Cee’s Tizzy and Unusual Heat ‘Best of West’

By Elaine Belval

It is said that sometimes sires just fit their environment, or perhaps the environment fits the sire. The question can reasonably be asked, “Would Talc have been as good a sire as he was if he didn’t stand in New York? Or Baldski in Florida?”

This weekend, at Hollywood Park, two California-based sires showcased their appeal to California breeders.

First, Cost of Freedom won the G3 Los Angeles H. at 6f on the artificial surface. This 7yo gelding had won the G1 Ancient Title at Santa Anita in 2008, along with placing in the 2009 G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Owned by Gary and Cecil Barber and trained by John Sadler, he was bred by Harris Farms, which stands Cost of Freedom’s sire, Cee’s Tizzy.

Cee’s Tizzy is a rarity among successful stallions. He showed considerable ability in three wins in Southern California, but his only black type is a third in the G1 Super Derby in 1990 to Home at Last. However, Cee’s Tizzy is by leading sire Relaunch (90 SWs, including With Anticipation, Skywalker and Waquoit), so Cee’s Tizzy was given an opportunity at Harris Farms.

His first crop of 39 foals in 1992 produced 20 winners and 1 SW. His second crop of 45 foals produced 28 winners and 2 SWs, most notably Budroyale – a GSW and second in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic to Cat Thief.

Cee’s Tizzy laid claim to a truly special horse when Tiznow came around. In the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Classic, American eyes were on Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus and European eyes were on multiple G1 winner Giant’s Causeway (along with yours truly with a great deal of money!), while Tiznow was allowed to sneak off at a generous 9-1, despite wins in the G1 Super Derby (in a new track record) and G2 Goodwood Stakes; he held off Giant’s Causeway by a head in the BC.

In 2001, Tiznow would win the Breeders’ Cup Classic for the second time. That same year, Cee’s Tizzy had the winner of Eclipse Awards for Champion Older Male (Tiznow) and Champion Older Female, as Gourmet Girl racked up victories in the G1 Apple Blossom H. and G1 Vanity that year.

The switch to synthetics hasn’t bothered Cee’s Tizzy either, as Cost of Freedom shows. Cee’s Tizzy is in his golden years (23 in 2010), but has proven a long-time friend to breeders in California. He stood at Harris Farms for a 2010 fee of $6,500.

Later that same day, Acclamation won the G1 Charles Whittingham Memorial at 10f on the turf. Acclamation is owned by E. W. and Judy Johnston and trained by Donald Warren. He was bred by Old English Rancho, the home of Acclamation’s sire Unusual Heat. A multiple SW in Europe, Unusual Heat is by leading sire Nureyev out of the Swedish Champion Rossard, by Glacial (a stallion tracing back to Pharos). His unusual pedigree and his turf performances (mainly in Europe) made Unusual Heat a hard sell in California. His fee remained under $5,000 for his first several years.

But, perhaps no stallion in California has relished the switch to synthetic surfaces more than Unusual Heat. Recent GSWs on the synthetic surfaces include Golden Doc A, Lightmyfirebaby and Pretty Unusual. His other GSWs are turf performers (both long in Acclamation and short like Unusual Suspect, winner of the G3 Hollywood Turf Express H.).

Unusual Heat was the leading sire in California 2008 and 2009 and is well on his way to be leading sire in 2010. And with average earnings per starter of over $80,000, he is well on way to being one of the best stallions to ever stand in California. He stood at Old English Rancho for a private fee in 2010.

(Elaine Belval is senior pedigree analyst at WTC.)