The Belmont at Aqueduct

                                                          

The Belmont at Aqueduct

Joseph Di Rienzi

                                                      

      

The Belmont Stakes, the oldest and longest of the Triple Crown races, has naturally been associated with Belmont Park. Begun in 1867 at Jerome Park Racetrack in The Bronx, New York and then moved nearby to Morris Park Racecourse in 1895, the race found its permanent home in Elmont, New York (on Long Island) when Belmont Park opened in 1905. Currently there is discussion of a future renovation of “The Grand Old Lady”, as Belmont is lovingly called, to make it a 21^st century facility. There was a previous rebuilding of the Belmont Park grandstand and clubhouse, and from 1963-1967 the Belmont Stakes was contested at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. During those years, there were interesting renewals with famous horses competing and a couple of Triple Crowns in the balance.

The 1963 Belmont Stakes featured the “rubber” match between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winners. Darby Dan Farm’s Chateaugay had upset the field when he came from off the pace to win the Kentucky Derby. Previously undefeated Candy Spots finished third, beaten about 1½ lengths. Candy Spots had a glowing reputation that was somewhat tarnished by his Derby defeat. In the Preakness Stakes, Candy Spots, re-established his credentials with an authoritative 3½ length victory, easily repelling Chateaugay’s stretch rally.

In the interval between the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, Candy Spots was not idle. He won the Jersey Derby at Garden State Park handily. All that was needed was a Belmont Stakes trophy to cement his claim as one of racing’s top horses. The Belmont Stakes found Chateaugay the only serious challenger to Candy Spots. In the race, which was run around three turns and was started on the far turn (3/8 of mile before the finish), Candy Spots took the lead down the backstretch, set slow fractions, and bounded into the stretch with a clear lead. Braulio Baeza, aboard Chateaugay, saved ground around the turns and mounted his challenge coming up the inside of Candy Spots. What was surprising was not that Chateaugay was able to prevail, but the ease in which he ran past Candy Spots in the stretch winning by 2½ lengths. Either the 1½ mile distance of the Belmont or Chateaugay’s overall superiority led to Candy Spots’ defeat and a diminution of his reputation.

With this second classic win over, his three year-old rival, Chateaugay assumed the leadership of the division; a position he would not relinquish the rest of the year. For Darby Dan owner John Galbreath, who had great success in other sports endeavors, this Derby – Belmont double was at the time his crowning achievement in thoroughbred racing. He would repeat a Derby victory in 1967 with Proud Clarion (see below), win another Belmont with Little Current in 1974, and breed and own an English Derby winner in Roberto. Galbreath’s trainer at the time, James P. Conway, would have his only classic success with Chateaugay. Braulio Baeza had won the Belmont Stakes in 1961 aboard Sherluck, and he would ride Arts and Letters to victory in 1969.

                                                                 

Chateaugay winning the 1963 Belmont Stakes
(Newsday)

The 1964 Belmont Stakes held the prospect of an impending Triple Crown winner. Canadian bred Northern Dancer had, to many observers, outrun his pedigree with a track record performance in the Kentucky Derby and then strode to a convincing victory in the Preakness. The chunky son of Nearctic, who would become an epochal stallion, still had his doubters as whether he would be able to negotiate the Belmont Stakes distance, but the betting public made him the strong favorite to complete the elusive triple.

Northern Dancer faced familiar classic rivals, in Hill Rise, Quadrangle and Roman Brother. The Belmont Stakes is usually run at a much slower pace than the two other Triple Crown races.  As a result, this works against horses that have great acceleration and favors those that can keep up an even tempo throughout the 1½ mile marathon. This year’s running was no exception as longshot Orientalist set a lugubrious pace with Quadrangle, with blinkers off to relax him and ridden by Manuel Ycaza, raced just off the pace. Hill Rise was third in the early going with Northern Dancer fourth. Quadrangle forged along the inside to the lead with a ½ mile remaining, and when Northern Dancer and Roman Brother challenged him in the stretch, he fought them off and was slowly pulling away at the finish 2 lengths ahead of Roman Brother. Northern Dancer, not persevered with once the issue was settled, just held off Hill Rise for third place beaten a total of 6 lengths. So Triple Crown hopes were dashed. Paul Mellon owner of Rokeby Farm had his first classic winner in Quadrangle (it would not be his last as he also owned Arts and Letters, as well as Sea Hero, the Derby hero in 1983). Just like John Galbreath, Mellon also bred and owned an English Derby winner in Mill Reef. This Belmont win was trainer Elliot Burch’s second having won with Sword Dancer in 1959. (He was also be the conditioner of Arts and Letters).

                                                                        

Quadrangle winning the 1964 Belmont Stakes
(bloodhorse.com)

The following year’s Belmont appeared to be a more wide open race. It did not have Kentucky Derby winner Lucky Debonair who aggravated a bruised ankle in the Preakness and would not race again in 1965. The Belmont did feature the first three respective finishers in the Preakness Stakes - Tom Rolfe, Dapper Dan, and Hail to All. Tom Rolfe had finished third in the Derby before narrowly prevailing in the Preakness, while Hail to All, after a fifth place finish in the Kentucky Derby and a third in the Preakness, won the Jersey Derby just prior to the Belmont. Dapper Dan, who had finished a close second in both the Derby and the Preakness had an entry mate, Bold Bidder, to serve as a pacemaker to set up his late charge. The betting public agreed with this “rabbit” strategy and made the entry the favorite on the basis of Dapper Dan’s previously two narrow classic misses. 

