The 1984 Breeders' Cup

 

Breeders’ Cup 1984

Joseph Di Rienzi

The Breeders’ Cup World Championships, scheduled this year on November 1 and 2 at Del Mar Racetrack, is celebrating its 40^th anniversary. Since its inception, it has grown from a one day 7 race affair to a two day, 14 race extravaganza. This post will recap the races on the inaugural, November 10, 1984, at the now defunct Hollywood Park in Los Angeles, CA.

In its inception, it was a one-of-a-kind day of racing. Never had there been so much money distributed on a single card. The first four races each had $1 million purses, the fifth and the sixth, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Breeders’ Cup Turf, respectively, were each worth $2 million, and the finale, the Breeders’ Cup Classic’s total purse was $3 million, at the time the richest race in the world.

Much of the buildup for the first Breeders’ Cup Day involved who was going to be entered and who was not. Because the initial entry process involved nominating a stallion’s progeny years in advance (with higher costs for doing it later), only the most prominent sires’ foals were made Breeders’ Cup eligible by the stallions’ respective owners or syndicate managers. Also, there was resistance, especially by some traditional Eastern-based stables, who presumed winning major races in New York would be sufficient to secure a championship. The most high profile horse whose participation was in question was the extremely popular nine-year-old gelding John Henry who was not nominated. To secure an entry in the Breeders’ Cup Turf his owner Sam Rubin would have to pay a $400,000 supplementary fee. After refusing to do this most of the year, Rubin had relented and paid a non-refundable $133,000 pre-entry fee, only to discover shortly after that his beloved charge had a swollen ankle that would not only prevent him from running in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, but ultimately necessitated the horse’s retirement. 

As the series began at 11:15 AM PT, it was a typically warm sunny day with the dirt track listed fast and the turf course firm. What set the early editions of the Breeders’ Cup races apart from the current collection is that each of the seven races were designed to determine a divisional or, in some instances, an overall championship.

The first race on Breeders’ Cup Day was the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and if any race could have served to demonstrate the importance of the occasion, this was the one. All the major two-year-old males, still in training were entered - Chief’s Crown, Spectacular Love, Spend a Buck, Script Ohio, and Tank’s Prospect. The race’s distance was a mile run out of chute at the end of the Hollywood Park backstretch. After a bunched group went for the early lead, Spend a Buck emerged in the lead and set lively fractions. Chief’s Crown, trained by Roger Laurin and raced in the name of Star Crown Stable by the late Carl Rosen’s children, raced in mid-pack early, then launched a rally around the far turn only to find Spend a Buck with a clear lead at the top of the stretch. In a relentless stretch drive, Chief’s Crown wore down a very game Spend a Buck, while Tank’s Prospect closed steadily along the rail. At the finish, the son of Danzig had a ¾ length lead over Tank’s Prospect who was an equal margin over Spend a Buck. Script Ohio was a distant fourth, 6½ lengths further back. With this victory, Chief’s Crown easily secured the Eclipse Award for Two-Year-Old Male.

Chief's Crown winning the Juvenile
(BloodHorse@BloodHorse)

The Two-Year-Old Filly Eclipse Award was not initially decided by the one mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. The first horse to cross the finish was Fran’s Valentine at nearly 75-1. Second, a ½ length back was Harbor View Farm’s Outstandingly, a 23-1 chance. However, a stewards’ inquiry resulted in a disqualification of Fran’s Valentine to tenth place for interfering with Pirate’s Glow just after the start of the race. The winner, a daughter of Exclusive Native from the family of Buckpasser, solidified her claim for an Eclipse Award by coming back and winning the Hollywood Starlet Stakes defeating Fran’s Valentine legitimately.

Fran's Valentine (far left) finishing first in the Juvenile Filly
(bloodhorse.com)

The 6 furlong Breeders’ Cup Sprint may have lost the favorite, when LeRoy Jolley trainer of Track Barron opted for the climatic Breeders’ Cup Classic despite his colt’s impressive win in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont Park. In Track Barron’s absence, the speedy Eillo assumed the favorite’s role. A compact son of Mr. Prospector owned by Crown Stable, he had piled an impressive sprinting record winning 7 of 9 starts including the Tallahassee, Hialeah Sprint Championship and Chief Pennekeck Handicaps. Despite not winning any graded stakes races, Eillo was made the clear favorite over a somewhat lackluster field and, using his customary speed, just held on by a nose over Commemorate with Mr. Fighting Fit, 1½ lengths back in third. This victory not only secured Eillo an Eclipse Award as Sprinter but seemed to point the way for a successful stallion career. Unfortunately, he died about a month later from an attack of colic, another sad testimony to the ephemeral nature of the thoroughbred breed.  

