Freshman sire class of 2019 strikes again in Belmont Stakes

The 2019 freshman sire class in North America, with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah leading a bevy of champions and major winners, was lauded as a historically strong class even before its first runners hit the track. The group lived up to its billing last year, with 12 graded/group stakes winners, led by a pair of Breeders’ Cup winners. Turning the corner into 2020, the class has continued to shine in major events. Constitution was the first to strike with a classic winner, with his son Tiz the Law handily winning the Belmont Stakes. Third-place finisher Max Player also is from the first crop of his sire, Honor Code.

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Through Saturday, Constitution, who stands at WinStar Farm, leads second-crop sires by earnings, with $2,413,485 to Honor Code’s $1,269,429 and American Pharoah’s $1,252,096. Constitution, a multiple Grade 1 winner in his own right, had finished second on the 2019 freshman earnings list while leading by stakes winners and tying for the most winners. While Tiz the Law, a Grade 1 winner as a juvenile, is still leading the way for Constitution this season, with victories in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes, Grade 1 Florida Derby, and Grade 3 Holy Bull, the stallion also has been represented by multiple Grade 3 winner Laura’s Light and stakes winner Independence Hall in 2020.

“Constitution was very spirited and tough,” said Randy Gullatt of Twin Creeks Farm, which co-campaigned Constitution, bred and sold Tiz the Law, and co-owns Independence Hall. “He was all racehorse. We’re seeing that in a lot of his offspring.”

Honor Code, who stands at Lane’s End, was the Eclipse Award champion older male of 2015. In addition to Grade 3 winner Max Player, he is the sire of another major Kentucky Derby hopeful in Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P.

Meanwhile, American Pharoah, who led the freshman class by earnings for Coolmore, is leading the group by black-type stakes winners in their 3-year-old season, with four worldwide – Cafe Pharoah, Harvey’s Lil Goil, Ocean Atlantique, and Sweet Melania. American Pharoah enjoyed an outstanding week, with Monarch of Egypt a close second in the Group 3 Jersey Stakes at Royal Ascot; Sweet Melania winning her 3-year-old debut in the Grade 3 Wonder Again on the Belmont undercard; and Cafe Pharoah establishing himself as Japan’s leading Kentucky Derby hopeful with a win in the Group 3 Unicorn Stakes.