Tiz the Law (Constitution) continued his preparations for the $1-million GI Runhappy Travers S. Wednesday morning, working five furlongs in a solid 1:01.10 over a Belmont main track labeled as fast. It was the New York-bred's second breeze since winning the GI Belmont S. June 20. He went a maintenance half-mile in :50.06 July 1.
“He looked perfect,” trainer Barclay Tagg said. “He's got a lot of energy. He wouldn't blow out a candle.”
Tiz the Law is perfect in three starts this season, having won the GIII Holy Bull S. Feb. 1 ahead of a smooth success in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 28. He defeated Dr Post (Quality Road) by 3 3/4 lengths in the first leg of this year's reconstituted Triple Crown last month.
“It's just a matter of keeping him happy and healthy…between now and the Travers,” said Jack Knowlton, operations manager for owner Sackatoga Stable. “[Assistant trainer] Robin [Smullen] says nothing phases him. If you watch him around the stable, on the track, and during his races it all seems to be true. Fortunately, [jockey] Manny [Franco] has gotten to know what he has under him and has done a great job. Hopefully we can continue the roll that we're on.”
Trainer Linda Rice confirmed that GIII Withers S. hero and Belmont third placegetter Max Player (Honor Code) is also being prepared for the 10-furlong 'Midsummer Derby' at Saratoga, having also considered other options over the coming weeks.
“We're leaning towards running in the Travers,” Rice said. “We looked at some other options with the [Grade I] Haskell [at Monmouth] or the [Grade III] Peter Pan [July 16 at Saratoga], but we are going to point right to the Travers.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