 

Eillo (on right) winning the Sprint
(bloodhorse.com)

 

The fourth Breeders’ Cup race was the Mile on grass, a race designed to attract top European milers. The first running did attract a few such as Lear Fan and Prego, but the main competitors were U. S. raced horses such as the filly Royal Heroine, the older horse Cozzene, and three-year-olds such as Tights and Tsunami Slew. Royal Heroine, after her good second to John Henry in the Arlington Million, finished second again, this time in the female only Ramona Handicap at Del Mar. The coupled entry of Royal Heroine and Prego (both owned by Robert Sangster) was made the favorite, and the former, a John Gosden trainee, relishing the mile distance, mowed down her male competitors in the stretch to win by 1½ lengths setting a new course record. In second place was Star Choice with Cozzene a neck back in third. This victory did not clinch an Eclipse Award for Royal Heroine in that another filly, Sabin, who had won 9 stakes races during the year including the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and the Gamely Handicap, had a title claim, despite not running on Breeders’ Cup Day. The two met later in the Hollywood meeting in the 9 furlong Matriarch Stakes. At the finish, it was Royal Heroine by 1 length over Reine Mathlide with Sabin, 2 lengths back in third place. This victory was sufficient to give Royal Heroine the Female Turf Horse championship.

Royal Heroine winning the Mile
(breederscup.com)

The Breeders’ Cup Distaff was run initially at 1¼ mile and had all the principal contenders for both Three-Year-Old Filly and Older Female Eclipse Awards – Princess Rooney, Adored, Life’s Magic, Lucky Lucky Lucky and Miss Oceana entered. What appeared to be one of the most contentious races on the Breeders’ Cup card turned into a rout as Princess Rooney sat at the throat of pacesetter Lucky Lucky Lucky till the top of the stretch, and when jockey Eddie Delahoussaye gave the call, she bounded forward to a lead that stretched to 7 lengths at the finish. In second place was Life’s Magic, clinching sophomore filly Eclipse honors, with Adored ¾ length back in third. Farther behind were Lucky Lucky Lucky in sixth and Miss Oceana, seventh and last. Not only was this dominant performance by Princess Rooney (owned by Paula Tucker and now trained by Neil Drysdale) enough to guarantee her Eclipse Award for Older Female, but it was clearly the most impressive effort of the whole Breeders’ Cup Day. (Indeed, the time for the Distaff was 1 second faster than the Breeders’ Cup Classic run later in the day.)

 

Princess Rooney winning the Distaff
(bloodhorse.com)

The 1½ mile Breeders’ Cup Turf lacked John Henry, but it did attract an international field, headed by the previous year’s Horse of the Year, All Along. The now five-year-old mare had come into the Turf having lost three of the races she had won in her championship year. Adding scope to the entries was the Australian champion Strawberry Road who was on a world tour running previously in Germany and in France. The betting public settled on the dependable Majesty’s Prince as the favorite with All Along the second choice. The Daniel Wildenstein owned mare ran her best race of the year, sitting mid-pack off Strawberry Road’s pace until gaining a clear lead on the stretch turn. However, it was 53-1 Lashkari, an improving three-year-old son of Mill Reef owned by the vaunted Aga Khan stable and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre, who caught All Along close to the finish to win by a neck. In third place was Raami a ½ length behind All Along; Strawberry Road finished a good fourth with Majesty’s Prince a non-threatening sixth. This was one Breeders’ Cup race that did not crown a champion, as John Henry in absentia was voted the Eclipse Award for Male Turf Horse.

 

Lashkari (on left) winning the Turf
(breederscup.com)

The Breeders’ Cup Classic at 1¼ mile, the climatic race on the day had a field of eight headed by Equusequity Stable’s Slew o’ Gold. Others in the field was his entry mate Mugatea, Desert Wine, Wild Again, Canadian Factor and three-year-olds Gate Dancer, Precisionist, and Track Barron. Black Chip Stable, owner of Wild Again, believed enough in the horse’s chances even though he was a decided longshot and paid the $360,000 supplementary fee to race in the Classic. The buildup to the race concerned Slew o’ Gold’s foot problems which seemed to worsen as his vets worked feverishly to remove any infection and re-patch his hoof. His participation in the Classic seemed very questionable until the day before the race. The “Slew people” had a bad experience with Triple Crown hero Seattle Slew (sire of Slew o’ Gold) when they raced him at Hollywood Park, and they may have felt it was “déjà vu all over again.” However, their bad fortune would be from a different source this time around.

