Constitution’s Tiz the Law swept to a powerful four-length win in the 148th Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, remaining undefeated in his first two starts. With the win, Tiz the Law picked up 10 qualifying points for the 2020 Kentucky Derby (G1) and earned a berth in the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) next month at Santa Anita.
Owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, Tiz the Law stumbled at the start and raced toward the back of the compact six-horse field in the early stages. Jockey Manuel Franco guided Tiz the Law through a seam in the three-path nearing the three-sixteenths pole to find clear sailing. Once in the clear and outside rivals, Tiz the Law hit his best stride and easily overtook pacesetters Green Light Go and Gozilla. He rolled home to win as much the best, stopping the timer in 1:35.41 for the one-mile distance.
“He broke a little bit aggressive,” said Franco of the New York-bred colt. “He bobbled a bit and then he took a strong hold early, but I got him to relax and he came back to me. I was just waiting for the moment. I didn’t want to move too early because I knew I had a lot of horse under me. He’s a nice horse.”
Tagg, who conditioned New York-bred Funny Cide to a win in the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1), was encouraged by Tiz the Law’s Champagne win.
“It was just what I wanted to see,” Tagg said. “We were very pleased with him.”
Tagg and co-owner Jack Knowlton said they are likely to focus on the Kentucky Derby trail and are unlikely to run in the Breeders’ Cup. “I don’t think so,” Tagg indicated. “We can always go to California another year, but we can only go to the Kentucky Derby one year.”
The $250,000 Remsen Stakes (G2) on Dec. 7 at Aqueduct is possible for Tiz the Law’s next target.
It was the second consecutive win for Tiz the Law in as many starts. He recorded a 4 ¼-length victory at Saratoga going 6 ½ furlongs in his Aug. 8 debut. Twin Creeks Farm bred the colt out of the Graded stakes-winning Tiznow mare Tizfiz. Tiz the Law was purchased for $110,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearling Sale.
