Ferdinand - The Bashful Derby Champion

 

Ferdinand – The Bashful Derby Champion

Joseph Di Rienzi

Ferdinand winning the 1986 Kentucky Derby
(The Courier-Journal)

It’s been 40 years since a striking, regally bred chestnut darted to the inside of the stretch at Churchill Downs to win the 112^th running of the Kentucky Derby. Much of the acclaim given to this horse was due to his connections, both legends of the sport. Trainer Charlie Whittingham and jockey William Shoemaker were both in the twilight of their careers, with the former 73 years old and the latter 54. To paraphrase David Kindred (The Blood-Horse, May 17, 1986, p. 3513), Ferdinand’s victory was like watching Hamlet, written by Shakespeare (Whittingham) and played by Laurence Olivier (Shoemaker).

The son of the fabled European champion racehorse Nijinsky II had a very successful racing career, but is legacy is now clouded by outrage by animal rights advocates when it was discovered that he was a victim of a slaughterhouse in Japan after his stud career was concluded. This piece will not dwell on his untimely end but celebrate his journey to fame as a Derby hero.

Foaled in 1983, he was out of the mare Banja Luka by Double Jay. Bred by Howard B. Keck and raced in the colors of his wife, Elizabeth, the classically molded chestnut colt with a small star on his forehead had taken four starts to break his maiden. Ferdinand’s most accomplished performance as a juvenile was a third place finish, beaten 6½ lengths in the rich 1985 Hollywood Futurity to Carl Grinstead and Ben Rochelle’s Snow Chief, a horse who would continue to be a formidable rival. Despite, these modest accomplishments, observers had noticed a gleam in trainer Charlie Whittingham’s eye whenever Ferdinand was mentioned that they had not seen before. 

At the beginning of 1986 on the West Coast, Charlie Whittingham was openly touting Ferdinand as his hope to train a Kentucky Derby winner. For the record, Mr. Whittingham had previously run two horses in the Run for the Roses (Gone Fishin’ (finishing eighth in 1958) and Divine Comedy (ninth in 1960)). After a close second to Badger Land in the Los Feliz Stakes at Santa Anita Park, the handsome chestnut won the Santa Catalina Stakes with a come from behind rally under regular rider Bill Shoemaker. Ferdinand, who could display a brilliant burst of speed, also had a disturbing habit of pulling himself up when he found himself on the lead. It would take all of Whittingham’s skill and Shoemaker’s patience to bring out the full potential in this colt.

After losing the lead in the stretch to Variety Road in the San Rafael Stakes, Ferdinand faced that rival and Snow Chief in the Santa Anita Derby. The last mentioned had returned to California after winning the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. At Santa Anita, it was all Snow Chief who rallied from just off the pace to a dominant 6 length victory over Icy Groom with Ferdinand, 1 length back in third place. Variety Road finished a disappointing sixth. With this victory, Snow Chief was assured the favoritism in the Derby. Whittingham, blaming track conditions for Ferdinand’s loss, was not deterred from continuing his quest for the roses.

The discussions surrounding the 112^th Kentucky Derby seemed to center on Snow Chief and Badger Land. Snow Chief had finished ahead of his rival in the three previous meetings, but Badger Land’s last two races in Florida (the Everglades and Flamingo Stakes) were impressive, and the tall son of Codex seemed the more classic type than his compact adversary. Behind the top pair there was lukewarm support for the perpetually promising Mogambo, British invader Bold Arrangement and the Arkansas Derby hero, Rampage. Wood Memorial victor Broad Brush was pegged at 14-1 and Ferdinand, who had never come close to defeating Snow Chief was nearly 18-1. However, there was some support for this colt mainly due to his outstanding bloodlines, Whittingham’s and Shoemaker’s confidence in his ability, and some particularly strong workouts over the Churchill Downs surface.