As expected, Bold Bidder set the pace with longshot First Family in closest pursuit and the presumed contenders, Tom Rolfe, Hail to All and Dapper Dan further back. At the half mile to the finish pole, Bold Bidder, abruptly tired and would finish eighth and last. First Family found himself on the lead and was going well within himself when Tom Rolfe and Hail to All made their respective challenges. In the stretch, this trio was joined by Dapper Dan making his characteristic late charge. But the Belmont Stakes is not kind to one run closers. Dapper Dan, found his rally stalled just as soon as he reached the embattled trio. In deep stretch, Hail to All and Tom Rolfe slowly separated themselves from the valiant First Family, and, in a tight finish after 1½ miles, the larger colt (Hail to All) prevailed by a neck over the smaller rival (Tom Rolfe). First Family was a length back in third with Dapper Dan ¾ of a length behind him. For Mr. and Mrs. Ben Cohen and trainer Eddie Yowell, it was their first classic success. (Yowell would train the 1971 Belmont victor, Pass Catcher.) For jockey John Sellers, it was perhaps conciliation for the Belmont he thought he would win in 1961 aboard Triple Crown aspirant, Carry Back.

Hail to All after the 1965 Belmont Stakes
(The Blood-Horse)

The 1966 edition of the Belmont had in its field another horse trying to complete the Triple Crown. Kauai King, a son of the illustrious Native Dancer, had won the previous two classics. He was aided immensely when the two best three year-olds of this generation – Buckpasser and Graustark were forced to miss all of the classic races due to injuries.

On Belmont Stakes Day (still run at Aqueduct), a long shadow was cast before the big race. Last year’s two year-old champion, Buckpasser, returned in an allowance race earlier on the card and won impressively in the fastest 6 furlong time of the spring New York racing season. In the Belmont, there was an uncharacteristically large field (eleven) which could be taken as a sign of no confidence for Kauai King’s Triple Crown bid. Classic rivals such as Stupendous, Advocator, Amberoid were entered, but also entered was Buffle who seemed to be improving at the right time.

At the start, longshot Highest Honors sprinted to the lead with Donald Brumfield aboard Kauai King attempting to restrain him 4 lengths back in second place. Highest Honors stopped abruptly with a ½ mile to go, and Kauai King found himself on the lead closely pursued by Stupendous. Amberoid, who had previously finished 4 times behind Kauai King, started at the back of the field early but gradually moved to a contending position around the far turn. He reached Kauai King at the top of the Aqueduct stretch and drew away clearly during the drive. Buffle running a strong race finished 2½ lengths back in second with Advocator 5 lengths in arrears just beating a tired Kauai King for third. In retrospect, it can be surmised that the Derby-Preakness winner was not a true 1½ mile horse. This was the first classic winner for owner Reginald Webster and trainer Lucien Laurin (it would not be Laurin’s last as Riva Ridge accomplished the Derby-Belmont double in 1972, and the immortal Secretariat won the Triple Crown in 1973). Veteran jockey William Boland had his second Belmont. (He had won both the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes with Middleground in 1950.) With the Triple Crown races over, it can be succinctly said that the rest of the year belonged to Buckpasser.   

                                                                     

Amberoid after the 1966 Belmont Stakes
(The Blood-Horse)

Similar to the 1963 Belmont Stakes, the 1967 edition was billed as the deciding classic between Proud Clarion and Damascus, victors, respectively, of the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. In reality, the Belmont was thought to be the validation of Damascus’ championship credentials. The bay son of Sword Dancer trained by “The Fox of Laurel” Frank Whiteley Jr., was the strong favorite for the Derby, but he was somewhat unsettled by the large Churchill Downs crowd and could only finish third. With the use of a pacemaker, Damascus made amends with a powerful rally to win the Preakness Stakes with Proud Clarion finishing well back in third place.

Another entry in the Belmont field was the previous year’s Canadian two year-old champion Cool Reception who took the lead early and set steady fractions. Damascus, under regular rider William Shoemaker, not as far back as he was in the Preakness, gradually made progress to be a contender at the top of the stretch. Unlike the Preakness, Proud Clarion, made the first move to challenge the leader, but Cool Reception resolutely turned the Derby winner back. However, his was unable to withstand Damascus’ surge who powered past him to win by 2½ lengths. Cool Reception fractured his right front cannon bone during the stretch and sadly had to be euthanized the next day when he re-broke the bone in his stall. Gentleman James finished ½ length behind the gallant Cool Reception, and Proud Clarion was a length back in fourth. Damascus’ owner, Edith W. Bancroft, was the daughter of William Woodward Sr. whose Nashua won the Belmont in 1955. William Shoemaker, in Damascus, was riding his fourth Belmont Stakes winner. (He would win the race again in 1975 with Avatar.)    

Damascus winning the 1967 Belmont Stakes
(racingpost.com)

With his two classics victories, Damascus, could lay claim to the pro-tem leadership of the three year-old male division. He would settle that issue and win Horse of the Year honors with a spectacular win in the fall in the Woodward Stakes against arch rival Dr. Fager and the mighty Buckpasser.

In June 1968, the refurbished Belmont Park, in its elegant leafy park-like setting, had reopened and staged a glorious 100^th renewal of the Belmont Stakes (it had been not run 1911 and 1912). If this latest project at re-building Belmont Park comes to fruition, it would be curious to see how successful the third jewel of the Triple Crown will be staged at the more utilitarian designed Aqueduct and how long it will be until it is returned to his rightful venue.

