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Tiz the Law, Independence Hall Prep For Florida Derby

Author: Clint Goodman
Published: Monday March 23, 2020
Tiz the Law and Independence Hall are both preparing for the $750,000 Curlin Florida Derby (G1) March 28. Independence Hall put in a half-mile breeze March 22 at Gulfstream Park, while Tiz the Law completed his final breeze at Palm Meadows Training Center with a five-furlong move. 

Independence Hall

Independence Hall is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Twin Creeks Racing Stables, and Kathleen and Robert Veratti. The grade 3 winner is trained by Mike Trombetta. With jockey Sarah Shaffer aboard, he went four furlongs on a fast main track in :48.31, which ranked seventh of 67 horses at that distance. 

It was Independence Hall's fifth work since he suffered his first loss in four starts, which came in a second-place finish to Sole Volante in the Feb. 8 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs. 

"We're certainly pleased with the horse in all respects," according to Eclipse's California-based managing partner, Aron Wellman. "I spoke to Mike, and I spoke to Sarah; both of them were extremely pleased with the breeze. 

"He had had his serious workout the week before last when we really put some air into him going seven (furlongs) and out a strong mile. All he needed this morning was a little maintenance move to sharpen him up."

The son of Constitution impressed his connections with how he handled the Gulfstream surface and galloped out. 

"Mike was very happy, and Sarah executed the plan to precision. Sarah thought Independence Hall really appreciated the surface at Gulfstream this morning," Wellman said. "It's a mixture of dirt and sand compared to what he's been on all winter at Tampa, which is pure sand. 

"Sarah was of the opinion that he got a hold of this surface better than how he's been handling Tampa. That's no knock on Tampa's surface — it's a great surface, and he had a really good winter there. With the big goal being the Florida Derby right now ahead of us, we're pleased to hear that Sarah believes he really bounced over this surface nicely today.

"I thought the body of the work itself was very, very sharp and just what we wanted to see, especially for a young horse like him going by himself. I thought from the wire to the mile pole, and then from the mile pole to the seven-eighths, it was probably the best part of his work. 

"He really started to find his stride, and it seemed like he had a lot of energy galloping out, and that's exactly what Mike was looking for this morning six days out from the Florida Derby."

Tiz the Law

Sackatoga Stable's grade 1 winner Tiz the Law breezed five furlongs in 1:02.65 on the main track at Palm Meadows for trainer Barclay Tagg. 

"I talked to Barclay, and he said the track was really, really dull, particularly on the front side where the finish line is, but (Tiz the Law) galloped out great and we're ready to go, hopefully, on Saturday," Sackatoga's managing partner, Jack Knowlton, said.

"We've been pointing for this race for eight or nine weeks now — this was the plan. He had that little foot bruise back several weeks ago, and that's well, well behind us. We got the works in we wanted, which you can see. He's fit, and we're anxious to get a chance to run because nobody knows when the next chance is going to be."

Tiz the Law scored the Feb. 1 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream, which was his 3-year-old debut. That race was his first start since the Nov. 30 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs, where he finished in third. 

Tiz the Law is expected to be the favorite in the field.