Tiz the Law (USA)
March 19, 2017 – Living
Constitution (USA) x Tizfiz (USA), by Tiznow (USA)
Family 9-e
March 19, 2017 – Living
Constitution (USA) x Tizfiz (USA), by Tiznow (USA)
Family 9-e
Racing in a topsy-turvy year with a schedule rearranged by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tiz the Law was arguably the second-best American 3-year-old male of 2020 after winning the classic Belmont Stakes (USA-G1) (moved to Saratoga and shortened to 9 furlongs due to the other two American Triple Crown races having been moved to later in the year) and two other Grade 1 races during the year. A second to eventual divisional champion and American Horse of the Year Authentic in the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1) and running off the board in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (USA-G1) proved the difference between the two colts in the race for championship honors. Also a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, Tiz the Law entered stud as a hot prospect and proved quite popular during his first years in his new career.
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$2,735,300
2019:
2020:
Honors
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2020 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings 5 pounds below overall highweight Ghaiyyath (the European Horse of the Year) and 1 pound below the top-ranked dirt horse, American Horse of the Year Authentic.
As an individual
Not very tall but robust and muscular, the bay Tiz the Law had plenty of stamina and a good turn of foot but did not like being on the rail. Aside from his dislike for being inside, he was versatile and could stalk close to the pace or come from further back. According to regular jockey Manuel Franco, he was an easy horse to ride and responded readily to his rider’s cues; that laid-back personality and willingness to please were also characteristic of him around the barn during his racing days.
As a stallion
Tiz the Law entered stud in 2022 at Ashford Stud, Kentucky.
Connections
Foaled in New York, Tiz the Law was bred by Twin Creeks Farm. After being sold for US$110,000 through the Saratoga August yearling sale, he was owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, the same connections that campaigned the popular gelding Funny Cide. He was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Manuel ("Manny") Franco. Tiz the Law entered stud in Kentucky in 2021 at Ashford Stud; he shuttles to Haras Paso Nevado, Chile, for the Southern Hemisphere season.
Pedigree notes
Tiz the Law is inbred 5x5x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1977 American Horse of the Year and 1984 American champion sire Seattle Slew. He is out of 2009 San Gorgonio Handicap (USA-G2) winner Tizfiz, a full sister to 2014 Precisionist Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fury Kapcori and a half sister to stakes winner Dixie Commander (by Dixie Union).
Tizfiz and her siblings are out of the winning Go for Gin mare Gin Running, the only foal of Crafty and Evil. A stakes-placed daughter of the good Mr. Prospector horse Crafty Prospector, Crafty and Evil is a half sister to 1997 American Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (by Phone Trick) and stakes winner Cold n Calculating (by It’s Freezing). Crafty and Evil is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed Tricky Elaine (by Grindstone), dam of 2015 Smile Sprint Stakes (USA-G2) winner Favorite Tale (by Tale of the Cat), and to Legs Lawlor (by Unbridled), dam of listed stakes winner Clarinet (by Giant’s Causeway). In addition, Crafty and Evil is a half sister to Unenchantedevening (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories (by Malibu Moon) and listed stakes winner Indian Evening (by Indian Charlie) and second dam of 2024 American champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull and multiple Grade 3 winner Souper Hoity Toity.
Crafty and Evil is out of restricted stakes winner Evil Elaine (by multiple stakes winner Medieval Man, by Noholme II), a full sister to listed stakes winner Ravensmoor. The next dam in Tiz the Law’s tail-female line, the winner Distinctive Elaine (by the good stakes winner Distinctive, by Never Bend), is a half sister to three other stakes producers and is out of juvenile stakes winner Jackie Dare (by the stakes-winning Princequillo horse Prince Dare).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Tiz the Law’s victory in the 2020 Belmont Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8SR4AxEn8Q.
