Tiz the Law Confirmed for Florida Derby

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law, impressive winner of the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in his sophomore debut, will return to Gulfstream Park for his next start in the March 28 Xpressbet.com Florida Derby (G1).

Sackatoga's managing partner Jack Knowlton confirmed the decision Feb. 7. The March 21 Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in New Orleans was also under consideration for Barclay Tagg trainee.

"There really are a number of factors, starting with how well he ran in the Holy Bull. He obviously liked the racetrack, so that's one box that we checked in a major way," Knowlton said. "Barclay typically likes home games rather than away games. It's a lot easier for him and arguably easier for the horse to get out of his stall on Saturday morning and go 45 minutes down the road to Gulfstream rather than ship or fly over to Fair Grounds. Those are two major things."

Based at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Tiz the Law rolled to a three-length win as the heavy favorite in the 1 1/16-mile Holy Bull, his first race since suffering the only loss of his career in the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Video: Holy Bull S. (G3)

The winner of the one-mile Champagne Stakes (G1) in just his second start, Tiz the Law is the second New York-bred Sackatoga has had on the Triple Crown trail. Funny Cide won the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) in 2003 for them before finishing third to Empire Maker in the Belmont Stakes (G1).

"There's been a lot of interest in him as a stallion that has increased exponentially since his performance in the Holy Bull. Running in a grade 1 rather than a grade 2 is preferable," Knowlton said. "In addition, the whole experience at the Holy Bull and how well the crazy Sackatoga contingent was treated, everybody has good feelings about coming back for another round. All those things kind of fell into place."

Gulfstream's final prep for the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby comes Feb. 29 in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2). Among the horses pointing to the 1 1/16-mile race are Chance It, a three-time local stakes winner, most recently in the Jan. 4 Mucho Macho Man, and Dennis' Moment, winner of the Iroquois Stakes (G3) at Churchill last fall and unraced since an eighth-place finish for trainer Dale Romans in the Nov. 2 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Santa Anita Park.

"(Tiz the Law) came out of his race great. Could not have been better," Knowlton said. "Fortunately, we've got a lot of time to watch as things unfold. I'm really looking forward to the Fountain of Youth. I know how high Dale is on his horse, so it could be an interesting Derby before the Derby meeting, so to speak."