Tiz the Law's Wednesday work earns him a start in the Champagne

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tiz the Law, who was most impressive winning a New York-bred maiden race on Aug. 8 at Saratoga, joined the field for Saturday’s Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne Stakes here after working an easy half-mile Wednesday morning at Belmont Park.

Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg for Sackatoga Stable – the connections of 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide – drew the outside post in a field of seven entered for the Champagne, one of five stakes on Saturday’s 11-race card.

The favorite for the Champagne is expected to be Green Light Go, undefeated winner of the Grade 2 Saratoga Special on Aug. 10. Green Light Go, trained by Jimmy Jerkens for Stronach Stables, drew post 3.

Tiz the Law earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure when he won a 6 1/2-furlong maiden race by 4 1/4 lengths. He was diagnosed with a shin injury that was blistered by Tagg. Tiz the Law missed three weeks of training before starting to jog before he left Saratoga.

Tiz the Law has breezed four times at Belmont, including a half-mile move in 49.13 seconds Wednesday over the main track. Tiz the Law started the move about a length behind Brucia La Terra, drew on even terms after a quarter in 24.58 seconds and finished right alongside his partner at the wire. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.02.

Manny Franco was aboard for the work. Franco will ride Tiz the Law as Junior Alvarado, aboard for his maiden win, is committed to Green Light Go.

“That’s all we were wanting to do, something easy,” Tagg said. “I wasn’t trying to test him for speed. Manny said he could have galloped out all day long.”

The Champagne offers a fees-paid berth into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Santa Anita, though Tagg was not looking past this race.

The field for the Champagne, from the rail out, is: Alpha Sixty Six, Truculent, Green Light Go, Three Technique, Gozilla, Big City Bob, and Tiz the Law.