Overseas stallions Eskendereya, Tizway die of heart issues

Grade 1 winner Eskendereya, sire of champion and leading freshman sire Mitole, has died at age 17 of heart failure. The son of Giant’s Causeway had been standing at the Shichinohe Stallion Station in Japan.

Eskendereya, trained by Todd Pletcher for Zayat Stables, won four of six starts. He hinted at his ability by winning the off-the-turf Pilgrim Stakes by 7 1/4 lengths, but then finished ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

In early 2010, he asserted himself as a leading Kentucky Derby prospect by dominating the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth by 8 1/2 lengths and the Grade 1 Wood Memorial by 9 3/4 lengths. He was ruled out of the Kentucky Derby the week of the race with a soft-tissue injury, and never ran again.

Eskendereya initially stood at Taylor Made in Kentucky for four seasons before being sold to the Japan Bloodstock Breeders' Association. His best runner to date is Mitole, who won the 2019 Breeders’ Cup Sprint and Metropolitan Handicap among four Grade 1 victories that season to earn the Eclipse Award as outstanding sprinter.

Mitole, who never finished off the board and earned more than $3.1 million, stands at Spendthrift Farm in Kentucky, and was 2023’s leading freshman sire by both earnings and winners. His early success provides a foothold for Eskendereya’s branch of the Giant’s Causeway line in the U.S.

Eskendereya also is the sire of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Mor Spirit, who won the 2017 Met Mile. The stallion moved to Indiana this year after starting his career in Kentucky.

:: Subscribe to the DRF Post Time Email Newsletter: Get the news you need to play today's races!

Tizway dies at age 19

Another Grade 1-winning American expatriate stallion died overseas recently, as Tizway died of a heart attack at age 19 at Karacabey Stud in Turkey.

Tizway, by Tiznow, was bred in Kentucky by the Whisper Hill Farm of Mandy Pop. He emerged as one of the most successful runners to emerge from Whisper Hill, which has gained prominence in recent years.

Racing in the colors of William Clifton Jr. for trainer James Bond, Tizway put together a record of 20-7-1-5 and earned more than $1.3 million. The winner of the Grade 2 Kelso Handicap in 2010 and third in both the Metropolitan Handicap and Jockey Club Gold Cup that year, Tizway emerged with his best work in 2011.

He was a dual Grade 1 winner of the Met Mile and the Whitney Handicap before injury took him out of that year’s Breeders’ Cup.

Tizway spent a well-traveled stud career in America, Australia, South Korea, and Turkey. He was enjoying a career renaissance in his final country, siring 2019 Turkish horse of the Year The Last Romance.

Tizway also sired Venezuelan champion Gran Vanessa, and North American Grade 1 winners Backyard Heaven, Ezmosh, The Critical Way, and Way to Versailles.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.