He began the year with four starts in Florida where he won one minor race and finished third to Noble Dancer and That's A Nice in the Hialeah Turf Cup.
At Aqueduct in May he won an allowance race and then recorded his first major success as he defeated Noble Dancer in a division of the Fort Marcy Handicap.
He took the Tidal Handicap in July, beating Proud Arion by five and three quarter lengths, to confirm his "domination of turf racing in the East".
[8] At the beginning of 1979, Tiller was sent to race in California and began his campaign by finishing third to Fluorescent Light in the San Gabriel Handicap at Santa Anita Park on January 1.
His next race, the Grade III San Marcos Stakes three weeks later was scheduled to be run on Santa Anita's turf course but was switched to the main dirt track after heavy rain.
In February, the gelding stayed on the dirt track to contest the Grade I San Antonio Handicap in which he was ridden by Angel Cordero.
Starting favorite, he was last of the six runners before taking the lead in the straight and drawing away to win by three and a half lengths from Painted Wagon with the Haskell Invitational Stakes winner Life's Hope in third.
[9] He remained on dirt for the Santa Anita Handicap on March 4, and finished second to the Triple Crown winner Affirmed with Exceller in third place.
He raced in third place as John Henry duelled for the lead with Marquee Universal before moving forward approaching the final turn.
[11] On his next appearance, the gelding finished third to Premier Ministre and Great Neck in the Bernard Baruch Handicap at Saratoga Race Course in August.
At the 5/16 pole, Tiller broke his right hip while attempting to overtake the race leader John Henry, causing significant hemorrhaging.