In the 16 horse field there was little doubt that speedster Groovy would set the early pace, and so he did producing fast fractions with Zabaleta, Bachelor Beau and Snow Chief in closest pursuit. Badger Land was shut off temporarily just after the start, found himself behind horses, and his jockey Jorge Velasquez was forced to race him wide. Ferdinand, breaking well from his number one post position, was eased back to last by Bill Shoemaker to make one run. Down the backstretch, Snow Chief seemed to be in prime position as he edged closer to the leaders. Around the far turn, the favorite momentarily gained the lead only to falter soon after as the closers made their rally. First came Broad Brush from mid-pack to stick his head in front at the ¼ mile pole, then Bold Arrangement made a strong move, followed closely by Badger Land running wide around the turn. Meanwhile, Shoemaker aboard Ferdinand had improved his position moving between horses and was just behind the leading group at the top of the stretch. Shoemaker sensing an opening, darted the son of Nijinsky along the inside and almost immediately Ferdinand spurted to a clear lead. Bold Arrangement and Broad Brush kept fighting away, but the race for the roses was over as Ferdinand went under the wire 2¼ lengths in front. Second in a mighty effort was Bold Arrangement who finished ¾ of a length in front of Broad Brush. Rampage, who unlike Ferdinand was unable to get clear running till late in the stretch was a closing fourth, a neck behind Broad Brush, but 1½ lengths in front of Badger Land. Mogambo was never a factor, finishing 10^th, but the big disappointment of the race was Snow Chief, who tired badly to finish 11^th in a puzzling performance.

In the winner’s circle, Mr. and Mrs. Howard B. Keck who had so many good horses in association with Claiborne Farm and Charlie Whittingham over the years celebrated their first classic victory. (The Keck name will be forever also associated with astronomy, as Mr. Keck was the primary sponsor of the large telescopes built in Hawaii.) Ferdinand’s sire, the great Nijinsky, had the unique distinction of also being this sire of the year’s Epsom Derby, the Aga Khan’s Shahrastani. The 73 year-old Whittingham and the 54 year-old Shoemaker were undoubtedly the oldest trainer-jockey combination to win the Derby. But apart from their longevity, this victory represented a culmination of their combined mastery of the sport.

Ferdinand equipped himself credibly in the other two Triple Crown races. The Preakness Stakes brought together again the Derby first and third place finishers, Ferdinand and Broad Brush, respectively with the beaten favorites Snow Chief and Badger Land. In addition, Groovy returned. Snow Chief’s baffling loss in the Derby did not deter his connections from moving forward, and he seemed to train eagerly over the Pimlico surface.

To the surprise of no one, Groovy was sent to the lead again with Snow Chief close behind along the inside. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, the pace was moderate as it appeared that jockey Alex Solis aboard Snow Chief was just biding his time to strike for the lead. Broad Brush was some lengths away in third, while Badger Land who had ducked out from his outside post was in fifth with Ferdinand 4 lengths back in sixth place. Around the far turn, Snow Chief ranged up inside Groovy and gradually forged to the front. Broad Brush was called upon but could not close ground. Ferdinand put in a strong move along the inside around the far turn, but at the top of the stretch it was clear that it would take a complete collapse by Snow Chief for the Derby winner to catch him. Both Snow Chief and Ferdinand strode out strongly with the California bred maintaining a 4 length margin to the finish. Another 6½ lengths back was Broad Brush who just held third by a nose over Badger Land. The final time was good considering the Pimlico surface appeared slower than it was normally on Preakness Day.

In the Belmont Stakes, Ferdinand did not face Snow Chief who after winning the Jersey Derby at Garden State Park was sent back to California. But in the 10 horse field was Danzig Connection owned by Henryk de Kwiatkowski and trained by Woody Stephens who was seeking his fifth straight Belmont winner. On a very sloppy Belmont Park surface, Ferdinand made a challenge in the stretch but could not pass Danzig Connection and had to settle for third beaten about 1½ lengths with John’s Treasure besting him by a neck for second place.

After the classics, Whittingham gave his Derby winner a break, resurfacing towards the tail end of 1986 to win the 7 furlong Malibu Stakes (beating Snow Chief). Ferdinand’s four-year-old campaign began with narrow losses in big races, but towards the second half of 1987, the sculptured chestnut found his top form which cumulated in a memorable victory (by a nose) over 1987 Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Hollywood Park. That victory enabled Ferdinand to win Eclipse Awards for Champion Older Male Horse and Horse of the Year. Both Derby winners continued their rivalry into 1988, until Ferdinand’s form had diminished enough that his connections retired him in the fall.

