NEW YORK — Tiz the Law won an unprecedented Belmont Stakes by 4 1/2 lengths on Saturday, claiming victory at the first race of a rejiggered Triple Crown schedule and crossing the finish line in front of eerily empty grandstands.
The 3-year-old colt from upstate New York charged to the lead turning to the front stretch and gave New York a hometown champion in its first major sporting event since the coronavirus pandemic seized the area.
Tiz the Law, trained by Barclay Tagg and ridden by Manuel Franco, was the post-time favorite at 4-5. He paid $3.60.
Dr. Post was second and paid $5.80 to place, followed by Max Player third at $5.20.
The coronavirus pandemic forced the Triple Crown to be modified from its usual sequence, with the Belmont Stakes — usually the final leg of the five-week series — kicking things off for the first time. The Kentucky Derby is scheduled to follow on Sept. 5, with the Preakness finishing up on Oct. 3. It marks the first time since 1931 the races will be run in a different order. During World War II, the 1945 Triple Crown took place over a three-week span in June.
In addition to being rescheduled from June 6, this year’s Belmont Stakes was run at a shortened distance of 1 1/8 miles, the first time since 1925 it wasn’t its usual grueling 1 1/2 miles.
The top four finishers earned Kentucky Derby qualifying points, including 150 to the winner.
The date and distance weren’t the only things different about this Belmont. Adhering to dramatically new rules caused by COVID-19 meant no owners or fans were allowed at the sprawling track that usually caps attendance at 90,000.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.