Tiz the Law in Great Shape Following Florida Derby

Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law surged to the top of the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard March 28 with an emphatic score in the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. Trainer Barclay Tagg said the Constitution  colt, bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm, came out of Saturday's test in good order.

"He's doing great this morning. He's very happy. He takes life easy," Tagg said.

Tagg also trained 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) winner Funny Cide, another New York-bred, for Sackatoga Stable, a New York-based partnership managed by Jack Knowlton.

"I buy New York-breds for Jack every year. That's what he wants for his syndicates, and we try to buy the best ones we can find," Tagg said.

Tiz the Law, a $110,000 purchase from Sequel New York's consignment to the Fasig-Tipton New York-Bred Yearlings Sale, was piloted to the Florida Derby victory by Manny Franco.

"It was a perfect ride. He did just what we wanted," Tagg said. "We asked him to sit in lane two, and he sat in lane three, which you can't have everything you want happen in a race—there's other horses in there, too—but it's about what we wanted, and it worked out great."

Tiz the Law covered nine furlongs in 1:50 and drew off to win by 4 1/4 lengths.

"It could have been faster, but he didn't need to go faster, so it's better to save a little," Tagg said.

Tiz the Law, a winner of the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park at 2, entered the Florida Derby off a three-length win in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3), his season debut.

"He's pretty much been the same. I don't think he's changed at all, really. Whatever you ask him to do, he just does it," Tagg said.

With the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve now moved to Sept. 5 and the national stakes schedule in flux due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the veteran conditioner said he is waiting to see how the Triple Crown race dates unfold.

"Ideally, if I had my choice, I'd like to run him in the Preakness, Belmont (G1), Travers (G1), and then the Derby," Tagg said. "If I could set it up, I'd set it up that way. They can't start the Triple Crown with the Derby or we'd run into the Breeders' Cup."

Tagg also scored the Sanibel Island Stakes Presented by US Foods with Steadfast Stable's Highland Glory. Bonner Young bred the 3-year-old filly in Kentucky.

"Highland Glory is by Sky Mesa  and out of one of Bonner's mares (Kristi With a K, by Petionville)," Tagg said. "She's always bred back to the same bottom line. Highland Glory is a full sister to Highland Sky, who is a fairly nice turf horse, and she's coming along now and doing well."

Highland Sky is a multiple stakes winner for Tagg who was also second in the 2016 Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes (G1T).