Sent back to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky where he was foaled, Ferdinand stood at stud until he was exported to Japan in 1994. News of his demise surfaced in 2002, and the outrage spurred initiatives in the aftercare treatment of thoroughbreds that continues to this day. I, for one, like to focus on Ferdinand’s triumphs, particularly his unexpected win in Kentucky which through Charlie Whittingham’s patience and Bill Shoemaker’s skill, a shy leader was transformed into a Derby champion.

Bold Forbes - Speeding to the Classics

 

Bold Forbes – Speeding to the Classics

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Bold Forbes winning the 1976 Kentucky Derbt

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250^th anniversary, in thoroughbred racing a half century  has elapsed since a small almost black colt who began his racing career in Puerto Rico streaked across the U. S. thoroughbred racing landscape to capture two thirds of the Triple Crown. Bold Forbes, owned by Esteban R. Tizol, was a Kentucky bred $15,200 yearling purchase, who in five starts in Puerto Rico had run out of competition and was sent to the U. S. during his two-year-old year (1975) to be conditioned by Laz Barrera. A son of Irish Castle, whose only major win was the Hopeful Stakes, this grandson of Bold Ruler was produced by the mare Comely Nell who traced back to the good Calumet Farm mare, Nellie L.  In the U. S., Bold Forbes won in quick succession the Tremont Stakes at Belmont Park by 5 lengths and the Saratoga Special by 8 lengths at Saratoga Racetrack, both at 6 furlongs, showing dazzling speed each time. There were questions on how far Bold Forbes would be able to carry his blazing speed, but, unfortunately, minor injuries prevented him from further racing to nearly the end of the year.

Honest Pleasure, the champion juvenile of 1975, was also a grandson of Bold Ruler, sired by What a Pleasure (another Hopeful Stakes victor). Owned by Bert Firestone Jr. and trained by 1975 Kentucky Derby winning trainer Leroy Jolley Jr., the robust son of What a Pleasure had a near perfect two-year-old campaign winning in succession the Arlington-Washington Futurity, the Cowdin Stakes, the Champagne Stakes and the Laurel Futurity.

As the classic prep season dawned in 1976, Honest Pleasure was the early favorite for the Kentucky Derby. Encamped in Florida, the dark bay colt did nothing to dissuade that assessment as he won both the Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby in impressive fashion, recording fast final times in both contests.

At the end of 1975, which was the beginning of the Santa Anita Park meeting, Bold Forbes, returned to the races in a 5½ furlong allowance race in which he tired to finish third to Sure Fire.  His next race was in the 6 furlong San Miguel Stakes which he lost again to Sure Fire, this time by a nose. Favored in the San Vicente Stakes at 7 furlongs, Bold Forbes had a clear lead in the stretch, but could not hold off Thermal Energy and Stained Glass losing by ¾ of a length. Just when it appeared that Bold Forbes was either just a two-year-old sensation or a pure sprinter, he won the one mile San Jacinto Stakes by an authoritative 3 lengths. Trainer Laz Barrera attributed this success to cutting holes in the horse’s blinkers which allowed Bold Forbes to see his opposition before they could run by him. Also, Barrera had become convinced that the Santa Anita racing strip was not showcasing his colt’s true ability and shipped him east to continue his classics preparation.

In New York, the early spring talk was about an undefeated gray colt trained by Frank Whiteley Jr. Zen was bred and owned by Pen-Y-Bryn Farm, the stable name of the brothers William W. Bancroft and Thomas M. Bancroft whose mother, Edith Bancroft campaigned Zen’s sire, the great Damascus. In his second 1975 start, Zen won the 6 furlong Hirsch Jacobs at Pimlico Racetrack by 2¾ lengths over Cojak.

On the same day as the Hirsch Jacobs, the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack marked the return of Bold Forbes to New York under new rider Angel Cordero Jr. His performance in the Bay Shore was in a word – dazzling, with Bold Forbes showing electrifying speed winning by 7¾ lengths over Eustace. The time for 7 furlongs was a new stakes record and just 3/5 seconds above the track record for the distance.