The Arc and the Breeders' Cup: A Bridge (Across the Pond) Too Far?

The Arc and the Breeders’ Cup

A Bridge (Across the Pond) Too Far?

Joseph Di Rienzi

The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, run on the first Sunday in October usually at Hippodrome Longchamp just outside Paris, France, is one of the premier races in the world and certainly the centerpiece of the French racing season. This 1½ mile contest on grass at weight for age with a female sex allowance is open to thoroughbreds three years and older and consistently draws the best horses of a particular year from France, Ireland, England, Germany and sometimes even Japan. Winning the Arc is tantamount to being hailed a European champion. Since the Breeders’ Cup events were begun in the United States in 1984 and the organization that runs them (the Breeders’ Cup Limited) self-proclaimed its races to be “The World Thoroughbred Championships”, there has been a temptation on the part of the connections of an Arc winner to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and showcase their horse’s superiority before an American audience. The timing is suitable with the Arc typically run three or four weeks before Breeders’ Cup Day. However, to date no racehorse who has won the Arc has been able in the same year to follow that triumph with a win in a Breeders’ Cup race. This precedent will be sorely tested in 2018 if the mighty filly Enable, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe heroine in 2017 and 2018, is entered in the Breeders’ Cup.

The most logical Breeders’ Cup race for an Arc victor to compete in is the Breeders’ Cup Turf run under the same 1½ mile conditions. The first Arc winner to come to America and attempt to complete the double in the same year was Khalid Abdullah’s Dancing Brave in 1986 when the Breeders’ Cup was staged at Santa Anita Park. Dancing Brave was widely regarded as one of the best horses to race in Europe in the previous 30 years. Brilliant in winning the 2000 Guineas Stakes and the King George and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Dancing Brave’s only lost coming into the Breeders’ Cup Turf was a fast closing second in the Epsom Derby. The Juddmonte Farms’ color bearer (nom de course for Khalid Abdullah) put an exclamation point on his European campaign with a scintillating victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Arrayed against Dancing Brave in the 9 horse Breeders’ Cup Turf field included the soon to be U. S. champion mare Estrapade, international racehorse Theatrical and Bradley M. Shannon’s American three year-old turf star Manila.

  

With his soaring reputation, Dancing Brave went to the post as the 1-2 betting favorite. However, there were some dark clouds. The travel from England to California is always arduous, and the change in climate could be unsettling. Dancing Brave’s trainer, Guy Harwood, also noticed his star colt had lost some weight, never a good sign. As expected, Estrapade bounded to the front setting sensible fractions for the 1½ mile race with Theatrical tracking 2 lengths behind. Manila was fourth, and Dancing Brave was back in seventh place around the second turn. Theatrical drew alongside of Estrapade around the stretch turn, as Dancing Brave made a threatening move to reach fourth place only to flatten out in the final drive. Manila, who was just behind the leading pair as they straightened out for the stretch, had to alter course and swing wide around both Estrapade and Theatrical. Just before the finish it looked like Theatrical had the race won, but Manila showing the resolution of a champion closed suddenly to win by an outstretched neck. Theatrical was 3¾ lengths in front of Estrapade who kept third by 2¾ lengths ahead of an “over the top” Dancing Brave.

The very next year another Arc winner tried to complete the Arc-Breeders’ Cup Turf double. This year’s representative was Paul De Moussac and Summa Stable’s Kentucky bred but French raced bright chestnut Trempolino who was a smashing winner at Longchamp. The venue for the 1987 Breeders’ Cup races had stayed in California but moved to Hollywood Park.  However, Trempolino who did not have as imposing a reputation as Dancing Brave faced a stern rival in Theatrical owned jointly by Bert Firestone and Allen Paulson. A close second in last year’s Turf, Theatrical was having a championship year racing in the U. S. winning several major turf races. To most people’s expectations this year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf was decided between the two favorites - Theatrical and Trempolino. Pat Day on Theatrical had his mount forwardly placed early and when the challenge came from the French runner, Day had made sure he saved some of Theatrical’s strength for the finish. In a rousing stretch battle, Theatrical prevailed by a ½ length over Trempolino, his closing rally somewhat muted by slow middle fractions.

                      Trempolino (left) and Theatrical in 1987 Breeders’ Cup Turf                   
 (bloodhorse.com)

Three years later (1990) the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Belmont Park was populated by European horses, some of which had already won major races in North America. However, the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor, Bruce McNall and hockey star Wayne Gretzy’s Saumarez, was just coming off an upset win in Europe’s premier race. Perhaps knowing that no Arc winner had ever won the Breeders’ Cup Turf, favoritism went to the Andre Fabre trained entry of In the Wings and French Glory, the former a multiple major winner in Europe and the latter recent victor of the Rothmann International in Canada. North America’s best hopes appeared to be El Senor and the Canadian bred, but mostly U. S. raced With Approval.

The Turf was its usual exciting race with With Approval making a bold move around the turn to take the lead whereas, In the Wings, under jockey Gary Stevens, waited until the stretch run to make his rally. In a protracted duel, In the Wings wore down the game With Approval to win by a ½ length with El Senor closing to finish third, another 1½ lengths behind. Saumarez was rank early and, after being wrestled back by his rider, was forced to steady around the far turn and could finish no better than fifth place. The winner owned by Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum, a son of super European sire Sadler’s Wells, had finished a closing fourth in the Arc, demonstrating that running in the Arc does not prevent a horse from winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf, just as long as he/she does not win the Arc. 

