Our story begins in 1999, Budroyle a California bred gelding by Cee's Tizzy out of Cee's Song was running against the big boys in the Breeders' Cup Classic that year. The race before, he had upset fellow Cal-Bred General Challenge in the Goodwood. Still, the betters sent him off as a longshot. He proved them wrong by finishing second behind fellow longshot Cat Thief, with two more longshots Golden Missile and Chester House finishing in third and fourth respectively. That combined with that year's Belmont winner Lemon Drop Kid only managing 6th place and the favorite Behrens finishing 5 lenghths back in 7th, helped Cat Thief's stablemate Derby and Preakness winner Charismatic lock up Horse of the Year honors. This dispite Charismatic never ran again after his 3rd place finish in the Belmont where he suffered an injury.
The next year as Fusaichi Pegasus was getting ready to win the Derby, Budroyale's little brother was just about to make his first start. Like Budroyle, he was by Cee's Tizzy making him a full brother. It would take him three times to break his maiden. However, Tiznow would turn out to be one of the greatest Breeders' Cup champions in history.
Coming into the 2000 Classic, Tiznow who had won the Super Derby two starts before was coming off a win the Goodwood, the same race his brother won the year before. In the Classic that year where not only Fusaichi Pegasus, but Cat Thief and Golden Missile where back as well. Coolmore had sent Giant's Causeway, the winner of multiple Group 1's in Europe. Dispite all that firepower, Tiznow was able to do this:
That earned Tiznow not only Champion 3yo Male Honors, but Horse of the Year as well. Tiznow would return to the races the next year, but was off form heading into his Classic defence. After a shocking third in the Goodwood, he was somewhat forgotten by the bettors. Not to mention that Arc winner Sakhee was entered as was super 3yo Galieo and the previous year's BC Juvenile Champion Macho Uno. The 2001 Breeders' Cup was only the first major event to take place in NY since 9/11 had happend over a month before. This lead to Tom Durkin's famous words: "Tiznow wins it for America!"
That win got Tiznow Champion Older Male honors, but HOY went to Point Given who had won the Preakness, Belmont, Haskell and Travers before being injured and retired.
Tiznow stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky where he has sired BC Juvenile Fillies winner Forklore, Travers winner (and stallionmate) Col. John and my personal favorite Dubai World Cup winner Well Armed.
Tomorrow: 2007 Classic
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