Tiz the Law much the best in Florida Derby

Mar 28, 2020 Vance Hanson/Brisnet.com

So impressive was Tiz the Law in winning Saturday's $750,000 Florida Derby (G1), the New York-bred colt would likely have been favored in a Kentucky Derby (G1) run on the first Saturday in May.

However, like every other colt of his generation, Tiz the Law must wait an extra five months, for the first Saturday in September, for a shot at the roses. Regardless, Tiz the Law figures to hold on to Derby favoritism for the foreseeable future after a sterling 4 1/4-length victoryin Gulfstream Park's premier event.

Under Manny Franco, Tiz the Law established a perfect stalking position in third as Fountain of Youth (G2) winner Ete Indien and 80-1 outsider Shivaree slugged it out through fractions of :23.75, 47.95, and 1:11.94.

Making a three-wide bid approaching the quarter pole, Tiz the Law easily dispensed with that pair turning for home and rolled to victory in a time of 1:50 for 1 1/8 miles over a fast track.

'I was happy by the five-sixteenths pole. When I called on him a little bit, he was there for me,' said Franco.

Owned by Sackatoga Stable, the partnership that campaign 2003 Kentucky Derby winner Funny Cide, and trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law paid $4.80 as the 7-5 favorite.

Multiple stakes winner Shivaree re-rallied inside of Ete Indien to get second, with Gouverneur Morris finishing fourth. The order of finish was rounded out by Independence Hall, Candy Tycoon, My First Grammy, As Seen On TV, and Rogue Element.

Tiz the Law earned 100 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for the victory, increasing his total to 122. Shivaree earned his first 40 points, while Ete Indien boosted his total from 54 to 74. Gouverneur Morris increased his total from four to 14 points.

Bred by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law was a $110,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase. A 4 1/4-length debut winner at Saratoga, he was similarly impressive taking the Champagne (G1) by four lengths, but suffered his only defeat to date when third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill in November.

Tiz the Law is now 2-for-2 this year, opening his account with a three-length victory over Ete Indien in the Feb. 1 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream. He's now bankrolled $945,300.

By Constitution, Tiz the Law is out of Grade 2 winner Tizfiz, by Tiznow.

(Ryan Thompson/Coglianese Photography)