In 1992 the Breeders’ Cup was held at Gulfstream Park in Florida, and that year the Breeders’ Cup Turf had an extremely accomplished 10 horse field. In addition to the leading North American turf horse, Sky Classic, there were two English Derby winners (Dr. Devious (1992) and Quest For Fame (1990)), and the year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner, Oliver Lecerf and Paul de Moussac’s Subotica. Strong American based runners such as Navarone, Solar Splendor and Madeleine Paulson’s Fraise made it a challenging race to analyze. The public, however made Sky Classic the strong favorite, and the five year-old ran his trademark strong race. However, it was Fraise, who slipped through on the rail closing from last place to nip Sky Classic at the finish by a nose. Third, 2 lengths behind was Quest For Fame with Dr. Devious in fourth place and Subotica, maintaining the dubious tradition of no Arc champion winning the Turf in the same year, finished fifth.

It was nine years later (2001) that another horse would try to break the precedent, but this time it was a little different. Just 12 miles from the then recent devastating terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Belmont Park was a poignant venue for the 18^th Breeders’ Cup. The question leading up to the Breeders’ Cup Turf was who of Godolphin Racing’s pre-entered contenders, Fantastic Light and Sakhee, would run in the Turf and who would run on dirt in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Five year-old Fantastic Light had raced worldwide the past two years running in five different countries. He was fifth in last year’s Turf, but in 2001 he had won three group I races in Europe including in his most recent start an upset victory over previously unbeaten Galileo in the Irish Champion Stakes. His stablemate, four year-old Sakhee, had, until recently, a more modest resume. However, he had accomplished two runaway wins in his most recent starts, the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. Up until final entry time it was thought the Godolphin Racing team would enter Fantastic Light in the Classic and Sakhee in the Turf, but when entries were taking their positions were reversed.

Fantastic Light did his part in winning the Turf, but Arc victor Sakhee appeared to have a more arduous task racing on the dirt at 1¼ miles against top American competition.  In the 13 horse field was last year’s winner and 2000 Horse of the Year, Cees Stable’s Tiznow. Also entered, was Belmont Park loving Albert the Great, 2000 Two Year-old Champion, Macho Uno, and top older horse Aptitude. The internationals were headed by Mrs. John Magnier and Michael Tabor’s Galileo who had been an unbeaten English and Irish Derby winner until upset in his previous start by Fantastic Light.

As the Classic field left the starting gate along the Belmont Park clubhouse turn, longshot Orientate went right to the lead from his no. 1 post. Albert the Great quickly went up to challenge followed by Tiznow under a strong hold from Chris McCarron. Galileo was drafting in a forward position with Sakhee tracking just behind him on the outside. As the field swept around the Belmont far turn, Albert the Great had a length lead followed by Tiznow and longshot Guided Tour. Jockey Frankie Dettori sent Sakhee to the leaders on the outside as Galileo fell behind. Aptitude made a bid from well back, but after going very wide around the far turn, faltered in the drive. At the top of the stretch, it was Albert the Great, Tiznow and Sakhee with the last named seemingly having the most momentum. McCarron urged Tiznow to respond, and the massive son of Cee’s Tizzy fought back as only the very best can and regained the lead just before the finish. In an epic duel, Tiznow prevailed by a nose over Sakhee in mutually tremendous performances. With the Classic run in the shadows of 9/11, announcer Tom Durkin could be excused some patriotic zeal when he exclaimed, “Tiznow wins it for America”. Finishing third, 1¾ lengths behind was Albert the Great who was 2¾ lengths ahead of Macho Uno. Galileo, in his last start before embarking on breeding immortality, was sixth, and Aptitude finished a disappointing eighth.

                                                                             

Sahkee (left) and Tiznow in 2001 Breeders’ Cup Classic
(bloodhorse.com)

                                                      

In 2007 the Breeders’ Cup was held at Monmouth Park in Oceanside, N. J. The Turf had only an 8 horse field, but in the entries were two former winners, Red Rocks (2006) and Better Talk Now (2004), and this year’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor, Dylan Thomas. The last mentioned, a son of Danehill, had a championship season in Europe winning, in addition to the Arc, the Prix Ganay, King George VI & Queen Elizabeth and the Irish Champion Stakes. However, there was a factor weighing against the Michael Tabor and Mrs. John Magnier owned, Aidan O’Brien trainee. Monmouth Park was inundated by rain before and during the Breeders’ Cup’s now two days, rendering the turf course soft. Dylan Thomas’ large frame suggested an aversion to very soggy turf surfaces. The chief U. S. contender was James Scaturochio’s English Channel. The now five year-old son of Smart Strike was competing in the Turf for the third time; his previous efforts in 2005 and 2006 resulted in fifth and third place finishes, respectively. However, the Todd Pletcher trainee was having his best year in 2007. Dylan Thomas was made the odds-on favorite, but after racing between horses early, he failed to mount a serious threat in finishing fifth. Instead, it was second choice, English Channel, ridden by John Velazquez that dominated the race, winning by 7 lengths. 

