Tiz the Law, Shivaree work toward Belmont Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Despite South Florida being inundated by rain Sunday morning, Kentucky Derby candidates Tiz the Law and Shivaree – the first- and second-place finishers, respectively, in this year’s Grade 1 Florida Derby – were able to get in five-furlong works in preparation for a potential rematch four weeks down the road in the Belmont Stakes.

Shivaree was only one of a handful of horses on Sunday’s work tab at Gulfstream Park, where heavy rain began falling well before dawn and the racetrack was sealed and sloppy throughout the course of the soggy morning. Working shortly after the first renovation break, Shivaree went in company with the unraced 3-year-old Jolly Swagman, posting splits of 25.58 seconds and 37.18 for his opening three-eighths before completing five furlongs in 1:02.36 going easily throughout while nearest the rail. The team galloped out six panels in 1:16.16. The work was just the third for Shivaree since he finished second, 4 1/4 lengths behind Tiz the Law, after contesting the early pace in the Florida Derby.

“Despite all the rain, the surface was good,” trainer Ralph Nicks said. “They had it sealed overnight, all the water was sitting on top, there was nothing underneath. It was just a maintenance work. I gave him an easy month after the Florida Derby, and we’re just easing him back into it right now. He’s been running for a long time. He’s a pretty fit horse.”

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Shivaree, runner-up in both the six-furlong Hutcheson and seven-furlong Swale earlier this winter, had tried two turns just once prior to the Florida Derby, finishing a well-beaten fifth behind Chance It in the 1 1/16-mile In Reality as a 2-year-old.

“I was worried a little bit about the family, having had his older brother Garter and Tie, and his ability to go two turns. And at the end of the day, I guess he surprised me a little bit the way he ran in the Florida Derby,” Nicks said. “But he’s such a resilient little horse. I probably have to go back to my Mott days to find one that shows up and tries and tries every time the way he does. The more we race him, the more he seems to thrive on it.”

The 40 qualifying points Shivaree earned in the Florida Derby would likely have been more than enough to get him into the Kentucky Derby had the race been run as scheduled on May 2. But Nicks is certain with the Derby now scheduled for Sept. 5, and so many more qualifying races on the horizon, that Shivaree will have to add to his total to get into the field.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he’ll need an additional 20 or 30 points with the new system,” Nicks said. “At the moment, everything is open, including the Belmont Stakes. A one-turn race like that at a mile and one-eighth would probably be to his advantage. We’ll see who ends up there. If it looks like the starting gate will be full for that one, we might look for something else, maybe a little earlier, maybe a little lighter, and then look ahead to either the Blue Grass or Haskell, assuming the calendar doesn’t change between now and then.”

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At the Palm Meadows training center, located approximately 45 miles north of Gulfstream Park, the rain held off long enough for Tiz the Law to get in his scheduled work over a fast track. With regular work rider Heather Smullen aboard, Tiz the Law broke off about five lengths behind workmate Adriatic Holiday, began to edge closer approaching the stretch, swung five or six paths wide turning for home, and readily swept by his target at midstretch before drawing clear at the wire and extending his advantage galloping out into the turn.

According to Palm Meadows clocker Brian Walls, Tiz the Law completed five furlongs in 59.60, his final quarter in 23.80, before galloping out six panels in 1:12.80.

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“I didn’t even take a stick,” Smullen said. “I just smooched to him a couple of times and when I did it the second time, he just took off. He does everything so easily. He’s just such a pleasure to ride.”

Tiz the Law, who trainer Barclay Tagg confirmed is definitely pointing to the Belmont Stakes on June 20, will have one more work at Palm Meadows, likely next Sunday, before shipping back to Belmont Park on June 1.