Tiz the Law is the current favorite for the 2020 Kentucky Derby and completed his morning works on Sunday. (Photo credit NBC Sports).
The Barclay Tagg trained Tiz the Law put in his final work on Sunday for the Belmont Stakes (G1) coming up on Saturday where the colt figures to be the short priced favorite.
With his regular jockey Manny Franco aboard, the colt breezed through splits of 26.50, 50.42 and out in 1:03.12.
“When Barclay turned me loose, he got strong a little bit, but when we passed the seven-eighths to the three-quarters he settled down a little bit and he did it nice,” said Franco. “He did it really well and really easy, so I’m very happy with the work.”
The colt has won four of his five career starts, winning the Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park in his last outing on March 28 with a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. He won the Holy Bull (G2) on February 1 in his three-year-old debut, earning a career best 100 Beyer.
Entries and post positions for the now first jewel of the Triple Crown in 2020 is Wednesday. Tiz the Law is the current early betting favorite for the Belmont Stakes at Jazz Sports at -190.
The probable field for the Belmont Stakes currently stands at eight contenders, including Dr Post (Todd Pletcher, Irad Ortiz, Jr.), Farmington Road (Pletcher, Javier Castellano), Jungle Runner (Steve Asmussen, Reylu Gutierrez), Max Player (Linda Rice, Joel Rosario), Pneumatic (Asmussen, Ricardo Santana, Jr.), Sole Volante (Patrick Biancone, Luca Panici), Tap It to Win (Mark Casse, John Velazquez) and Tiz the Law (Barclay Tagg, Manny Franco).
Tiz the Law Sunday Work
Modernist, who is trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is possible or may wait for the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown on June 27.
“We’re going to have an owner conversation before too long,” Mott said. “The work looked good, nice and smooth. Modernist and Tacitus both worked together and looked great. They finished up well, galloped out nice and strong.”
Belmont Stakes Day will feature six graded races including four Grade 1 events led by the historic Belmont Stakes, which will offer 150-60-30-15 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to the top-four finishers.
Rounding out the Grade 1 action on Belmont Stakes Day are the $300,000 Acorn for three-year-old fillies going one mile; the $250,000 Woody Stephens presented by Claiborne Farm, a seven-furlong sprint over Big Sandy for three-year-olds; and the $250,000 Jaipur, presented by America’s Best Racing, for three-year-olds and up going six furlongs on turf, which offers a berth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint.
A pair of one-mile turf races for sophomores, previously contested at nine furlongs, completes a stakes-laden card with the Grade 2, $150,000 Pennine Ridge and the Grade 3, $150,000 Wonder Again for fillies.