The two latest attempts to complete the Arc – Breeders’ Cup double in the same year were Anthony Oppenheimer’s Golden Horn and Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s Found. The former, a John Gosden trained three year-old had, excuse the pun, “a golden year” in 2015 winning among other races the English Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. His participation in the Arc was uncertain until just days before when it was determined that the Longchamp turf course would be firm enough for him. However, when Golden Horn crossed the Atlantic to run in the Breeders’ Cup Turf held at Churchill Downs in 2015, the footing was on the soft side. Golden Horn give the race his best effort, but he was overtaken in the stretch by the three year-old filly Found and lost by a ½ length. The winner, who had finished ninth in the Arc was a three year-old daughter of Galileo owned by the Coolmore partnership identified above and trained by Aidan O’Brien. Found gets special mention because the following year (2016) she would lead a 1-2-3 Coolmore owned sweep in the Arc, making her the only horse who has won the Arc and a Breeders’ Cup race (although not in the same year). Her connections tried to go one step further in running her back in the Turf in 2016, but she could only finish third to stablemate Highland Reel.

   

                                                                                 

Found (middle) and Golden Horn (right) in 2015 Breeders’ Cup Turf
(EquSports Photos Wendy Wooley)

In addition to the 8 horses discussed above who attempted to win a Breeders’ Cup race in the same year they accomplished their Arc victory, there were others who tried to win a race on Breeders’ Cup day in the year following their Arc triumph. In 1984, in the very first Breeders’ Cup, the mare All Along, Arc victress in 1983, ran in the inaugural Breeders’ Cup Turf. She had run third trying a repeat in the Arc and finished a close second in the Turf. In 1995, Carnegie, the previous year’s Arc champion, followed a sixth place finish in the Arc with a third in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. The year 2000 found the grand racehorse Montjeu, Arc victor in 1999, ending his racing career with an ingloriously seventh place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Turf. (He had been upset when finishing fourth in the year’s Arc.). French bred Bago had won the Prix de l’Arc Triomphe in 2004, but could only finish third the following year. Sent to the U. S. for the 2005 Breeders’ Cup Turf, he could only muster a fourth place finish. Finally, in 2006 Hurricane Run followed the racing path of his sire, Montjeu, in winning the Arc (in 2005), losing it the following year (finishing third) and then concluding his career with an unplacing (sixth) in the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

In this compendium of Arc winners who were not able to win a Breeders’ Cup race, I will add Workforce with an asterisk. The Khalid Abdullah owned colt had won the Arc in 2010 and was entered in the Breeders’ Cup Turf run that year at Churchill Downs. However, on the morning of the race, Workforce’s trainer Sir Michael Stoute withdrew him due to the conditions (too firm) of the turf course.  

As detailed above, history is against Enable in her attempt to complete the Arc – Breeders’ Cup double. But owner Khalid Abdullah and trainer John Gosden believe in their filly and are sporting enough to try to create an enduring legacy for their great champion.

                                                                               

Enable
(telegraph.co.uk)

                               

Seattle Slew vs. Affirmed: Duels of the Triple Crown Winners

Seattle Slew vs. Affirmed
Duels of the Triple Crown Winners

Joseph Di Rienzi

With American Pharoah (in 2015) and Justify (in 2018) each having won the American Triple Crown series of races (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes), the occurrence of such an accomplishment is no longer such a rarity. Unique in American racing annals was the concurrence 40 years ago in 1978 of two Triple Crown winners racing against each other. At the fall Belmont Park meet, Seattle Slew, who swept through the Triple Crown undefeated in the previous year, faced the current Triple Crown hero in Affirmed.

The two champions took divergent paths to what would be their first rendezvous - the 9 furlong Marlboro Cup on September 16. Harbor View Farm’s Affirmed was coming off a dramatic series of duels with his arch rival Alydar whom Affirmed had bested narrowly in each of the classics. In his latest effort in August at Saratoga in the Travers Stakes, Affirmed again finished in front of Alydar, however he was disqualified and placed second behind the latter when his substitute rider, Laffit Pincay Jr., caused Affirmed to block Alydar’s path in the run down the backstretch. (Alydar was also scheduled to compete in the Marlboro, but he suffered an injury that forced him to miss racing the rest of the year.)

Seattle Slew’s path to his meeting with Affirmed was much less straight forward. After losing his undefeated status in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park in July 1977, the Tayhill Stable colt did not race the remainder of the year. When he returned as a four year-old in 1978, Seattle Slew had a new trainer in Doug Peterson (replacing Billy Turner Jr.), and, by the time he ran in the Marlboro Cup, Seattle Slew had a new rider in Angel Cordero Jr. (replacing Jean Cruguet). With only two minor sprint wins and a recent defeat by the previously unheralded Dr. Patches in the 9 furlong Patterson Handicap at the Meadowlands Racetrack, there were questions about whether Seattle Slew had retained his 1977 Triple Crown form. The reality is that Seattle Slew had not raced further than 7 furlongs in over 14 months, and the effort in the Patterson was all he needed to show his best, moving forward.

Under the handicap conditions of the Marlboro, Seattle Slew was the actual top weight at 128 lb., but Affirmed was, at 124 lb., actually rated higher considering his younger age allowance. Others in the quality laden field were Cox’s Ridge, Nasty and Bold, Upper Nile and Darby Creek Road.  A key withdrawal on race day was Sensitive Prince who could have provided a strong pace presence. The betting public strongly favored the current Triple Crown winner over the previous year’s victor. However, they did not figure on the racing adage that “pace makes the race”, especially if the pace setter is a Triple Crown winner. As the compact field came out of the starting gate, Angel Cordero had the headstrong Seattle Slew pounce right to the lead. Steve Cauthen, back riding Affirmed, took hold almost immediately being content to let “Slew” have an uncontested lead. Setting moderate fractions for the first part of the race, Seattle Slew had the race won after a ½ mile. When Affirmed tried to mount a challenge around the turn, Cordero urged Slew to run enough to maintain a 3 length lead he carried to the finish. Nasty and Bold finished third, 5 lengths further back. The time was only 2/5 of a second slower than Secretariat’s track record. After this performance, no one could doubt that Seattle Slew was back at his brilliant best.

