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Tiznow Retired From Stud Duty

Only two-time Breeders' Classic (G1) winner's stud career has come to a close.

Tiznow at WinStar Farm

Tiznow at WinStar Farm

Anne M. Eberhardt

As major farms are announcing stud fees for their 2021 rosters at this time of the year, the retirement from stud duty of 23-year-old Tiznow is of note in the Oct. 21 WinStar Farm release.

The remarkable son of Cee's Tizzy is not only the single two-time Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner, but the super-sized Cal-bred has been a cornerstone of the WinStar stallion roster for nearly two decades, siring 79 black-type winners.

"He's been a wonderful stallion here at WinStar," said Liam O'Rourke, WinStar's director of bloodstock services. "He's responsible for putting the farm on the map. He's long been a fan favorite and he's given us so much. We're excited that he'll hopefully get to spend many years turned out on the farm and be here for the fans and visitors from Horse Country to come see."

BLOODHORSE: WinStar Farm Lowers Majority of Stud Fees for 2021

The oversized bay out of Cee's Song, by Seattle Song, was bred by Cecilia Straub Rubens, raced by Cees Stable, and was trained by Jay Robbins. While he was a winner eight of 15 starts and an earner of $6,427,830, it was his two wins during the season-ending Breeders' Cup World Championships at the turn of the century that left an indelible mark on the sport in the United States.

In early November 2000, having just made his stakes debut in July, the 3-year-old Tiznow came to the Classic at Churchill Downs as a 9-1 contender. The field was packed with sophomore talent headed by the Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning Fusaichi Pegasus, and 3-year-olds landed in five of the top six slots as Tiznow and European champion Giant's Causeway delivered a memorable stretch battle under the Twin Spires. The determined Tiznow, with Chris McCarron up, edged the five-time group 1-winning "Iron Horse" by a neck. The score earned Tiznow Eclipse Awards as Horse of the Year and top 3-year-old male.

The following April, after winning two of three starts to begin his 4-year-old season, the big horse was rendered nearly immobile with muscular problems in his back and heat in a vertebrae. Starting over from scratch, Robbins slowly built Tiznow back up to where he could compete at the grade 1 level.

Tiznow's first start back was a third-place finish in the Sept. 8 Woodward Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park, just three days before 9/11 rocked the world.

After a third-place finish in the Oct. 7 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (G2) at Santa Anita Park, Tiznow returned to New York for the Oct. 27 Classic and was a 6-1 chance to repeat. As smoke could still be seen from lower Manhattan at Belmont Park, and armed guards prowled the paddock, McCarron and Tiznow rallied from third to somehow get up to defeat Godolphin's Sakhee by a nose. The roof-rattling result helped lift the spirits of Americans around the globe.

Tiznow wins the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic
Photo: Skip Dickstein
Tiznow (inside) defeats Sakhee in the 2001 Breeders' Cup Classic at Belmont Park

Tiznow entered stud for the 2002 season at WinStar, in partnership with the Taylor family's Taylor Made Farm. His fee was $30,000, where it remained for his first four years before rising to $40,000. His fee peaked at $75,000 (2009-15) before being lowered to $60,000. He stood the 2020 season for $40,000.

Despite not racing at 2, as a sire he was an instant hit, getting Folklore, winner of the Alberto VO5 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and an Eclipse Award in his first crop. He sired 13 additional grade 1 winners, including Well Armed and Colonel John, both major grade 1 winners bred and raced by WinStar. He is also the sire of classic winner Da' Tara, winner of the 2008 Belmont Stakes (G1).

He's also been popular in the sale arena. He has a career total of 805 sale yearlings that have averaged $146,608, peaking in 2013 with 55 yearlings averaging $272,782.

"He's been a commercial breeders' dream in what he threw: size, scope, and bone … and flashy, correct horses," O'Rourke said. "There's still some opportunities here at the (Fasig-Tipton) October Yearling Sale, and there will be some weanlings in November and a handful of foals next year to chase after."

His success continues as a broodmare sire. Among the 37 stakes winners his daughters have produced is Tiz the Law , a top 3-year-old this year and winner of the Belmont along with the Curlin Florida Derby (G1) and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1). Tiz the Law is aimed at making his own assault on the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland.

"He's turned into a heck of a broodmare sire, and he'll be a significant influence. His out-crossed pedigree and his physical-type horse he throws, it all contributes him to being a broodmare sire."

Tiznow has multiple sons at stud, including Breeders' Cup Mile (G1T) winner Tourist , who stands at WinStar; Three Chimneys Farm's Strong Mandate; Fury Kapcori, who stands at Journeyman Stallions in Florida; Slew's Tiznow at Rancho San Miguel in California; and A & A Ranch's Sporting Chance in New Mexico.