As the field left the gate Mugatea, Precisionist and Wild Again went together for the lead setting a fast pace and opening up several lengths on the rest of the field. Early down the backstretch Wild Again, at odds 31-1 under Pat Day, assumed a short lead with Slew o’ Gold well back in fifth and Gate Dancer even farther back in seventh. Around the far turn, Slew o’ Gold made a sweeping move to reach Wild Again at the top of the stretch and as they battled, Gate Dancer closed rapidly on the pair. At the 1/8 pole Gate Dancer bore in significantly on Slew o’ Gold, just as Wild Again was drifting out, sandwiching the big colt between his two opponents. At the finish, Wild Again was a head in front of Gate Dancer with Slew o’ Gold, all progress stopped by the crowding, finishing third, ½ length back. After a lengthy stewards’ inquiry, Gate Dancer was viewed as the prime offender and was disqualified and placed third behind Slew o’ Gold. From my view, Wild Again should have also been disqualified for bearing out into Slew o’ Gold in deep stretch. The outcome in terms of awards was that Slew o’ Gold was voted the Eclipse Award for Male Older Horse, but was denied Horse of the Year, which for the second year in a row, he probably deserved. Here was a horse who was battling through injury and impeded and still was only beaten about a ½ length for all of it.
  

Wild Again (far right) winning the Classic
(breederscup.com)

John Henry, despite (and perhaps due to) not racing on Breeders’ Cup Day was given Horse of the Year, more, I believe for sentimental reasons than merit.

The intense competition of a championship day and the bringing together of horses from all parts of the country and even some places internationally marked the initial Breeders’ Cup and has infused the series over its 40-year lifetime. Despite, the expansion to accommodate specialties in gender, distance and surface that have diluted the strength of each race, the Breeders’ Cup still is a defining moment in the thoroughbred racing calendar.

Porta Fortuna to all participants this year.

Fillies in the Travers Stakes

 

Fillies in the Travers Stakes

Joseph Di Rienzi

There is high anticipation that the sterling three-year-old filly Thorpedo Anna will contest the 155^th edition of the Travers Stakes, contested this year on August 24 at Saratoga Racetrack. The dark bay filly sired by Fast Anna, owned by the partnership of Alaali, Edwards, Hicks and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek). Trained by Sherri’s husband Kenny McPeek, Thorpedo Anna has absolutely dominated her female peers this year in winning in succession the Fantasy Stakes, Kentucky Oaks, Acorn Stakes and Coaching Club American Oaks (CCA Oaks). Trainer McPeek in a sporting gesture but also mindful of thoroughbred racing history has recently announced that his filly will forego racing against her own sex in the Alabama Stakes on August 17 and, instead, point for the Travers Stakes run one week later. In doing so, Thorpedo Anna, if she succeeds, will join seven other fillies who have captured what has been called the Midsummer Derby. However, the last female to be declared the winner was Lady Rotha in 1915 and that via a disqualification.

In what can be considered “modern times” (at least since the 1960s), four female horses have attempted the win the Travers and none have succeeded. The four – Cicada (in 1962), Chris Evert (1974), Davona Dale (1979) and Wonder Gadot (2018) were all voted champions and the first three are enshrined in the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Yet, none could conquer their respective male counterparts in the Travers. I will look at each of these distaffers’ racing careers paying particular attention to their preparation and performance in the Travers.

Cicada
(Keeneland Library/Thoroughbred Times Collection)

Meadow Stable’s Cicada, named after a type of seven-year locust, was a bay home bred born in 1959 sired by Bryan G, small of stature, but giant in class and determination. Her juvenile year saw her dominate her contemporaries with wins early in the year in the National Stallion (filly division) and Blue Hen Stakes. Cicada also had in the money performances in the Polly Drummond, Colleen, Astoria, and Fashion Stakes. She finished the year in a flourish with victories successively in the Schuylerville, Spinaway, Matron, Astarita, Frizette, and Gardenia Stakes. In the Gardenia run at Garden State Racetrack in New Jersey, Cicada vanquished her opposition by over 10 lengths. In all she won 11 of her 16 starts always placing in the top three positions.