                                                        

                                                                           

1978 Marlboro Cup
(bloodhorse.com)

     

Two weeks later, Belmont Park offered the 1¼ mile Woodward Stakes at weight for age conditions. Affirmed’s connections decided to sit this race out, conserving the horse for what they presumed would be the climatic race in the series – the 1½ mile Jockey Club Gold Cup. Seattle Slew was the prohibitive favorite in the five horse field, but he faced a worthy competitor in Nelson Bunker Hunt’s five year-old Exceller, a major winner in both Europe and America, who had shipped in from California. Again the absence of pace pressure allowed Seattle Slew to cruise on the lead early. Bill Shoemaker riding Exceller made an early move to press after a ¼ mile, but Cordero let Slew spurt ahead by open lengths which he maintained setting faster fractions. Around the turn, Exceller tried to challenge again, but Seattle Slew was urged on, and at the finish he was 4 lengths ahead. Exceller, in a strong effort considering he was racing out of his usual come from behind style, was nearly 7 lengths in front of third finishing It’s Freezing. The time was a new track record for the race which was now started on the far turn at Belmont.

The Jockey Club Gold Cup (also run under weight for age conditions) on October 14 brought together again the two Triple Crown winners. In addition, Exceller, a previous Gold Cup winner (Great Contractor) and two others were in the field. This was truly “a race for the ages”, that no short synopsis could do it justice. Affirmed’s trainer Laz Barrera entered a “rabbit”, Life’s Hope, to run with Seattle Slew early, trying to prevent what happened in both the Marlboro and Woodward. However, nobody told Life’s Hope’s stablemate Affirmed not to be competitive. On a sloppy racetrack, Seattle Slew, Affirmed and Life’s Hope all went charging for the lead. Setting unreasonably fast fractions, the trio blazed down the backstretch. Life’s Hope was the first to drop back, and then soon after Affirmed lost contact with Seattle Slew due to Cauthen’s saddle slipping under the rider. While this drama was happening on the front end, Exceller some 20 lengths away was getting the fast pace he needed for his explosive charge. Exceller closed spectacularly around the sweeping final turn along the inside to stick his head in front of Seattle Slew as they headed into the stretch. But, Seattle Slew, displaying the courage and determination which only the greatest thoroughbreds have, fought back, and the two battled tenaciously to the finish. Exceller’s nose reached the wire first, but in many ways Seattle Slew was the race’s “victor”. Some 14½ lengths back came Great Contractor, and Affirmed, who lost all chance with the equipment malfunction, finished fifth in a singular career out of the money performance.

                                                     

                                                              

1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup
(NYRA photo by Bob Coglianese)

                                                                                                                  

In the aftermath of these three races at Belmont Park, championship awards were hotly debated. Affirmed was clearly the three year-old champion, but was he horse of the year after losing his last three races? In the older horse division, Seattle Slew and Exceller exchanged victories in the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup, respectively, so who should be given the title?  Affirmed did not race the rest of year, but Seattle Slew, in a race to burnish his championship credentials, won the 9 furlong Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct carrying 134 lb. against token opposition. Exceller capped off his year with a victory in the Oak Tree Invitational Stakes on grass at Santa Anita. In the year end voting for the Eclipse Awards, Seattle Slew was Champion Older Male and Affirmed Champion Male Three Year-old and despite his late season losses, but by virtue of winning the Triple Crown in the current year, he was also voted Horse of the Year. (In what surely seems, in retrospect, a glaring omission, Exceller, the only horse in history to defeat two Triple Crown winners in the same race, was not accorded any championship.)

Seattle Slew retired at the end of 1978 to begin an illustrious stud career. Affirmed raced through 1979, and, after a couple of early losses, regained his best form to finish the year with a flourish and repeat as Horse of the Year. With the tendency to retire Triple Crown winners at the end of their sophomore year as evident by the respective campaigns of American Pharoah and Justify, it is unlikely there would be an older Triple Crown winner still in training to face the current year’s hero. So the meetings 40 years ago between Seattle Slew and Affirmed, may very well stand as landmark events in the history of thoroughbred racing in the United States.

The Battles Between the Buddies

The Battles Between The Buddies

Joseph Di Rienzi

In the aftermath of Good Magic’s recent victory in the Haskell Invitational Stakes at Monmouth Park in Oceanside, N J, the memory drifts back 30 years when another former two year-old champion, Forty Niner, who, just as Good Magic, finished second in his year’s Kentucky Derby (and, also ran unplaced in the Preakness Stakes) came back to win the Haskell. Unlike his modern facsimile, Forty Niner faced a severe challenge in the Haskell from a colt he literally grew up with – Seeking the Gold. The two would continue their close encounters in the Travers Stakes at Saratoga and provide a set of vivid summer memories of what exemplifies the thoroughbred – speed, stamina and the unwavering will to win.

Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold had much in common. Both were foaled and had their early training at historic Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY. Their respective owners, Claiborne and Ogden Phipps, had a long mutually beneficial relationship in that the Phipps family used the services of many of the Claiborne stallions, and their best colts were, in general, retired to stud at Claiborne. The “buddies” were related in blood in that both were sired by the Claiborne stallion, Mr. Prospector. Forty Niner was a bright colored chestnut, smallish in size but very well conformed out of File. The mare was descended from a foundation Claiborne family that included double classic winner and champion, Swale. On the other hand, Ogden Phipps’ Seeking the Gold was an elegant bay out of the Buckpasser mare, Con Game, from the female of champion Queen of the Stage and major runner Reviewer (sire of the immortal Ruffian). The two colts would have outstanding conditioners in Woody Stephens for Forty Niner and Shug McGaughey tightening the reins on Seeking the Gold. It is not hard to imagine them as weanlings frolicking together in the lush open pastures of Claiborne.

Forty Niner was the more precocious, beginning his career in a 6 furlong maiden race at Belmont Park in July 1987 which he promptly won by 3¼ lengths. By year’s end, he had convinced enough voters to receive the Eclipse Award for Champion Two Year-old Male Horse winning 5 of 6 starts including the Sanford, Futurity (at Belmont Park), Champagne, and Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (at Keeneland Racetrack). In the Breeders’ Futurity, Forty Niner, in his first start beyond a mile, showed determination in responding to a challenge and holding on grimly to prevail by a nose. Seeking the Gold did not make his first start until December 26, 1987 at Hialeah Park, but in winning the 6 furlong maiden race by 12 lengths in fast time, he immediately became a colt to watch.

Before their duels in the Haskell and the Travers, Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold had raced together once before. That was in the 1988 Kentucky Derby. They took divergent paths to the Run for the Roses. Forty Niner raced at Gulfstream Park over the winter, winning the Fountain of Youth Stakes but had second place finishes both before and after in the Hutcheson Stakes and the Florida Derby, respectively. Seeking the Gold also raced at Gulfstream Park winning three sprint races after his maiden victory including the Swale Stakes.

Shug McGaughey then shipped Seeking the Gold to New York to run in the traditional Derby prep races – the Gotham and Wood Memorial Stakes (both at Aqueduct Racetrack). In doing so, Seeking the Gold faced another undefeated colt raised at Claiborne Farm in Private Terms who had run his winning string to 5 racing exclusively in Maryland. Both Private Terms and Seeking the Gold’s owners shared similar bloodlines because Mrs. Stuart Janney Jr., co-owner (with her husband) of the former was the sister of Ogden Phipps, owner of Seeking the Gold. In addition, both Private Term’s sire (Private Account) and broodmare sire (Bold Ruler) were Phipps family raced homebreds. In both the Gotham and the Wood, Private Terms prevailed with Seeking the Gold having to settle for second each time. Now 7 for 7, Private Terms was sent to Kentucky as the Derby co-favorite. Forty Niner had returned to Kentucky for his final preps. He won the 7 furlong Lafayette Stakes at Keeneland by 5 lengths and then finished second in the Lexington Stakes by a head to Risen Star, a lanky colt sired by Secretariat (a Claiborne stallion), failing to concede him 3 lb. in the 8½ furlong race.

In the Kentucky Derby, none of the aforementioned colts emerged the victor. Instead it was the speckled gray filly, Winning Colors, who held off the belated charge of Forty Niner to win by a diminishing neck. Risen Star was 3 lengths further back in third place. Seeking the Gold, prominent around the stretch turn, faded to seventh, and Private Terms finished a disappointing ninth.

The Preakness and Belmont Stakes belonged to Risen Star. In the Preakness, Woody Stephens instructed Forty Niner’s jockey Pat Day to deny Winning Colors the easy lead she enjoyed in the Derby, and as a result of the pace duel, they both tired setting the race up for the rallying Risen Star. At the finish, the big colt won by 2 lengths over Brian’s Time with Winning Colors holding on for third place and Forty Niner retreating to seventh. The Belmont Stakes, absent Forty Niner, who was given a freshening off his subpar Preakness effort, was a matchup of the Kentucky Derby heroine (Winning Colors) and the Preakness hero (Risen Star). Seeking the Gold, who had skipped the Preakness, had won the traditional Belmont Stakes prep, the 9 furlong Peter Pan Stakes, but McGaughey felt his colt was not ready for the demanding 1½ mile Belmont Stakes distance. In a tour de force, Risen Star romped in the Belmont, doing a reasonably good imitation of his father, Secretariat, in galloping home by 14¾ lengths in a time second only to his immortal sire’s Belmont track record. Winning Colors, showing the rigors of the Triple Crown series, finished sixth and last. The winner’s circle celebration was somewhat muted in that Risen Star was suffering from a swelling in his ankle that would lead to his retirement.   

Both Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold picked up the proverbial mantel of the fallen Risen Star as they approached the major summer races for sophomores. Seeking the Gold won the Dwyer Stakes at Belmont Park, whereas, Forty Niner, under jockey Julie Krone, showcased his speed in a 1 mile allowance race at Monmouth Park erasing the track record in winning by 7¼ lengths.

The 9 furlong Haskell had a field of five headed by co-top weighted Forty Niner at 126 lb. Carrying the same weight was Private Terms who returned after his fourth place finish in the Preakness with a 7 length win in the Governor’s Handicap at Pimlico. Pat Day who rode Forty Niner in the first two classics chose to ride Seeking the Gold (125 lb.) in the Haskell. As on other occasions, Woody Stephens dialed the West Coast, and Laffit Pincay made the cross country trip to ride Forty Niner.

