Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law captured the $1m Travers Stakes at Saratoga on Saturday, with the three-year-old colt cementing his place as the favourite for next month's Kentucky Derby.
Tiz the Law won on his first attempt at the 10-furlong distance, the same trip he will face when he runs the second race of the American Triple Crown on 5 September at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Barclay Tagg-trained colt was partnered by Manuel Franco and returned the 1-2 favourite.
There was a five-and-a-half-length gap back to Caracaro (11-1) in second, with Max Player (114-10) rounding out the minor places.
"Couldn't feel better. Just what we were hoping for. It was a great prep for the Kentucky Derby," said Jack Knowlton, managing partner of the horse's Sackatoga Stable ownership group.
"I think that today he showed the world that he absolutely is the best three-year-old in training in this country and a deserving early favourite for the Kentucky Derby."
The Covid-19 pandemic forced a reshuffle of the usual Triple Crown schedule, with the Derby moving from 2 May to 5 September and the Preakness switching from 16 May to 3 October at Pimlico in Baltimore.
The Belmont, usually the last of the three races, was staged in suburban New York on 20 June, two weeks later than originally planned.
