Sackatoga Stable's Tiz the Law (Constitution–Tizfiz, by Tiznow), winner of the GI Belmont S. and GI Runhappy Travers S. this summer, has been retired from racing. It was announced shortly after the Belmont that the sophomore colt would stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud upon retirement.
“The entire Tiz The Law team is deeply disappointed that Tiz The Law will be unable to race as a 4-year-old as planned,” stated Jack Knowlton, Operating Manager of Sackatoga Stable. “He has provided the 35 owners a unique opportunity to compete and succeed at the highest level of Thoroughbred racing. His impressive victory in the GI Travers at Saratoga Race Course was particularly rewarding for the Saratoga based stable. Sackatoga Stable is looking forward to the next chapter of his career as a stallion.”
“From day one when he broke his maiden at Saratoga we have been watching him closely and he has everything you look for in a stallion prospect,” said Coolmore America manager Dermot Ryan. “He has an outstanding race record, he's a very good-looking individual and he boasts a strong pedigree. [Trainer] Barclay Tagg, [assistant trainer] Robin Smullen and their team have done a fantastic job with him and we are also grateful to Jack Knowlton and his partners in Sackatoga Stable for letting us be a part of him.”
Bred in New York by Twin Creeks Farm, Tiz the Law began his 2-year-old season with a 4 1/4-length maiden special weight win at Saratoga, then came back for another open daylight victory in Belmont's GI Champagne S. The connections immediately announced the striking bay would skip the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, held that year at Santa Anita, in favor of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs in order to get a start over the track to prepare for the 2020 Kentucky Derby. The track came up sloppy and Tiz the Law finished third in the Kentucky Jockey Club in what would be his only loss in his first seven career starts.
Trainer Barclay Tagg regrouped and Tiz the Law was unstoppable through this spring and summer despite the interrupted racing schedule due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He reeled off consecutive, powerful wins in the GIII Holy Bull S. and GI Curlin Florida Derby, as well as in the aforementioned Belmont and Travers. Tiz the Law was the first New York-bred to win the Belmont since 1882.
Second in the rescheduled GI Kentucky Derby to likely champion Authentic (Into Mischief), Tiz the Law was last seen finishing off the board behind that same foe in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic. He retires with a record of 9-6-1-1 and earnings of $2,735,300.
“While it is unfortunate that Tiz's racing career has been cut short, we have been extremely fortunate and blessed to have had him in our lives,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. “Robin and I were able to pick him out and train him to win the Grade I Champagne as a 2-year-old and three Grade I races [Florida Derby, Belmont Stakes and Travers] as well as run 2nd in the Kentucky Derby this year. He has taken his owners and Barclay Tagg Racing Stable to places that most owners and trainers only dream about. We look forward to his career as a Stallion with Ashford Stud.”
The four-time Grade I winner will now join two other Belmont S. winners from the last five years at Ashford, which also stands Triple Crown winners American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Justify (Scat Daddy) in Versailles, Kentucky.
Tiz the Law's dam won the 2009 GII San Gorgonio H. and is a full-sister to 2014 GIII Precisionist S. winner and GISP Fury Kapcori. Her granddam is a half-sister to 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (Phone Trick).
Tiz the Law's stud fee will be $40,000 and he will be available for inspection at Ashford starting Jan. 4.
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