Tiz the Law Completes Final Breeze for Belmont Stakes

On a picture-perfect morning at Belmont Park June 14, Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law, the presumptive Belmont Stakes (G1) favorite, turned in his final move for what is known this year as the first leg of the Triple Crown. 

Under his regular jockey, Manny Franco, the Constitution  colt worked an easy half-mile in :50.42 on a fast main track.

Among only a handful of horses on the track when it opened at 5:30 a.m., Tiz the Law galloped out five furlongs in 1:03.12, according to New York Racing Association clockers. His first quarter-mile was timed in :26.50.

With an unseasonable chill in the air and under a sky that was shaking off its darkness, Tiz the Law arrived in the paddock to meet up with Franco, who was promptly given a leg up on the New York-bred colt before heading through the tunnel to reach the main track. In deference to NYRA's COVID-19 protocols, jockeys are not permitted on the backstretch and are required to meet horses they work in the paddock.

Upon returning to the paddock to dismount Tiz the Law, Franco said the colt was keen on his way to the half-mile pole, where the work began. Tiz the Law's trainer, Barclay Tagg, aboard his pony, accompanied Franco and his mount to the mile pole before setting them free.

"When Barclay turned me loose, he kind of got strong a little bit, until about the seven-eighths to three-quarter (pole), then he started settling down a little bit," Franco said.

By design, Tiz the Law's final work for the June 20 Belmont Stakes, shortened to 1 1/8 miles this year, was meant to be simply a maintenance move. Tiz the Law and Franco had a more serious work June 8, clocking five furlongs in 1:00.53 and galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.86 and seven furlongs in 1:25.28.

Tagg's assistant trainer, Robin Smullen, communicated with Franco via a two-way radio.

"The first (eighth of a mile), she said :13 and 3 and she said, 'Pick it up a little bit,'" Franco explained. "But I knew I can't do much, move much, because I move on him and he's going to take off. I just let him be comfortable and happy because I know that he is going to do the work."

Back at his barn, Tagg was all smiles and in good humor.

"It was fine; the track looks pretty deep to me," Tagg said. "I just wanted to get a little something into him. He's had plenty of training. 

"He just does everything easy. He's just a pleasure to train because you don't have to do a whole lot of thinking. He just does everything easy. He never comes back out of breath. Even if he goes too fast, he's not out of breath. He pulls up easy. He's just a pleasure to have, that's all there is to it."

Tagg, who decided to work Tiz the Law when the track opened in order to avoid heavy traffic, had a chuckle when discussing his moments with Franco before the work.

"Manny was really tired (going to the pole)," Tagg said. "He said he was so strong. I said 'I can take you further with the pony if you want.' 'No, I got him, I got him.'"

Tiz the Law, who wintered in South Florida at Palm Meadows Training Center, began his 3-year-old season at Gulfstream Park with an easy three-length score in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in February. He won the nine-furlong Curlin Florida Derby (G1) by 4 1/4 lengths March 28 in his most recent effort.

Tagg and Sackatoga Stable's previous Triple Crown journey took place in 2003 with another New York-bred, Funny Cide. The Distorted Humor  gelding won the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1) but finished third in the Belmont Stakes after setting the pace and holding the lead until the far turn.

Thankfully for Tagg, Tiz the Law's final work for the Belmont didn't produce the angst he experienced with Funny Cide's sizzling five furlongs in :57.90 just five days before the 1 1/2-mile race.

"Funny Cide was the last (horse) in the world I was thinking about (today)," Tagg said with a laugh. "That thing has come back in my mind many times. I try not to think of that five-eighths." 

Modernist Breezes, But Belmont Stakes Not Definite

Trainer Bill Mott sent Pam and Martin Wygod's Modernist to the Belmont main track for a five-furlong breeze Sunday. The winner of a division of the Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) was piloted by regular rider Junior Alvarado and worked in tandem with last year's Belmont runner-up, Tacitus, who had John Velazquez up. The pair ran a :24 2/5 opening quarter, finished their breeze in :59 1/5, and galloped out in 1:11 2/5.

"He broke off in a nice rhythm, and turning for home I was one length behind Tacitus," Alvarado said. "As soon as we turned in, we got together and galloped out. I thought the work was extremely good."

Alvarado praised Modernist's versatility. 

"He's a late (developing) horse. He's learning and learning. Last time we tried to sit a little bit off the pace to see what he was capable of. … When we won at Fair Grounds, we went wire-to-wire, so he's a versatile horse," Alvarado said. "We can do anything we want in the race depending on how he breaks out of there. He always will be there to put me in the spot that I want."

Mott did not confirm Modernist for the Belmont Stakes but said a start in the American classic remains a possibility. The June 27 Ohio Derby (G3) also is in play.

"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."

Modernist has not raced since finishing third in the March 21 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2).

Tacitus, a multiple graded stakes winner bred and owned by Juddmonte Farms, is a likely contestant for the 1 1/4-mile Suburban Stakes (G2) July 4 at Belmont.