As a sophomore in 1962, she had faced males once prior to the Travers losing in a controversial decision by a nose to top three-year-old Ridan in the Florida Derby. Meadow Stable owner Christopher T. Chenery along with trainer J. H. “Casey” Hayes entered Cicada in both the Kentucky Oaks and the Kentucky Derby which are traditionally contested, respectively, on the first Friday and Saturday in May. Also entered in the Derby was Cicada’s stablemate Sir Gaylord, the pre-Derby favorite. Due to an apparent lack of communication, Cicada was left to run in the Oaks (which she won easily) despite the fact that Sir Gaylord had suffered a career ending injury on the morning of the filly race.

After the Kentucky Oaks, Cicada triumphed in the Acorn Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Mother Goose Stakes at Belmont Park and then was upset by Bramalea in the CCA Oaks. She preceded to lose the Delaware Oaks (finishing third), the Delaware Handicap (by a nose to older mare Seven Thirty), and the Alabama Stakes at Saratoga (third).

Despite a four race losing streak, Casey Hayes put Cicada in the Travers which was billed as a showdown between Ridan and Belmont Stakes winner Jaipur. The running of this edition was one of the most memorable Travers in its storied history. Ridan and Jaipur raced head-and-head in a titanic battle through the entire contest. Towards the end, they were staggering but managed to stay one-two with Jaipur thrusting his nose in front at the finish. Cicada, who was bumped at the start, tried to reach contention approaching the far turn but faded in the stretch to finish seventh and last.

Cicada concluded the year with victories in the Beldame and Jersey Belle Stakes, and her connections accepted her second award, this time as Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. In an abbreviated campaign in 1963 as a four-year-old, Cicada did enough to win her third-year end championship, this time as Older Filly and Mare. Cicada’s final accolade would be induction into racing’s Hall of Fame in 1967.

Chris Evert (on left)
(Bob Coglianese photo)

Carl Rosen’s Chris Evert, named after the great female tennis player, was an attractive chestnut daughter of Swoon’s Son from the mare Miss Carmie by T. V. Lark. After beginning her career in September 1973, she was second by a half-length to Bundler in the Frizette Stakes at Belmont Park. She then reversed that decision by traveling to Kentucky to Keeneland Racetrack and winning the Golden Rod Stakes, defeating Bundler by 1¼ lengths. Chris Evert finished her two-year-old filly campaign by returning to New York and winning the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.

The Acorn Stakes at one mile was the first in the New York series of major races for sophomore females. The 1974 edition was split in two divisions with Chris Evert taking the second in defeating Clear Copy by ¾ of a length with Fiesta Libre third. Quaze Quilt, the Kentucky Oaks winner, was a head back in fourth and the previous year’s Two-Year-Old Filly Champion, Talking Picture, was fifth. In winning the Acorn, the Joseph Trovato trainee was making only her second start of the year having finished third in the Comely Stakes. The 9 furlong Mother Goose Stakes brought together most of the prominent runners in the divisions of the Acorn. On a sloppy track, Chris Evert prevailed by a ½ length over Maud Muller. Quaze Quilt finished third, 5 lengths back. In the finale of the series, the 1½ mile CCA Oaks, Chris Evert proved her superiority and, in some ways, outran her pedigree by winning by 3½ lengths over Fiesta Libre who had a ½ length on Maud Muller.

After her completion of the New York Filly Triple Crown series, Chris Evert travelled west to meet the challenge of the best three-year-old filly in California, Miss Musket. Hollywood Park staged a match race between these two with a “winner take all purse” at 1¼ miles. Match races are rarely satisfying sporting events, and this would be an embarrassment. The eastern based filly completely dominated, running her rival to submission, so by the time Chris Evert reached the homestretch she was all by herself. The official margin was an unimaginable 50 lengths, but it was mainly due to the rider of Miss Musket easing her, realizing she was hopelessly beaten.

Chris Evert returned east to Saratoga and made her next start in the time-honored Alabama Stakes. She was the prohibitive favorite, but Quaze Quilt racing at 114 lb. held off Chris Evert (under 124 lb.) by a neck in the 1¼ mile race. Notwithstanding her defeat, Chris Evert’s connections wheeled her back one week later in the “Midsummer Derby” to face Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Little Current and Haskell Stakes victor Holding Pattern, who in taking the Monmouth Park race had defeated the double classic winner. On a sloppy track, Holding Pattern (121 lb.) caught Chris Evert (121 lb.) in mid-stretch and was able to repel the belated rally of Little Current (126 lb.) by a diminishing neck. The double classic winner in turn finished 4½ lengths ahead of a valiant Chris Evert.