At the start, Forty Niner broke fastest, closely followed by Seeking the Gold. However, as they approached the clubhouse turn, longshot Teddy Drone was driven by Julie Krone between Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold to grab the lead. In doing so, Krone’s mount bumped Seeking the Gold off stride causing him briefly to lose position. As the field headed down the backstretch, first Forty Niner then Seeking the Gold cruised past a tired Teddy Drone. As the two sons of Mr. Prospector raced head and head around the far turn, Primal and Private Terms mounted their challenges in tandem. However, once the field straightened out for the stretch drive, it was clear the race was between Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold. It appeared that Seeking the Gold would gain the advantage, but Forty Niner was unyielding under Pincay’s urging. At the finish, it was Forty Niner’s nose in front of Seeking the Gold in stellar performances from both in near track record time. Four lengths back was Primal, ½ length in front of Private Terms.

                                                 

The 1988 Haskell Invitational Stakes
(youtube.com)

                                                                

The Travers Stakes had the Haskell dynamic duo re-matched, but in addition, Brian’s Time, fresh off a 5½ length victory in the Jim Dandy Stakes, posed a major threat. The rest of the field consisted of Kingpost, Dynaformer, and Evening Kris. Forty Niner was ridden by Chris McCarron substituting for an injured Laffit Pincay. The bettors made Brian’s Time the favorite over the buddies, reasoning that the son of Roberto would be superior at the 1¼ mile distance. However, they may have not reckoned with a dawdling pace that would blunt his closing charge. Seeking the Gold broke first, but by the time the field straightened out for the run along the backstretch, Forty Niner had wrested command followed closely by Dynaformer. Brian’s Time made a menacing move around the stretch turn as Seeking the Gold had dropped back to fourth on the inside. At the top of the stretch, Chris McCarron urged Forty Niner, and he quickly opened up on the field. Pat Day eased Seeking the Gold off the rail and took up the chase along with Brian’s Time. In another pulsating finish, Seeking the Gold got to Forty Niner but could not pass him going down again by a nose. Brian’s Time in a strong effort against the slow early pace finished ¾ of length behind in third place.

                                                                           

The 1988 Travers Stakes
(youtube.com)

                                                               

The buddies would face each other once again in the climactic Breeders’ Cup Classic run in 1988 at Churchill Downs. They would take different routes to Louisville. Forty Niner raced twice in New York finishing a strong second (beaten a neck) to leading older horse Alysheba in the Woodward Handicap at Belmont, and then won the inaugural NYRA Mile at Aqueduct under unheralded jockey William Fox Jr. (A jockey’s strike in New York necessitated substitute riders for all horses running that day.) Seeking the Gold had his penultimate race in the Super Derby at Louisiana Downs with a deceptively easy neck victory.

As night was falling on a sloppy Churchill Downs surface, Alysheba ruled the solid post time favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Seth Hancock, President of Claiborne Farm, still annoyed over the jockeys’ strike at Aqueduct, chose Julie Krone over Laffit Pincay as Forty Niner’s rider, a decision that would come back to haunt him. In the Phipps Stable camp, there was growing confidence that Seeking the Gold was prepared to run his best race.

In the early part of the Classic, Alysheba, under regular rider Chris McCarron, was in fourth place with Forty Niner just to his inside. Alysheba launched his rally as the field approached the far turn. As Forty Niner was moving with him, suddenly Julie Krone lost control, and the Mr. Prospector colt dropped back to last place. (Krone reported post-race that she felt her mount had stumbled in the deep going on the inside.) At the top of the stretch, several runners were in contention, but the strongest were Alysheba and Seeking the Gold who had rallied outside of everybody. For an instance, it looked as if Seeking the Gold would gain the advantage, but Alysheba, resolute, held the younger rival’s surge at bay and finished ½ length in front. Forty Niner closing gamely from his setback along the turn, finished fourth in a performance that should have had him closer. The impact of the race meant Eclipse Awards for Alysheba for both Older Male and Horse of the Year. With no sophomore winning the Classic, the Three Year-old Male Championship went to Risen Star who never raced again after his Belmont Stakes triumph.

Forty Niner was retired at the end of 1988 and initially stood stud at his home at Claiborne Farm. Seeking the Gold raced briefly as a four year-old in 1989 winning an allowance and losing the Metropolitan Handicap by a nose. Subsequently, it was discovered Seeking the Gold suffered an injury in the Met Mile forcing his retirement to Claiborne Farm joining his buddy, Forty Niner.

Both Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold were influential sires. The former produced several major stakes winners including Editor’s Note (a Belmont Stakes winner), Coronado’s Quest, and Marley Vale. In a surprise, Claiborne Farm who bred, raised, and raced Forty Niner, sold him in 1995 to a Japanese stud farm depriving U. S. racing of a good source of class and speed. Fortunately, his son Distorted Humor has been a significant influence to this very day in American racing siring champions and classic winners. Even more successful than Forty Niner was his buddy Seeking the Gold. He sired champions Flanders and Heavenly Prize (2018 National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame inductee), Belmont Stakes winner Jazil, European superhorse Dubai Millennium, and several major winners including Seeking the Pearl, Cash Run, and Pleasant Home. Dubai Millennium who is often cited as the best horse ever raced by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum, died tragically after only one year in stud. However, he did sire Irish classic winner Dubawi who is one of the predominant stallions in the world today. At this writing, Forty Niner is still alive (in Japan), but Seeking the Gold passed away in 2016.

So after 30 years, the memory of Forty Niner and Seeking the Gold, two exquisitely bred, former barn mates, charging down the stretch at Monmouth Park and Saratoga remains vivid. These two friendly rivals bred and owned by pillars of the American racing gave us in the summer of 1988 examples of the best in the thoroughbred breed.