(Tiz the Law / Photo by Holly M. Smith)
From the Gulfstream Park Media Team:
Tagg’s proven record on the 2003 Triple Crown trail with Funny Cide can only serve him well this year as he oversees the training of Tiz the Law, the Grade 1-winning colt who stamped himself as an elite 3-year-old with a three-length victory in Saturday’s $250,000 Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream Park.
Like Funny Cide, Tiz the Law is a New York-bred owned by Jack Knowlton’s Sackatoga Stable, but unlike Funny Cide, the son of Constitution is a colt whose behavior has been exemplary.
“He’s just been a dream. He’s got energy – a big strong horse, not a real big horse, but he’s big in a lot of ways,” Tagg said. “He’s always trained perfectly. He’s always done everything we’ve asked him to do. He’s been flawless and his races have been exciting.”
In Saturday’s Holy Bull, Tiz the Law showed a lot of enthusiasm during the early going of the 1 1/16-mile stakes, grabbing an early lead into the first turn before conceding pacesetting honors to Ete Indien entering the backstretch. Tiz the Law demonstrated a good measure of athleticism on the backstretch when jockey Manuel Franco took a strong hold of the reins and eased him out of a pocket that had developed to get a clear outside run. Tiz the Law quickly regrouped to settle back into stride and would go on to overhaul Ete Indien leaving the turn into the stretch and drawing off to a three-length victory.
The 6-5 favorite won his third race in four starts, adding the Holy Bull score to a resume that includes a debut victory, a triumph in the Champagne (G1) and a troubled third in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2).
“We liked him when we bought him and everything’s turned out so far,” said Tagg, who handpicked Tiz the Law, who brought $110,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga New York Bred Yearling Sale.
The Road to the $1 million Florida Derby March 28 will continue in the $400,000 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Feb. 29.
The Florida Derby or the Louisiana Derby (G2) at Fair Grounds a week earlier are likely targets for Tiz the Law’s next start.
Two Turns Not Likely for Swale (G3) winner Mischevious Alex
Two races prior to Tiz the Law’s victory in the Holy Bull on Saturday’s card at Gulfstream, Mischevious Alex offered a highly professional performance of his own to capture the $150,000 Swale (G3).
The John Servis-trained colt captured the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds by seven lengths after recovering from a minor bump at the start, settling into stride while attending the pace from the inside along the backstretch and drawing away to a comfortable victory under Irad Ortiz Jr.
“Irad was raving about him,” Servis said. “He’s push button. He pricks his ears and waits for you to call on him. That’s the kind of horse you need.”
It is, however, highly unlikely that Mischevious Alex will join Tiz the Law on the Triple Crown trail or return in a two-turn race.
“He’s got such a good mind on him, he’ll just sit wherever you want, so that will carry him some,” Servis said. “But I don’t know if that’s in our plans.
“If he’s doing good, he’s going to have to show me he wants that, but I don’t think he does,” he added. “I don’t want to put him on the trail and next thing, you end up with no horse at the end of the year.”
Servis said the Gotham (G3) at Aqueduct March 7 is under consideration for Mischevious Alex’s next start.
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