The filly did not race the rest of 1974, but she had accomplished enough to be the overwhelming choice for the Eclipse Award for Three-Year-Old Filly. A brief campaign on the West Coast as a four-year-old in 1975 saw Chris Evert, carrying 128 lb., win the La Canada Stakes at Santa Anita Racetrack. In what would be the final race of her career, she was unplaced in the Santa Margarita Handicap. Chris Evert was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 1988.

 

Davona Dale
(BloodHorse photo)

Davona Dale was a tall, elegant bay daughter of Best Turn out of a Tim Tam mare - an all-Calumet Farm family. Raced only twice as a juvenile, she drew attention with an impressive win in a minor stakes race, the Holly Handicap at the Meadowlands Racetrack. After finishing fourth against males in the Tropical Park Derby in January 1979, Davona Dale was second to Candy Éclair, Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 1978, in the 6 furlong Shirley Jones Stakes at Gulfstream Park. The daughter of Best Turn then reversed the order by running down Candy Éclair in the 7 furlong Bonnie Miss Stakes, winning by ¾ of a length in a time only 1/5 second slower than the track record. Trainer John Veitch shipped his ballerina to the Fair Grounds Racetrack where Davona Dale won the 8½ furlong Debutante Stakes by 7 lengths. Next on the calendar for the Calumet color bearer was the Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park where, after overcoming a near disastrous start, she won by 2½ lengths.

In the 1 1/16 mile Kentucky Oaks, Davona Dale faced Candy Éclair again. The latter set the pace with the former making a run on the outside around the far turn. Candy Éclair, tiring from her early efforts, carried Davona Dale very wide, but nonetheless the Calumet runner drew clear winning by 4¼ lengths on a very sloppy track. Candy Éclair in suffering only her second lifetime loss, finished fourth. In winning the Kentucky Oaks, Davona Dale joined company with five other Calumet Farm heroines who have been draped with the traditional lilies on Oaks Day.

Davona Dale made thoroughbred racing history by completing what can unofficially be called “The Double Triple”. Having won the Kentucky Oaks on Derby Eve, the daughter of Best Turn took the 1 1/16 mile Black-Eyed Susan Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack on Preakness Eve, winning by 4¼ lengths. Eight days later, Davona Dale added the Acorn Stakes at Belmont Park by 2¼ lengths. Continuing her dominance of her sex, Davona Dale found the stretch out to 9 furlongs no problem in the Mother Goose Stakes, cruising to the lead down the backstretch and drawing away to win by 10 lengths. The CCA Oaks at 1½ miles served as the capstone for Davona Dale completing the two triples. Winning by 8 lengths, the Calumet filly swept the New York Filly Triple Series, but in winning the Kentucky Oaks, the Black-Eyed Susan and the CCA Oaks, Davona Dale won each of the female counterpart races in the American Triple Crown series, hence a Double Triple. 

After a brief freshening, Davona Dale resumed racing in the Alabama Stakes. She was heavily favored but was unable to catch front running It’s in the Air, the previous year’s Co-Champion Two-Year-Old Filly, losing by 1½ lengths. Despite her defeat, Davona Dale was entered a week later in the Travers Stakes reminiscent of Chris Evert who also finished second in the Alabama. Without the presence of classic winners Spectacular Bid and Coastal, the field for the Midsummer Derby included Jim Dandy Stakes victor Private Account, Smarten who had won Derbies in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Illinois and General Assembly, back from the Triple Crown series with a sharp 7 furlong prep race win at Saratoga. On a sloppy surface, Davona Dale was the lukewarm favorite, but the day belonged to General Assembly. Reminding everyone of his good Saratoga form of last year when he won the Hopeful Stakes and doing a splendid imitation of his sire, Secretariat, he took the lead early and ran an astounding race, destroying the field by 15 lengths in new track record time. In second place was Private Account who had 11 lengths on third finishing Smarten. Davona Dale clearly off form was a very distant fourth.

Davona Dale would race once more in the year, finishing fourth in the Maskette Stakes at Belmont Park. Despite her three consecutive defeats, her early year accomplishments were enough to award her connections an Eclipse for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Trainer John Veitch brought his star back from an injury as a four-year-old for a brief campaign in 1980. After finishing third in a conditioned race, Davona Dale won the 7 furlong Ballerina Stakes at Saratoga defeating her old rival It’s in the Air. Returning for another try at the Maskette Stakes, the Calumet Farm color bearer was giving weight to two outstanding sophomore fillies – Kentucky Derby winner Genuine Risk and Kentucky Oaks victress Bold ‘n Determined. Davona Dale had the lead in mid-stretch but could not withstand the rallies by Bold ‘n Determined and Genuine Risk who finished first and second, respectively, a nose apart with Davona Dale fading to fourth.

