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For his final piece of serious preparation ahead of next weekend’s Kentucky Derby, hot favourite Tiz The Law went 5f in 59.21s over the Saratoga main track on Saturday.

Trainer Barclay Tagg timed the work to avoid the anticipated showers, so the four-time G1 winner was amongst the first horses to step foot onto the track at 5.45am, just 15 minutes before rain hit the track.

Piloted by exercise rider Heather Smullen, the winner of both the Belmont and Travers Stakes went his first three-eighths in 36.01s before galloping out in 1m12.01s on the fast main track, which was raked and harrowed.

"Everything went fine and he came back well," Tagg said. "He did everything he was supposed to do. I'm satisfied with this work. 

"We had to make the decision this morning to work him," Tagg went on. "We made the decision around 4am. Luckily, it wasn't raining when he was working. It's supposed to rain all day, and the track may be worse tomorrow. I'm glad we got the work in."

Tiz The Law, set to be partnered by regular rider Manny Franco at Churchill Downs, is scheduled to ship to Churchill Downs on Monday before the $3 million event, rescheduled to the first Saturday in September owing to coronavirus.