Bold Forbes bypassed the Gotham Stakes at a mile making Zen the odds-on favorite. In a struggle, the Pen-Y-Bryn color bearer prevailed by a head over Cojak, who was giving the winner 8 lb. with Play the Red, a chestnut son of Crimson Satan, third 1½ lengths back.  

The anticipated meeting between Bay Shore winner, Bold Forbes, and Gotham winner, Zen, never materialized as a slight filling in a leg convinced the connections of the latter to go more slowly with their colt. Bold Forbes, the prohibitive favorite, showed some ability to rate early in the race, but when jockey Cordero gave him his head, Bold Forbes spurted to the lead on the backstretch and when challenged by Cojak around the turned pulled away from the field. At the finish, Bold Forbes was 4¾ lengths ahead of On the Sly who had a neck advantage over Sonkisser. The time for the 9 furlong contest shattered the stakes record shared by Bold Forbes’ grandsire, Bold Ruler and Foolish Pleasure and was only 2/5 of a second off Riva Ridge’s track record set when he was a four-year-old.

From his two spectacular performances in New York, it was becoming clear, this racy son of Irish Castle, now proven at 9 furlongs, was a definite speed threat in the Kentucky Derby to the previously unassailable Honest Pleasure.

The Derby favorite’s final start prior to the Run for the Roses was the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racetrack. It was not, however quite the romp anticipated. Facing seemingly outclassed rivals, Honest Pleasure resisted jockey Braulio Baeza’s attempts to restraint him in the early going, opening up a 5 length lead at one point. When a challenge came from a rank longshot, Certain Roman, Honest Pleasure managed to hold sway without drawing away as expected. The final margin was 1½ lengths with Inca Roca, 3 lengths back in third. The final time of the race was not fast, but the early pace was moderate.

As the Derby loomed closer, it was clear the number of entrants would be the smallest since 1969. Promising runners either declined to run against Honest Pleasure or fell by the wayside. A horse who would go on to the Derby was Eugene C. Cashman’s Elocutionist, who although having an outstanding record, was not initially considered a major contender. This son of Gallant Romeo from a Fleet Nasrullah mare undefeated in four starts as a juvenile capped his Kentucky Derby preparation with a 2 length victory in the Arkansas Derby.

There was some drama in the pre-race buildup to the Kentucky Derby. LeRoy Jolley, who could be churlish at times, failed to name a jockey on Honest Pleasure when entries were taken on the Thursday before the race. This was some type of message to Braulio Baeza for what Jolley considered a less than proper ride in the Blue Grass Stakes. However, when the call for “jockeys up” was given at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, Baeza was in the saddle. At 40 cents to the dollar, Honest Pleasure went to post as one of the biggest favorites in Derby history. Bold Forbes was the clear second choice and the rest of the nine horse field were considered longshots. Most of the speculation centered on the pace scenario. Both Honest Pleasure and Bold Forbes were committed front runners, so if they both raced for the lead would a torrid pace duel open the way for closers such as Elocutionist, Play the Red or On the Sly? On the other hand, if one of the two principals was restrained, would the other have an uncontested lead that would make that colt very difficult to catch. The fact that Bold Forbes drew post 2 while Honest Pleasure was in post 5, seemed to insure that, as long as he broke well, Bold Forbes would go to the front. In addition, Angel Cordero on Bold Forbes was a more aggressive rider than Braulio Baeza on Honest Pleasure.

