Yesterday we flashed back to the 2001 Classic which saw Tiznow notch back-to-back wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic for the first time in history. Today we'll go back just one year earlier to the 2000 Classic at Churchill Downs, a race where Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus went to post as the 6/5 favorite but was upstaged by two other three-year-old colts.
Tiznow, 9/1 on the tote board when the gates opened in the Classic, grabbed the early lead from the outset and raced in tandem with Albert the Great through a solid half mile in 47.55 seconds. Albert the Great gave way on the far turn while the European invader, Giant's Causeway (IRE), made his move towards Tiznow entering the top of the stretch. From that point until they crossed the wire underneath the Twin Spires, Tiznow and Giant's Causeway put on, as Tom Durkin called it, "a heart-pounding, pulsating stretch drive". Ultimately, Tiznow would prevail by a neck over his Irish rival in the first to two straight Classic scores.
In their post-racing years following the 2000 Classic, Tiznow and Giant's Causeway have become important sires in the breeding industry.
Tiznow has sired six Grade 1 winners: Colonel John, Well Armed, Bullsbay, Da' Tara, Folklore, and Tough Tiz's Sis. He is also the sire of Morning Line, who is expected to enter the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic. In 2009, Tiznow was ranked #3 on the General Sire list.
Not to be outdone by his Classic rival, Giant's Causeway has also been exceptional at stud. In 2009 he was the #1 on the General Sire list (where he currently sits in 2010) as well as the leading sire of graded winners. He's sired such horses as Eskendereya, Aragorn (IRE), Samardal, My Typhoon (IRE), Heatseeker, Christine Daae, Man of Iron, and First Samurai.