relentless Dancer, who forced the early running, Mayberry Deputy, Uncork the Bottle, and Clear Destination rounded out the complete order of finish.

Sackatoga Stable owns Tiz the Law, who earned 10 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for his victory and paid $4.60 after covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.04.

“This race was perfect,” said Tagg. “We told [Franco] to get off the rail, to stay out in the two hole or three hole. Whatever he had to do. Lose the ground. Just get him out there. And it worked out perfectly.”

The Holy Bull was decided over a fast track, which seemed highly unlikely earlier in the day, with a 60-80 per cent chance of rain in the forecast throughout the afternoon.

“I was a little worried it might rain because of the race in Kentucky,” said Tagg. “You can’t really tell if he didn’t have the kick last time because of the sloppy track or because they kept him in and crowded so much he just couldn’t get away. I think it was more that than the track, but you never know for sure.”

Tagg said immediately after the race, as he has all along, that Tiz the Law would likely make his next start at the Fair Grounds in the Louisiana Derby on March 21 because of the timing of the race. While adding “nothing is for sure, nothing is carved in stone.”