Tag: Ashford Stud

Tiz The Law: Best-Laid Plans For A 4-Year-Old Campaign Go Awry

To borrow a term used by the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, I was skeptically hopeful when Coolmore announced it had bought the breeding rights to Tiz the Law following the Constitution colt's 3 ¾-length victory in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, shortened to 1 1/8 miles and run as the opening leg of the Triple Crown on June 20.

Hopeful because of the comment made at the time by Jack Knowlton, managing partner of Tiz the Law's owner, Sackatoga Stable, that the partnership was “excited to see what Tiz the Law has in store on the track for the remainder of his 3-year-old year and beyond…”

Skeptical because I know what kind of pressure stallion operations like Coolmore can place on owners and trainers when they get their tentacles into a top prospect. And let's face it: Coolmore's emphasis is on acquiring stallion prospects with early racing success. Only two horses on the sizable stallion roster at Coolmore's Ashford Stud in Versailles, Ky., raced as 4-year-olds after winning Grade 1 races at 2 or 3: Mo Town and Maximum Security.

So when I saw the news release from Coolmore stating that Tiz the Law had been retired from racing “on veterinary advice” and with no further explanation, my hopefulness turned to flat-out skepticism. I'd seen this movie before.

After seeing the Tweet, Knowlton called to assure me this was not some manufactured excuse to shuffle Tiz the Law into his next career before the 2021 breeding season begins.

“We're crushed,” Knowlton said, saying he called Sackatoga's 30-some partners with the bad news. “Believe me, nobody wanted him running next year more than me. We were so looking forward to the Pegasus (Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Fla., on Jan. 23).”

He added that the race he really wanted to win this coming year was Saratoga's G1 Whitney at his hometown track in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Knowlton called Tiz the Law's G1 Travers win at Saratoga his personal highlight of the stable star's 3-year-old season.

Knowlton said Robin Smullen, assistant to trainer Barclay Tagg, “sensed something wasn't right” after she took Tiz the Law out for a routine gallop Tuesday morning at Palm Meadows training center. He was scheduled to breeze on Jan. 3 in what would have been his sixth workout since a disappointing sixth-place finish as the favorite in the G1 Breeders' Cup Classic at Keeneland on Nov. 7.

“I got the call from Barclay that I always dread,” Knowlton said. “Our vet took X-rays and found there was significant bone bruising in the lower part of the cannon bone in a front leg. We had another vet take a look at it and both said the same thing: 'You really don't have any choice.'

“I'm really thankful that Robin caught it when she did.”

We're rarely privy to stallion contracts between a stud farm and a horse's owner, a major exception being Coolmore's deal to buy the breeding interests of American Pharoah from Ahmed Zayat. That contract became an exhibit in a lawsuit filed against Zayat by a lender.

The stallion deal, signed in January of the eventual Triple Crown and Breeders' Cup Classic winner's 3-year-old season, spelled out the retirement plans for the horse, specifically saying it could be no later than Nov. 30, 2015. Prior to then, the contract stated, “In the event that the horse is under performing or is injured, a panel of Ahmed Zayat, Paul Shanahan (a Coolmore associate) and (trainer) Bob Baffert will meet to discuss and decide whether to modify or terminate the horse's racing career. Each person shall be entitled to one vote. Any decision to modify or terminate the horse's racing career will be made upon the affirmative vote of at least two persons.”

Knowlton said he negotiated the contract to ensure Tiz the Law had the opportunity race at 4. He said there were contingencies for himself, Tagg and an Ashford representative to discuss what to do if the horse went off form.

But the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. That's especially true when you're dealing with a finely tuned athlete like a Thoroughbred racehorse.

Tiz the Law goes off to stud with six wins from nine starts over two racing seasons, including four Grade 1 victories. He was defeated in his final two starts, beaten on the square by Authentic to be second in the G1 Kentucky Derby and then failing to hit the board for the only time in the Breeders' Cup.

He was in good hands throughout his career, trained by someone whose “numbers” may not fit the criteria for some Hall of Fame voters but whose wisdom and old school horsemanship have earned the respect of his peers.

Tiz the Law's owners are in the game for the fun of racing, not the business of breeding like the corporate stables that now dominate – a band of Davids competing against an army of Goliaths. Like kids on a Ferris wheel, they wanted to go around one more time.

I remain skeptically hopeful that someday soon we'll see another horse who was a Grade 1 winner at 2 and a Classic winner at 3 that will be pointed for and complete a full campaign at 4.

But I'm not holding my breath.

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Classic Winner Tiz The Law Retired To Ashford Stud

Travers Stakes, Belmont Stakes, Florida Derby and Champagne Stakes winner Tiz the Law has been retired from racing on veterinary advice and will stand at Coolmore America's Ashford Stud for the 2021 breeding season.

“From day one when he broke his maiden at Saratoga, we have been watching Tiz the Law 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. Barclay Tagg, 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.”

“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 Grade 1 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.”

“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 1 Champagne as a 2-year-old and three Grade 1 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.”