Bold Forbes did indeed break well, and Cordero used his horse’s brilliant speed to assume command with Honest Pleasure in closest pursuit. There was a scary incident that fortunately did not affect the running in that someone in the infield threw a smoke bomb onto the homestretch after the field went by the first time. Allowing his horse to run, Cordero had Bold Forbes open as much as a 5 length lead around the first turn setting a pace that seemed way too fast for the Derby 1¼ mile distance.  Baeza kept Honest Pleasure in second place waiting for the leader to shorten stride. Going into the final turn, Honest Pleasure kept narrowing the margin so that by the time the two leaders straightened out for the stretch run, the Firestone runner was at the flank of the Tizol color bearer. Through the stretch it appeared that Honest Pleasure was on the verge of overtaking Bold Forbes, but just lacked that extra push as both horses tired from their early efforts. At the finish, Bold Forbes actually increased his lead so that the margin at the end was 1 length. Elocutionist rallying mildly was third 3¼ lengths behind Honest Pleasure. Even though the last ¼ mile was run in a slow 26 seconds, the final time was representative of a good run Derby due to the swift early fractions.

The winner’s circle had a Latin American flavor with representatives of the owner (who was too ill to come to the U. S. from Puerto Rico), trainer Laz Barrera, a transplanted Cuban, and former Puerto Rican Cordero (who was winning his second Derby). The connections of Honest Pleasure took the defeat with dignity but vowed that Bold Forbes would never be allowed to have an easy lead again.

The script for the Preakness Stakes at venerable Pimlico Racetrack in two weeks was obvious. There would be a speed duel between Bold Forbes and Honest Pleasure. It was horse-on-horse to see which of these two speedsters would last the 9½ furlongs. If they both raced themselves into exhaustion, then another horse would come and take the honors.  Only six horses entered the Preakness with Honest Pleasure still the favorite, slightly over the Bold Forbes – Life’s Hope entry (different ownership). The others in the field were Elocutionist, Cojak and Play the Red. At the break Bold Forbes went straight to the lead with Honest Pleasure being encouraged to challenge. Despite, Baeza’s urgings it was clear, Honest Pleasure could not keep up with Bold Forbes who was setting a scorching pace. In fact, the 6 furlong fraction was faster than the Pimlico track record for the distance. Around the far turn Bold Forbes still had a daylight lead, but the field was bunching behind him. Honest Pleasure faltered, but Play the Red came up the rail to challenge and Elocutionist under John Lively came boldly on the outside. In the stretch, they both passed Bold Forbes with Elocutionist spurting clear to win by 3½ lengths over Play the Red. A ½ length back was a tired, but valiant Bold Forbes. Cojak finished fourth 3 lengths back and Honest Pleasure was an exhausted fifth, a neck later. The time again was solid, mainly owing to the record early pace carved out by Bold Forbes.

Cashman who had invested heavily in the thoroughbred business celebrated his first classic as did trainer Paul Adwell and jockey John Lively. Elocutionist was bought as a yearling by the owner for $15,000 after Cashman flipped a coin to decide whether he would bid on his future Preakness winner or another yearling that caught his attention. The other colt happened to be Bold Forbes.

Elocutionist, although the recipient of the pace duel, was really a good racehorse. He record was impressive in that he won 9 of his 12 races with no out of the money performances. As things go with thoroughbreds, his racing career came to an end when Elocutionist suffered an injury a week before the Belmont Stakes.

Honest Pleasure was given a rest after the Preakness to prepare for a summer and fall campaign, so the main issue concerning the Belmont was whether Bold Forbes, the speedy, compact son of Irish Castle could last the 1½ miles of the final classic. Considered at one point in his career a brilliant sprinter, he had certainly exceeded all expectations, but the Belmont distance was another matter. There were nine horses entered against Bold Forbes, none with outstanding credentials, who were hoping he would fade in the Belmont Park homestretch. What the horse had in his favor was a trainer, Laz Barrera, who worked on slowing his speedy tendencies, a jockey, Angel Cordero who was a master of positional riding, and a will to win despite his distance limitations.

The Belmont was run as expected with Bold Forbes spurting to a lengthy lead as Cordero took him wide on the first turn to keep his mount as relaxed as possible. The pace was not slow, but nothing like the Preakness. When Best Laid Plans made a run at Bold Forbes at the ½ mile pole, Cordero loosed the rein and Bold Forbes again opened up on the field. At the top of the stretch, he had a 6 length lead, but it was obvious he was shortening stride as first Great Contractor and then McKenize Bridge started closing in. The last ¼ mile was run in over 27 seconds, but Bold Forbes managed to hang on by a neck over McKenize Bridge, who himself had a neck over Great Contractor.  Finishing fourth was Majestic Light, 8½ lengths behind the three leaders. With the glacial final ¼ mile, the final time was on the slow side for modern runnings of the Belmont.

