Tiz the Law still in recovery mode

ELMONT, N.Y. – In a perfect world, Tiz the Law, the Kentucky Derby runner-up, would likely have breezed this weekend toward a potential start in the Preakness.

In the real world, Tiz the Law has been slow to bounce back from the Derby and is not expected to breeze until mid-week at the earliest, trainer Barclay Tagg said Friday.

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Tiz the Law galloped a leisurely mile Friday morning over Belmont’s main track. While Robin Smullen, assistant to Tagg and Tiz the Law’s exercise rider, said it was a good day, she noted that Tiz the Law needs to have several more good days in a row before having a workout.

“He’s been slow coming around out of the race, but he’s starting to come around,” Tagg said.

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Tagg, Smullen, and Jack Knowlton will get together following Tiz the Law’s next work to map out where the Belmont Stakes, Travers Stakes, and Florida Derby winner would make his next start.

Meanwhile, Tagg said he is pointing Highland Sky to the Grade 1 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic on Oct. 3 at Belmont. Tagg said: “I’d cut off my left and arm and give it to you if I could win the Joe Hirsch. Joe was a great guy and a good friend.”

Highland Sky was elevated from third to second in the Grade 2 Bowling Green on Aug. 1 at Saratoga. He scratched out of the Grade 1 Sword Dancer because the turf came up soft.