But for Ashford stallion American Pharoah, Tiz the Law's sire Constitution would have been champion freshman sire and champion second-crop sire. Off the back of this success, Constitution's fee has risen from $25,000 to $85,000 for the coming season. On the distaff side, Tiz the Law's dam Tizfiz was the winner of seven races including the G2 San Gorgonio Handicap at Santa Anita (now named the Robert J. Frankel Stakes)​ carrying top weight of 118 pounds.

Tiz the Law's fee will be announced shortly and he will be available for inspection at Ashford starting Monday, Jan 4.

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Classic Winner Tiz the Law Retired

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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Homecoming for Ashford’s Caravaggio

While most American breeders are just now getting their first look at multiple Group 1 winner Caravaggio, who stood his first three years at Coolmore’s headquarters in Ireland and now takes on the U.S. market for 2021, the son of Scat Daddy is not new to Ashford Stud.

The speedy grey was born and raised at Ashford, having been bred by the farm’s Director of Sales Charlie O’Connor and his in-laws’ Windmill Manor Farms.

“Caravaggio is a horse that’s obviously very close to our hearts,” Coolmore’s Adrian Wallace said. “He was born here and spent all of his young life here. The barn where he was raised is in front of our office. So when he went to Ballydoyle, we followed him very closely.”

The team back home heard positive reports from Aidan O’Brien from the beginning, and those proved true when Caravaggio won on debut and then followed up with three more victories, including the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot and a four-length victory in the G1 Keeneland Phoenix S., for an undefeated juvenile season.

“He had speed to burn,” Wallace said when asked of Caravaggio’s greatest quality. “As someone said, speed is dangerous. The way he broke, the way he traveled through his races and then finished off those races showed that he was a sprinter to be reckoned with.”

Coming back at three, Caravaggio won the G3 Lacken S. before heading back to Ascot to claim the G1 Commonwealth Cup in a battle against Godolphin’s Harry Angel (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) and Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal).

“Royal Ascot, for anyone now but especially for Europeans, is the pinnacle and height of the middle of the European racing season,” Wallace noted. “To win the Coventry S. over six furlongs is a race that’s high in prestige but then to come back as a 3-year-old and do it again in the Commonwealth Cup against some very good sprinters marked Caravaggio as one of the best of his generation. When you can do it on the main stage at Royal Ascot, that’s what it’s all about.”

Later in the season, the swift sprinter added the G2 Flying Five S. to his list of victories before retiring later that year.

Caravaggio stood his first two seasons in Ireland for €35,000 and that fee was increased to €40,000 in 2020. He also shuttled to Australia in 2018.

His first crop of yearlings hit the market this year and several made it to the Keeneland September Sale.

His top seller at the sale, a half-sister to G1-placed Consort (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) named Her World (Ire), brought $400,000 to Stripes Stable LLC/Susan Moulton, while a colt out of Swept Away (Ire) (Power) brought $300,000.

“The interesting thing is that three of his horses [from the September yearling sales] are going to go into training with Wesley Ward,” Wallace said. “So hopefully come April and May of next year, we should see some early runners from Caravaggio in this country.”

Caravaggio later made headlines at Tattersalls October Book 2, where his 105,417gns average was the highest of any first-crop sire over the three-day sale. Demi O’Byrne, agent for Peter Brant’s White Birch Farm, went to 205,000gns for a yearling colt out of the winning Galileo (Ire) mare Longing (Ire) and then came back to pay 170,000gns for another Caravaggio colt out of Solar Event (GB) (Galileo) {Ire}).

“The sales in both Ireland and England continued in somewhat of a depressed market this year, but Caravaggio’s progeny continued to sell well,” Wallace said. “They averaged just over $155,000. They’re training with the right people and look like they should be early.”

Ashford is now looking to build upon the foundation Caravaggio has already started for himself overseas. The son of Scat Daddy will stand for $25,000 in 2021.

“He’s a horse that we’ve wanted here for three years, and finally on the fourth year we got him,” Wallace said. “He’s been very popular so far. I think that the demand for sons of Scat Daddy worldwide is only going to get greater. He was a horse that, in a very short time, was able to achieve so much. I think people need to, and already are, taking note with these young sons of Scat Daddy. There’s something in the water. These horses are too good.”

He continued on Scat Daddy’s international success, “One of the things that made Scat Daddy such a dominant sire was his ability to get runners on the biggest stages. These horses have run, with the likes of Justify, Ten Sovereigns (Ire), No Nay Never or Con Te Partiro in Australia. They run and win on the biggest stages and hopefully that’s going to continue with these young sons of Scat Daddy.”

Wallace said that Caravaggio’s conformation fits the look of his sire.

“Physically, he brings a lot of what was Scat Daddy,” he said. “He’s got a lot of quality, but he’s also got a massive forearm and gaskin. He’s very broad across his chest. He moves like a panther and that translated to excessive speed on the track. He’s very balanced and he’s got that strength that we think will suit American mares.”

Wallace added that Caravaggio’s pedigree should also appeal to the American breeder.

“We think he’ll be a good influence on both dirt and turf,” Wallace said. “He’s out of the stakes-winning Holy Bull mare Mekko Hokte, whose first foal My Jen (Fusaichi Pegasus) was a Grade II winner on the dirt. So we think that given his physique and his pedigree, he’ll be a horse that’ll achieve on both surfaces.”

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