Accolades were bestowed on a great training job by Laz Barrera and a great riding effort by jockey Cordero, but, as always, I think the most credit should go to the horse.  It was Bold Forbes, the diminutive son of Irish Castle who held on even though his legs were tired, and his lungs were probably hurting. This ability to run through pain and exhaustion is the hallmark of the breed we call the thoroughbred.  

Bold Forbes would race twice more before being retired to stud, coming back in the fall of 1976 to win an allowance race before finishing third in the Vosburgh Handicap to older horses. He was voted the Eclipse Award for Three-Year-Old Male.

In stud he sired Kentucky Oaks winner and Eclipse Champion Tiffany Lass. Living to the ripe old thoroughbred age of 27, his legacy remains as a horse who could carry his speed as far as American racing demanded.     

The Kentucky Derby - Breeders' Cup Classic Double

 

The Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic Double
Joseph Di Rienzi

Arguably the two most important races on the United States thoroughbred scene are the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. For a three-year-old to win both in the same year is quite an achievement. In fact, even to stay in training these days from early spring to mid-autumn to contest both races has become a rarity. Nine Derby winners in the 40-year history of the Breeders’ Cup have tried in their sophomore year to win the Classic and four have been successful. (There have been two Derby heroes that won the Breeders’ Cup Classic in their four-year-old season.) This piece will highlight the four who were able to accomplish this double in the same year.

Actually, the first Kentucky Derby winner to contest the Breeders’ Cup Classic was Alysheba in 1987 and he made a gallant effort but fell short by a nose to the 1986 Kentucky Derby hero Ferdinand. (However, Alysheba would return as a four-year-old to notch his Breeder’s Cup Classic victory in the slop at Churchill Downs.)

The first sophomore to complete the double was Sunday Silence in 1989. The nearly black son of Halo with a curious stripe down his face was owned by Ernest Gaillard, Arthur Hancock III and Charlie Whittingham and trained by the last named, affectionately known as the “Bald Eagle”. Sunday Silence had his Triple Crown quest denied when Ogden Phipps’ Easy Goer, who he had defeated in both the Derby and the Preakness Stakes, scored a resounding victory against his rival in the Belmont Stakes.

After the Belmont Easy Goer went from strength to strength, notching dominating victories in the Whitney Handicap, Travers Stakes, Woodward Stakes and Jockey Club Gold Cup. Sunday Silence, on the other hand, was upset by Prized in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park but returned to his best form in winning the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs by 6 lengths.

The 1989 Breeders’ Cup Classic, run that year at Gulfstream Park, was the stage for the decisive race between these two superlative equines. There were six others in the field, however, just about everybody picked the two top three-year-olds to finish 1-2. Easy Goer was the surprising strong favorite, considering that Sunday Silence had won two of the three previous meetings in that the result of the Belmont Stakes was taken as definitive. However, that was at 1½ miles and around Belmont Park’s gentle turns. The Breeders’ Cup Classic was run at a 1¼ mile around the tight oval of Gulfstream Park which Easy Goer had not negotiated well in the past. An added uncertainty was that Chris McCarron was now the rider of Sunday Silence in that his regular jockey Pat Valenzuela was serving a suspension due to repeated drug abuse.

As the field was sent on their way, Slew City Slew showed his speed to take a three length lead setting a fast pace with Blushing John in second. Sunday Silence was parked in fourth and then third, with Easy Goer further back in sixth place. Down the backstretch, Sunday Silence ambled smoothly toward the leaders, and Easy Goer made a quick move to be just behind his rival. Around the turn, Blushing John forged to the front as Slew City Slew fell back. As feared, Easy Goer was not able to keep pace around the final turn with Sunday Silence and lost ground. At the top of the stretch, Sunday Silence readily moved to and then past Blushing John as Easy Goer mounted a desperate challenge once in the straight. In the last 1/16 of a mile, Easy Goer closed considerable ground but fell short by a neck at the finish. Blushing John in a strong effort was one length behind Easy Goer. With this result, Three-Year-Old Male Champion and Horse of the Year honors were awarded to Sunday Silence.