The Maskette was to be her last race as she was retired and returned to her home in Lexington, KY. Davona Dale’s induction in the Hall of Fame came in 1985.

Wonder Gadot
(BloodHorse photo)

The last modern female racer to attempt the Travers was known more for her hardiness than her brilliance. Gary Barber’s Wonder Gadot shared a similarity with Chris Evert in that she was named after a well-known public figure (the actress Gal Gadot who has played the film character Wonder Woman). Trained throughout her career by Mark Casse, the Canadian bred dark bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was voted the 2017 Sovereign Award for Two-Year-Old Filly in Canada after winning the Mazarine Stakes at Woodbine Racetrack and the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct.

She began 2018 with in the money performances in the following: second (beaten a neck) in the Silverbulletday Stakes, third in the Rachel Alexandra Stakes, third in the Fair Grounds Oaks (all at the Fair Grounds Racetrack), and second (beaten a nose) in the Fantasy Stakes.

Wonder Gadot ran a sterling race in the Kentucky Oaks against future multiple champion Monomoy Girl, losing by a ½ length having been repeatedly brushed in the stretch by the latter. (A foul claim by Wonder Gadot’s rider was denied by the Churchill Downs stewards.)

After the Oaks, trainer Mark Casse sent Wonder Gadot to Canada to contest its sophomore classics. Finishing second in the Woodbine Oaks, the daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was outfitted with blinkers for the Queens Plate and soared in the 1¼ mile race to a 4¾ length victory, handily defeating her male opponents. Contesting the 9½ furlong Prince of Wales Stakes (again against males) in the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, jockey John Velazquez sent Wonder Gadot to the front early over the sloppy surface, and she easily vanquished her foes by 5¾ lengths.

Flushed with victories over males in Canada, Wonder Gadot’s connections shipped her back to the U. S. for the Travers Stakes. The thought was she was superior enough at 1¼ mile to defeat any horse of her age male or female currently racing. (Triple Crown winner Justify had been recently retired). Unfortunately, that was not the case, as Catholic Boy, a major winner over grass proved on this day equally adept over a dirt surface winning the historic race by 4 lengths over pacesetting Mendelssohn. Wonder Gadot, after being prominent early, faded badly in the stretch to finish tenth and last.

In her final races in 2018, Wonder Gadot finished a distant third in the Cotillion Stakes at Parx Racing and ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, held that year at Churchill Downs. Despite only two victories in 2018, her connections were given Sovereign Awards on her behalf for Three-Year-Old Filly Champion and Canadian Horse of the Year.

 After two losses at the start of her four-year-old career in 2019, she was retired.

A pattern emerges from examining the careers of the four females discussed above. Collectively, their best performances occurred before their participation in the Travers Stakes. Yes, Cicada did win a championship as a four-year-old, and both Chris Evert and Davona Dale each won a stakes race later in their respective careers, but all four were never as dominant, even against their own sex as they were prior to the Travers. Did the effort against males take too much out of these fillies? Each horse is unique, but the record does not bode well for Thorpedo Anna as she attempts to be the first filly in over a century to win the Midsummer’s Derby. All her connections can do is hope she is the barrier breaker. That is why we race.

Secretariat's Annus Mirabilis

 

Secretariat’s Annus Mirabilis

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

(bloodhorse.com)

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of Secretariat’s Triple Crown triumph. Half a century away as if it was yesterday. In previous posts (The Secretariat Triple Crown, Parts I, II, and III), I recounted the preparation and performance of this magnificent horse leading up to and through his epoch making American Triple Crown sweep. In this final piece, I will follow his campaign through the rest of 1973.

Although that year had many stellar racehorses, the real excitement in the thoroughbred world was the racing career of Secretariat, now, after his momentous Triple Crown odyssey, a media idol. The sculpted chestnut horse’s connections, not unlike what they did with Riva Ridge, their double classic winner of the previous year, chose to race rather than rest their hero. Secretariat appeared in the Meadow Stable blue and white checkerboard silks at Arlington Park, just outside Chicago, Illinois in a special crafted raced called the Arlington Invitational at 9 furlongs just three weeks after the Belmont Stakes. Only three horses entered against him including two previous rivals, Our Native and My Gallant. The fourth entry was rank longshot Blue Chip Dan. In the special conditions for the race, Secretariat carried 126 lb., the others 120 lb.  Secretariat, reverting to his previous style, broke slowly, but gained command quickly around the clubhouse turn and won easily by 9 lengths, nearly breaking Damascus’ track record. My Gallant finished a neck ahead of Our Native for the place award.

