Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Tiztastic

Of all the horses taking aim at the 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1), Tiztastic boasts one of the most interesting pedigrees.

The upset winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2) is closely inbred to Tapit, a three-time leading North American sire. Winner of the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial (G1), Tapit is known for passing on stamina at stud, with his best runners including 2022 Horse of the Year Flightline and 1 1/2-mile Belmont (G1) winners Tonalist, Creator, Tapwrit, and Essential Quality. The progeny of Tapit win at a lofty average distance of 7.6 furlongs.

So how exactly does Tapit fit into Tiztastic’s pedigree? First off, Tapit is the sire of Constitution, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Florida Derby (G1) and 1 1/8-mile Donn H. (G1). Constitution, in turn, is the sire of Tiz the Law, a decorated campaigner who won the Champagne (G1), Florida Derby (G1), Travers (G1), and a shortened edition of the Belmont over distances from one mile to 1 1/4 miles.

Tiz the Law is the sire of Tiztastic, which makes Tiztastic a great-grandson of Tapit on that side. Tiztastic hails from the first crop of foals sired by Tiz the Law; others in this group include Miss Grillo (G2) winner Scythian and Oak Leaf (G2) conqueror Non Compliant, two fillies who have achieved their signature wins racing 1 1/16 miles. Already Tiz the Law’s foals have compiled an average winning distance of 7.0 furlongs, a stout number for a stallion whose oldest foals are young three-year-olds.

Tiztastic is simultaneously a grandson of Tapit through his dam Keesha, a daughter of Tapit.

Keesha never raced, but as a broodmare she’s making up for her lack of on-track accomplishments. Prior to Tiztastic she produced Interpolate, winner of the seven-furlong Ruthless S. and runner-up in the about-seven-furlong Beaumont (G2). Another of Keesha’s foals, Midway Mischief, won twice over distances of 1 1/16 miles and 1 1/8 miles.

Since Keesha is a daughter of Tapit, it’s worth highlighting Tapit’s record as a broodmare sire. His daughters have foaled a bevy of accomplished racers over a variety of distances and surfaces. The best of them include:

• Arcangelo, champion three-year-old male and winner of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont and 1 1/4-mile Travers.
• Pretty Mischievous, a champion three-year-old filly who won the Kentucky Oaks (G1), Test (G1), and Acorn (G1) over distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles.
• Cody’s Wish, 2023 Horse of the Year and a two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1).
• Saudi Crown, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby (G1).
• Kingsbarns, winner of the 1 1/8-mile Stephen Foster (G1) and 1 3/16-mile Louisiana Derby (G2).
• Society, winner of the 1 1/16-mile Cotillion (G1) and seven-furlong Ballerina H. (G1).
• Gran Alegria, a six-time Group 1 winner over distances from 1,200 meters (about six furlongs) to 1,600 meters (about one mile) in Japan.
• Tenfold, winner of the 1 1/4-mile Pimlico Special (G3) and a close third to Triple Crown winner Justify in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness (G1).

Having Tapit as both his grandsire and his great-grandsire means Tiztastic has likely inherited a double dose of Tapit’s stamina. This bodes well for Tiztastic’s prospects for success over classic distances.

If there’s one chink in the pedigree of Tiztastic from a Kentucky Derby perspective, it’s the fact Tapit has yet to sire a Kentucky Derby winner despite having many attempts to do so. No fewer than 14 sons of Tapit have tackled the Run for the Roses, including at least one every year from 2012 through 2023.

Granted, Tiztastic isn’t a son of Tapit, and there’s a chance Tiz the Law (who finished second as the favorite in the 2020 Kentucky Derby) will have better luck siring a Run for the Roses victor. But since Tapit’s genetics have proven more suitable for success in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont in late spring than the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby in mid-spring, we have to ponder the possibility that the doubling up of Tapit in Tiztastic’s pedigree will prompt the Louisiana Derby winner to enjoy his greatest successes a few weeks or months after the first Saturday in May.