TIZ the Law , the flashy New York-bred who thrilled the world earlier this season with his dominant score in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), has been retired upon veterinary advice and will stand at Ashford Stud for the 2021 season, it was announced Dec. 30.

The 3-year-old son of Constitution became just the fourth New York-bred and first since Forester in 1882 to win the Belmont Stakes, one of four top-level victories accomplished in his nine-race career. Trained by Barclay Tagg and campaigned by Sackatoga Stable, he also won the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Belmont Park in 2019 off a debut maiden score and went on to race exclusively in graded stakes company. He was third in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G3) at Churchill Downs to conclude his juvenile season.

Daily Insights
"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."

In 2020 Tiz the Law won the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), Curlin Florida Derby (G1), Belmont, and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), and was second to Authentic in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). He capped his career with a sixth in the Longines Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland, and retires with a 6-1-1 record and earnings of $2,735,300.

"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," said 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 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 as well as run second 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."

Bred by Twin Creeks Farm colt out of the late Tiznow mare Tizfiz, Tiz the Law was purchased by Knowlton for $110,000 from Sequel New York's consignment to the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Preferred New York-Bred Yearling Sale. Tizfiz was a grade 2-winning daughter of Tiznow who won or placed 11 times out of 20 starts and captured the San Gorgonio Handicap (G2T) along with two other listed stakes during her racing career. She hailed from a deep family with 16 black-type performers under the mare's first three dams. Standouts from the immediate family include 1997 Horse of the Year and champion 2-year-old male Favorite Trick, two-time grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories, grade 1-placed grade 3 winner Fury Kapcori , and grade 2 winner Favorite Tale.

Tiz the Law is inbred 5x5 to Seattle Slew and 5x5x5 to Mr. Prospector. His dam traces to Seattle Slew through Tiznow's dam, Cee's Song (her sire is the Seattle Slew son Seattle Song). Leading second-crop sire of 2020 Constitution traces tail-male to Seattle Slew through A.P. Indy. One influence of Mr. Prospector comes through Tizfiz's second dam, Crafty and Evil, who is a daughter of Mr. Prospector's son Crafty Prospector. The two other lines of Mr. Prospector come through Preach, the dam of Pulpit, who is Constitution's grandsire, and through Distorted Humor, who is Constitution's broodmare sire.

But for Ashford stallion American Pharoah , Tiz The Law's sire Constitution would have been champion freshman sire—he ranked second in 2019—and champion second-crop sire. Off the back of this success, the son of Tapit 's fee at WinStar Farm has risen from $25,000 to $85,000 for the coming season.

Tiz The Law’s fee will be announced shortly and he will be available for inspection at Ashford starting Jan. 4.

Bloodhorse