Sunday Silence (no. 8) wins the 1989 Breeders' Cup Classic
(Horsephotos)

The very next year, 1990, another Kentucky Derby victor was able to triumph in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. This was nonagenarian Mrs. Frances Genter’s Unbridled. The burly bay son of Fappiano was trained by Carl Nafzger. After winning the Kentucky Derby, Unbridled finished second in the Preakness (to Summer Squall) and fourth in the Belmont (to Irish raider Go and Go).

Rested for a Fall campaign, Nafzger had his colt win an allowance race at Arlington Park and then finished second to stablemates in both the Secretariat Stakes (on turf) at Arlington and the Super Derby.

The Breeders’ Cup Classic of 1990, run that year at Belmont Park, appeared to be a motley affair compared to the titanic battles between Derby winners Ferdinand and Alysheba in 1987 or the great rivals Sunday Silence and Easy Goer in 1989. Absent from the 14 horse field were the three best older horses, Criminal Type, Sunday Silence and Easy Goer. Also not present was Preakness winner Summer Squall. Unbridled, entered off a four stakes race losing streak, and the fact that his Derby winning rider, Craig Perret, had deserted him for Travers Stakes winner Rhythm was seen as a lack of support. (Pat Day, who last rode Unbridled in the Florida Derby, reclaimed the mount.) The Belmont Stakes victor, Go and Go, was in the field, but coming off a poor effort in the Travers Stakes. Other contenders in the field were Dispersal, Flying Continental, Rhythm, Izvestia and Home At Last (coupled in the betting with Unbridled). The public made Rhythm the solid favorite with Izvestia the second choice, despite both having finished third in their respective prior starts. The Unbridled-Home At Last entry was priced at a generous 6.60-1.

As the Classic field was sent on their way, Thirty Six Red, Dispersal and Beau Genius set a demanding pace. The stout English bred, Ibn Bey was surprisingly up close with Rhythm in 11th and Unbridled in 13th place. At the end of the backstretch, Thirty Six Red drew clear as both Dispersal and Beau Genius faltered, but the chase was taken up by Ibn Bey. Around the far turn several horses including Rhythm began rallies on the outside while Pat Day aboard Unbridled was making up ground along the inside. In the stretch, Thirty Six Red had the lead, but 30-1 Iben Bey was slowly wearing him down. Day had Unbridled behind both of the leaders on the rail, but he found a little room between Thirty Six Red and Ibn Bey and drove the big son of Fappiano through it to forge to the lead and win by a length. Second, in a startling effort for his first time on dirt was Ibn Bey. Third, another length behind, was a very game Thirty Six Red.

Unbridled wins the 1990 Breeders' Cup Classic
(Skip Dickstein photo)

Unbridled thus became the fourth consecutive Kentucky Derby winner to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic joining Ferdinand, Alysheba and Sunday Silence. This victory assured Unbridled of the Eclipse Award for Three-year-old Male but was also another testimony to Carl Nafzger’s ability to bring a horse to peak condition off a series of prep races.

 

We had to wait till 2015 for another Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic double. That was in the form of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. The Zayat Stables owned, Bob Baffert trained bay son of Pioneer of the Nile had come through his epic Triple Crown series with a victory in the Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park but suffered a surprising defeat to Keen Ice (a horse he had defeated in the Haskell) in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga Racetrack.

Owner Ahmed Zayat’s initial reaction was to retire his star. However, in the weeks ahead, Bob Baffert convinced the owner that after giving American Pharoah some time off, he (Baffert) could prepare the colt for a top effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic held in 2015 at Keeneland Racetrack.

Seeing American Pharoah train strongly after the shocking Travers Stakes loss, his connections grew confident about his chances in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Familiar foes such as Keen Ice and Frosted were in the Classic field as well as older adversaries such as Honor Code and Tonalist. The biggest threat to American Pharoah appeared to be the five-year-old mare Beholder if she could repeat her phenomenal race in the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar Racetrack. That she was the only entry in the field that could run with American Pharoah early also enhanced the chances of closers such as Honor Code, Tonalist and Keen Ice. The prospect of a head-and-head battle evaporated when it was announced that Beholder would be withdrawn due to an inflamed throat.