Fun facts
Last updated: April 26, 2025
Race record
9 starts, 6 wins, 1 second, 1 third, US$2,735,300
2019:
- Won Champagne Stakes. (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
- 3rd Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Churchill Downs)
2020:
- Won Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (USA-G1, 9FD, Saratoga)
- Won Runhappy Travers Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Saratoga)
- Won Curlin Florida Derby (USA-G1, 9FD, Gulfstream Park)
- Won Holy Bull Stakes (USA-G3, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
Honors
- New York-bred Horse of the Year (2020)
- New York-bred champion 3-year-old male (2004)
Assessments
Rated at 125 pounds in the Intermediate category on the 2020 Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings 5 pounds below overall highweight Ghaiyyath (the European Horse of the Year) and 1 pound below the top-ranked dirt horse, American Horse of the Year Authentic.
As an individual
Not very tall but robust and muscular, the bay Tiz the Law had plenty of stamina and a good turn of foot but did not like being on the rail. Aside from his dislike for being inside, he was versatile and could stalk close to the pace or come from further back. According to regular jockey Manuel Franco, he was an easy horse to ride and responded readily to his rider’s cues; that laid-back personality and willingness to please were also characteristic of him around the barn during his racing days.
As a stallion
Tiz the Law entered stud in 2022 at Ashford Stud, Kentucky.
Connections
Foaled in New York, Tiz the Law was bred by Twin Creeks Farm. After being sold for US$110,000 through the Saratoga August yearling sale, he was owned by Sackatoga Stable and trained by Barclay Tagg, the same connections that campaigned the popular gelding Funny Cide. He was ridden to his Belmont Stakes win by Manuel ("Manny") Franco. Tiz the Law entered stud in Kentucky in 2021 at Ashford Stud; he shuttles to Haras Paso Nevado, Chile, for the Southern Hemisphere season.
Pedigree notes
Tiz the Law is inbred 5x5x5 to two-time American champion sire Mr. Prospector and 5x5 to 1977 American Horse of the Year and 1984 American champion sire Seattle Slew. He is out of 2009 San Gorgonio Handicap (USA-G2) winner Tizfiz, a full sister to 2014 Precisionist Stakes (USA-G3) winner Fury Kapcori and a half sister to stakes winner Dixie Commander (by Dixie Union).
Tizfiz and her siblings are out of the winning Go for Gin mare Gin Running, the only foal of Crafty and Evil. A stakes-placed daughter of the good Mr. Prospector horse Crafty Prospector, Crafty and Evil is a half sister to 1997 American Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (by Phone Trick) and stakes winner Cold n Calculating (by It’s Freezing). Crafty and Evil is also a half sister to Grade 3-placed Tricky Elaine (by Grindstone), dam of 2015 Smile Sprint Stakes (USA-G2) winner Favorite Tale (by Tale of the Cat), and to Legs Lawlor (by Unbridled), dam of listed stakes winner Clarinet (by Giant’s Causeway). In addition, Crafty and Evil is a half sister to Unenchantedevening (by Unbridled’s Song), dam of multiple Grade 1 winner Moonshine Memories (by Malibu Moon) and listed stakes winner Indian Evening (by Indian Charlie) and second dam of 2024 American champion 2-year-old male Citizen Bull and multiple Grade 3 winner Souper Hoity Toity.
Crafty and Evil is out of restricted stakes winner Evil Elaine (by multiple stakes winner Medieval Man, by Noholme II), a full sister to listed stakes winner Ravensmoor. The next dam in Tiz the Law’s tail-female line, the winner Distinctive Elaine (by the good stakes winner Distinctive, by Never Bend), is a half sister to three other stakes producers and is out of juvenile stakes winner Jackie Dare (by the stakes-winning Princequillo horse Prince Dare).
Books and media
The New York Racing Association’s footage of Tiz the Law’s victory in the 2020 Belmont Stakes can be accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8SR4AxEn8Q.
Fun facts
- Tiz the Law’s Belmont Stakes win completed a Triple Crown of sorts for Sackatoga Stable and Barclay Tagg, who had previously won the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes in 2002 with Funny Cide.
- Tiz the Law was the first New York-bred horse to have won the Belmont Stakes since Forester took the race in 1882.
Last updated: April 26, 2025