Next, Secretariat returned to hallowed Saratoga Racetrack, the scene of his coming out party in the previous year’s Hopeful Stakes. Trainer Lucien Laurin chose the Whitney Stakes against older horses as Secretariat’s prep for the hallowed Travers Stakes. However, Saratoga has also a reputation as “the graveyard of favorites”, and Secretariat met his “Upset” in the personage of Hobeau Farm’s Onion, previously a good sprinting allowance horse, trained by the “Giant Killer”, Allen Jerkens.  Having placed in stakes races such as the Paumonok, Roseben, and Carter Handicaps early in the year, Onion, was very sharp in winning an allowance race at Saratoga earlier in the week of the Whitney in track record time. The truth is Onion did not win the Whitney; Secretariat lost it. He was trapped on the rail the entire race, and never had the opportunity to extend his stride losing by a length to his older foe. In the aftermath of the Whitney, Secretariat was declared to have a fever that would force him to miss the Travers.

In an effort to capitalize on the national attention given to Secretariat, the Marlboro Tobacco Company initiated a race that would bring together all the major horses racing in 1973 for a large purse that would serve as a “championship” race. Run at Belmont Park in September at 9 furlongs, the Marlboro Cup Handicap, as the race was called, was a precursor to the Breeders’ Cup Classic. On previous occasions these “invented” races fail to attract a competitive field, but the initial running of this race, exceeded beyond any expectations. The entries, by invitation only (with assigned weights), were Secretariat (124 lb.) who had not raced since his loss in the Whitney, Riva Ridge (127 lb.) who had tuned up with two allowance races at Saratoga (a second and a first), last year’s three-year-old champion Key to the Mint (126 lb.) who had not raced since his victory in the time honored Suburban Handicap, Cougar II (126 lb.), last seen winning the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park, Kennedy Road (121 lb.), who came in to the race with victories at Del Mar Racetrack in the San Diego and Cabrillo Handicaps, Annihilate’Em (116 lb.), the Travers Stakes winner, and Onion (116 lb.). Key riding assignments saw Ron Turcotte aboard Secretariat, Eddie Maple on Riva Ridge, Bill Shoemaker was on Cougar II while Donald Pierce was the rider of Kennedy Road.

In the build up to the Marlboro Cup questions swirled around Secretariat after his loss in the Whitney. However, he trained very well for the Marlboro, his last work being a sparkling 5 furlong breeze. I recall going to Belmont that day to find the track sloppy, but conditions improved as the races were conducted. The betting public made the Secretariat – Riva Ridge entry the overwhelming favorite. (Is it any wonder, as combined they represented horses who had been awarded three championships and had won five classics?) As the race enfolded, Secretariat, had the benefit of perhaps, the most illustrious “rabbit” in racing history, namely Riva Ridge. His Meadow Stable entry mate challenged both Onion and Kennedy Road for the lead down the backstretch forcing a torrid pace as Secretariat was poised in fifth place on the outside. Riva Ridge deposed of his rivals around the final turn as Secretariat ranged up on the outside. In the stretch, Secretariat casually pulled away from Riva Ridge much as he did to Sham in the Kentucky Derby. At the finish Secretariat was 3½ lengths in front of Riva Ridge who had two lengths on Cougar II who closed strongly from last place. Onion was fourth, Annihilate’Em fifth, Kennedy Road, sixth and Key to the Mint, not himself finished seventh and last. The time of the 9 furlong race was a new American dirt record, and the result gave the public what they came to watch - a great horse triumphant. 

