SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - Belmont Stakes champion Tiz the Law won the $1 million Travers Stakes by 5 1/2 lengths at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, and he will head into next month's Kentucky Derby as the probable favorite.
Ridden by Manny Franco, Tiz the Law ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:00.65 without fans in the grandstand during what is usually the Spa's biggest day of the summer. He paid $3 to win, $2.40 to place and $2.10 to show.
The 3-year-old colt remains undefeated this year with four straight graded stakes victories for 82-year-old trainer Barclay Tagg.
"I've been doing this a long time, and I've always wanted to win the Travers," Tagg said. "This has been in my head my whole life. And now it happened, so it couldn't be better."
Tiz the Law became the first New York-bred horse in 138 years to win the Belmont Stakes on June 20 in the first leg of the rescheduled Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing series. He began his racing career at Saratoga last summer and has six wins in seven starts.
"We saw a performance today that just blows me away," said Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Sackatoga Stable. "We know we had a nice horse. We thought we had the best horse. To do what he did today, we're looking forward to going to Kentucky now."
Knowlton was part of the ownership group cheering on Tiz the Law by the fence near the finish line. Wearing masks, the group high-fived but didn't pay much heed to the sign advising people to keep their distance because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"I wish there were 50,000-plus people here to see this performance live," he said.
The Travers victory gave Tiz the Law 100 points in qualifying for the Kentucky Derby - which was postponed from its typical first Saturday in May to Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs in Louisville - and he continues atop the leaderboard with 372.
Caracaro returned $6.40 and $4. Max Player, third in the Belmont, paid $3.70 to show.
South Bend was fourth, followed by Country Grammer, Bob Baffert-trained Uncle Chuck and Shivaree. Caracaro earned 40 Kentucky Derby qualifying points, while Max Player picked up 20 and South Bend earned 10.
Tiz the Law was third in the early going before overtaking leader Uncle Chuck near the quarter pole. Franco sneaked a peek behind him before taking Tiz the Law three horses wide and then two horses wide before straightening into the upper stretch.
Tiz the Law geared down near the 16th pole and cruised home.
Said Franco: "He gave me chills. When I pressed the button, he just took off."