In Beholder’s absence, the race appeared to be American Pharoah’s to lose, as long as he was in top form. As the nine horse field left the starting gate, jockey Victor Espinoza guided American Pharoah to an unchallenged lead, and the race was effectively over by the clubhouse turn. Setting comfortable fractions, the Triple Crown hero always had a clear lead, and when he came into the stretch, Espinoza just let him run on, which he did to a 6½ length victory. Effinex, who had been “Pharoah’s” nearest pursuer the whole race, finished second another 4½ lengths in front of Honor Code whose late running tactics were blunted by the moderate pace. The final time was a new track record for the seldom run 1¼ mile distance at Keeneland.

American Pharoah wins the 2015 Breeders' Cup Classic
(BloodHorse.com)

Thus, American Pharoah put a capstone on his incredible year with this victory, and he remains the only horse to have won both the Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

The final horse requires somewhat of an asterisk in that in 2020 the Kentucky Derby was run on the first Saturday in September due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Only those who had an association with the runners on the day’s race card were in attendance at Churchill Downs.) The favorite was Tiz the Law who had won the Belmont Stakes in June (at an incredulous distance of nine furlongs) and the Travers. Authentic, a lankly bay son of emerging super sire Into Mischief, owned by a diverse racing partnership including some 5000 strong of MyRacehorse.com micro shareholders and trained by Bob Baffert, had won the Haskell Invitational Stakes. In the Derby, under jockey John Velazquez, Authentic led from start to finish, holding off a resolute challenge by Tiz the Law, to win by 1½ lengths.

In the interim between the Kentucky Derby and the Breeders’ Cup races, Authentic raced in the Preakness (held this year on October 3rd) and went down by a neck to the filly Swiss Skydiver.

On November 7^th, 2020, Keeneland was again the host for the two day Breeders’ Cup series of races. This year the Breeders’ Cup Classic was set to fulfill its role as the definitive race in the U. S. for determining Horse of the Year. The major older horses – Maximum Security, Improbable, Tom’s d’Etat, and By My Standards were in the 10 horse field as well as top sophomores Tiz the Law and Authentic. Other contenders were Global Campaign who was coming off a victory in the Woodward Stakes, and Tacitus who had recently finished second in the Woodward and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Tiz the Law was installed the slight favorite despite his Kentucky Derby loss to Authentic. Drawing the number two post was considered a disadvantage for the son of Constitution in that he seemed to prefer racing on the outside. Bob Baffert had three entered, and Improbable was given the best chance as the second choice with Authentic and Maximum Security also at relatively low odds in the evenly balanced field.

After an uneventful start, John Velazquez steered Authentic to the front from his number 10 post. Just behind him was Maximum Security and Tiz the Law who was unable to get off the inside. The positions were unchanged up the backstretch as the Kentucky Derby winner carved out a solid pace. Rounding the far turn, several challenged but none could make headway on the fleet front runner. At the top of the stretch Global Campaign and Improbable were Authentic’s closest pursuers, but Velazquez just urged the son of Into Mischief on, and he held his advantage that swelled to 2¼ lengths at the finish. Improbable, in a strong effort, finished second a length in front of Global Campaign. Tacitus ran his usual even performance in finishing fourth two lengths further back while Maximum Security was a nose behind in fifth but a head in front of Tiz the Law. The final time was a track record in the decidedly speed favoring surface, eclipsing American Pharoah’s time.

Authentic wins the 2020 Breeders' Cup Classic
(BloodHorse.com)

Authentic thus became the sixth Kentucky Derby winner to triumph in the Classic and the fourth to accomplish this in the same year. Eclipse honors were given to Authentic (Three-Year-Old Male and Horse of the Year).

As of this writing, Sovereignty, who faces a tough field of competitors, has a chance to be the fifth horse to compete the Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic double. We wish him and his connections bella fortuna.