Secretariat winning the 1973 Marlboro Cup Handicap
(secretariat.com)

Unlike today’s era of protecting a horse’s breeding value, owners in those days raced their best. Secretariat was back in action soon, quicker than planned. The 1½ mile Woodward Stakes saw both Riva Ridge and Secretariat in the entries, two weeks after the Marlboro. Riva Ridge was the intended starter if the track was fast, whereas Secretariat’s connections were planning to race him on turf for the remainder of his career. However, the Belmont track came up sloppy on Woodward Day and Riva Ridge was scratched. Secretariat, who had not been trained vigorously, represented the stable in the race. He faced Cougar II, top class filly Summer Guest and Prove Out, a King Ranch Stable castoff recently purchased by Hobeau Farm. By Graustark out of a legendary King Ranch family that traced back to Triple Crown winner Assault, Prove Out had showed flashes of brilliance, but was inconsistent, probably due to unsoundness. In his first races for trainer Allen Jerkens, he was impressive in winning allowance races, but prior to the Woodward he finished seventh with an excuse in the Chesapeake Handicap at Bowie Racecourse in Maryland. In the Woodward Stakes, Prove Out took the lead early, relinquished it to Secretariat down the backstretch, but to everyone’s surprise regained it in the stretch and drew out to a shocking, but impressive win. Secretariat was second, 4½ lengths behind Prove Out’s wake, but 11 lengths in front of Cougar II. Summer Guest finished fifth and last. (Note, all Secretariats’ losses in 1973 were in races that began with a “W” (Wood, Whitney, and Woodward).

Not dwelling on another defeat, Lucien Laurin proceeded in his plan to try Secretariat on turf and entered him in the 1½ mile Man o’War Stakes 9 days after the Woodward. In the field were grass stalwarts Big Spruce and London Company who had just won the Manhattan Handicap, but the main threat was Tentam, who was having an outstanding year. After winning the Metropolitan Handicap, finishing second in the Haskell Handicap, and third in the Brooklyn Handicap, Tentam won a division of the Bernard Baruch Handicap on grass at Saratoga, setting a new world record. He then returned to dirt and won the Governor Stakes by 2 lengths at Belmont at 9 furlongs. Purchased after the Governor by Windfields Farm primarily for stud duty, Tentam’s trainer, Mack Miller, shipped him to Atlantic City Racecourse, where he was a 4 length winner of the U. N. Handicap at 9½ furlongs on the turf.

Prior to the Man o’War Stakes, Secretariat had another of those workouts that just amazed everyone. A 5 furlong blowout on grass three days that made clockers check their watches to see if they were still working properly. In the paddock, I remember marveling how the big horse’s coat shined like bronze in the autumn sun. In the race, Secretariat, relishing the turf, broke with the field and was in front by the clubhouse turn. Along the backstretch, Tentam became his closest pursuer and made two concerted efforts to close the gap, getting within a length of Secretariat around the final turn. However, as they straightened out in the stretch, Secretariat was in his pendulum-like stride and drew away without any encouragement from Turcotte, winning by 5 lengths, and in the process setting a new Belmont track record for the distance on that surface. Big Spruce checked in third, 7½ lengths behind the valiant Tentam. It was not lost on observers the appropriateness of the horse often referred to as “Big Red” winning the race named after the original “Big Red”. 

Secretariat would face the starting gate one more time in his fabled career, and his connections decided it would be the Canadian International Championship at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto on October 28, 1973. The reasoning behind this was to share this great horse beyond the borders of the U. S., but also in homage to Canadian born Laurin and Turcotte. (An irony in that Ron Turcotte was under a suspension on the day of the Canadian race and could not ride Secretariat. His place was taken by Eddie Maple, born in Ohio.) The race at 13 furlongs drew a field of twelve and included Big Spruce and Canadian champion, Kennedy Road. Again, prior to the Canadian International, Secretariat had a brilliant workout on the Woodbine turf, a sure signal he was ready to show his best. The race was run in near darkness as a steady rain that had fallen throughout the day increased as the horses went to post. Kennedy Road rushed to the front, with Secretariat second as they went by the stands the first time around far ahead of the rest of the field. Along the backstretch, Secretariat moved on the outside to challenge Kennedy Road, who put up some resistance, before capitulating as they headed for the far turn. Secretariat drew away dramatically to an insurmountable lead to the delight of the crowd which he held in the stretch run finishing 6½ lengths in front of Big Spruce who had 1½ lengths on Golden Don. Kennedy Road finished a tired ninth.

Thus, ended the racing career of the horse with the most ability I have ever seen. Secretariat was retired to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky to begin his stallion career in 1974. By any measure, other than not producing a horse of his caliber (as if anyone could), Secretariat was a success as a stallion. He sired double classic winner and champion Risen Star, champion filly or mare and Horse of the Year, Lady’s Secret, major winner General Assembly, brilliant filly Terlingua, and Australian Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule. Secretariat was also very influential as a broodmare sire, such as siring the dams of important stakes winners and influential stallions A. P. Indy, Gone West, and Storm Cat.

He died in 1989 at age 19, the result of severe laminitis.