100 years later, Man o' War still part of Belmont Stakes story

Man o’ War, considered by many to be the greatest racehorse of all time, won the Belmont Stakes a century ago this spring, then went on to sire three winners of America’s oldest classic event. Fittingly, the broodmare sire of this year’s Belmont Stakes winner, Tiz the Law, is Tiznow, Man o’ War’s most prominent direct male-line descendant remaining at stud.

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Man o’ War’s son War Relic sired Intent, who in turn sired Intentionally, who in turn sired In Reality, the most important factor in keeping Man o’ War’s line alive into the 21st century. In Reality was the sire of Hall of Fame filly Desert Vixen, and his sons included the good sires Relaunch and Valid Appeal, both of whom begat successful sons and grandsons at stud. Relaunch’s sons included Cee’s Tizzy, who in turn begat Tiznow, the only two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, and now a successful sire at WinStar Farm.

New York-bred Tiz the Law is out of Tiznow’s Grade 2-winning daughter Tizfiz, also the dam of multiple stakes-placed Awestruck. Tizfiz, who died of colic in the summer of 2019, has produced three winners from four starters. She has a 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt by Mission Impazible remaining for Twin Creeks, which bred Tiz the Law after purchasing the mare in 2014.

“We bought the mare because she was a very good outcross to several of our stallions,” Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks said. “She had some quality on the racetrack and was a very classy mare.”