Best Horses Not to Win a Championship Series: Alydar, Part II

Best Horses Not to Win a Championship Series
Number 1, part II: Alydar

Joseph Di Rienzi

       

This is a continuation of the final entry in my series on the careers of the best horses not to win a championship. This installment follows the racing career of my number 1 equine, Alydar, as he competed in the Triple Crown Series of 1978 through the conclusion of his racing career.

As the Kentucky Derby of 1978 drew near, most of the pre-Derby speculation involved Alydar and Affirmed. The Calumet Farm horse appeared the more impressive in his three-year-old races, and there was a good deal of sentiment for his owners and the stable’s Derby legacy (eight official victories). On the other hand, people remembered the tenacity of Affirmed and his unwillingness to give ground in deep stretch to Alydar in several races the previous year. Affirmed was the perfect racehorse who could be placed anywhere in a race, whereas Alydar’s strong suit was a devastating rally from behind. In addition, Affirmed’s 18 year-old rider, Steve Cauthen seemed other-worldly in his uncanny ability to win races. Others given a chance were Believe It and the undefeated Sensitive Prince.

Eleven horses went to post on a clear day under ideal track conditions. Alydar was the 6/5-1 favorite with Affirmed at 9/5-1 odds. On paper, the race shape seemed to favor Alydar. Both Sensitive Prince and Raymond Earl were committed front runners. Affirmed, who had raced on the lead in all his three-year-old starts so far, could be caught up in a pace duel that would make him vulnerable to Alydar’s rally as happened in the Champagne Stakes in 1977. Raymond Earl did go to the lead, and he was joined by Sensitive Prince on the clubhouse turn who refused his jockey’s efforts to ration his speed. Affirmed, on the other hand rated kindly under Cauthen’s control several lengths back in third. With Believe It tracking Affirmed in fourth and Alydar in ninth place some 17 lengths back, Sensitive Prince spurted to a 3 length lead down the backstretch. As the field approached the far turn, Affirmed was gradually moving to the lead when Believe It made a bold move on the outside. Believe It’s surge carried him to a neck advantage over Affirmed as the field rounded the far turn. As they straightened out for the stretch run, Affirmed repulsed Believe It’s challenge, as Cauthen braced for Alydar’s charge. The Calumet colt did launch his move around the far turn but was unable to make up any ground until the last 70 yards, when he closed to within 1½ lengths of Affirmed. Believe It, in a strong performance, finished 1¼ lengths behind Alydar for third. Darby Creek Road ran an even race to be fourth, some 4 lengths behind. The final time was good, and everything about the race seemed genuine.

For Louis Wolfson and his wife Patrice Jacobs Wolfson, this was, at the time, a culminating event. Over the years, the many good horses raced by both Harbor View Farm and the Jacobs family had won important races, but this was their first Derby. Trainer Laz Barrera was celebrating his second having won the Run for the Roses with Bold Forbes in 1976. As for young Steve Cauthen, he approached this milestone with the same even temperament he responded to all the other accomplishments in his meteoric career. Affirmed was once again the leader of his generation, but Alydar’s connections were undaunted and ready to challenge him again in two weeks in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack.

The “Middle Jewel” drew seven entrants including the first three finishers in the Kentucky Derby. Affirmed was now the strong favorite to win again. Alydar’s race in the Derby was scrutinized heavily. Why was he so far back in the early running? Criticism rested on his jockey Jorge Velasquez, who in his defense claimed Alydar never felt comfortable on the Churchill Downs Racetrack. Trainer John Veitch, to his credit, blamed himself for not giving his charge a strong workout over the course. He sharpened Alydar with a powerful 6 furlong work during Preakness Week. Unlike the Derby, the pace scenario favored Affirmed as the only legitimate early speed. Longshot Track Reward took a brief lead down the stretch the first time, but down the backstretch Cauthen put Affirmed on the lead setting sensible fractions. Believe It raced in third place a few lengths back with Alydar in sixth. Velasquez sent Alydar up to challenge around the far turn, and he made a long loping run to be right outside of Affirmed as they headed into the stretch. Throughout the final ¼ mile, Affirmed maintained a narrow lead, despite Alydar’s resolute efforts to overtake him. At the finish, Affirmed was a neck victor over his staunch rival who had put 7½ lengths between him and third finishing Believe It. The final time was strong, the last 3/16 of mile when the two combatants were engaged was particularly fast. With this triumph, the Harbor View Farm superstar was once step away from racing immortality. However, the connections of Alydar, sensing the horse’s resiliency were not deterred from trying again in the Belmont Stakes.

The stage was set for Affirmed to capture the coveted Triple Crown. He had bested Alydar now in 6 out of 8 contests. The small field of five assured that Affirmed would have the pace his way. Alydar had continued to train well, and he would run in the Belmont without blinkers in order to increase his competitive spirit. As expected, Affirmed settled into an easy lead with slow early fractions. Alydar was in third place around the clubhouse turn a few lengths back, when Velasquez sensing the languid pace sent his mount up after Affirmed early down the backstretch. This was completely out of this stretch runner’s modus operandi, but it was the only way his connections believed they could defeat Affirmed. Challenged, the Derby-Preakness winner immediately fought back and held a ½ length lead going around the far turn. Alydar was not through yet, for once the two leaders straightened out in the stretch, he rallied again and for a couple of strides put his head in front. Affirmed, implacable as always, fought back, regained the advantage and kept his head in front resolutely to the finish. In third place, 13 lengths back was Darby Creek Road.  All who watched this race either in person or on television were convinced they saw one of the greatest duels in thoroughbred history. Two mighty horses, unyielding, giving their best for 1½ mile. Despite the slow first half of the race, the final time was good, underlying how powerfully the embattled pair ran the last part. This was a great triumph for all Affirmed’s connections. Ten other horses had won the Triple Crown prior to Affirmed, but none had a more formidable rival than Alydar who now had the dubious distinction of being the only horse to finish second in all three classics.

Affirmed (on the right) defeating Alydar in the 1978 Belmont Stakes
 (newsday.com)

The two Triple Crown warriors continued to race over the summer of 1978. In the 1¼ mile Arlington Classic, Alydar showed his amazing constitution with an overwhelming 13 length victory over subpar opposition. Settling in at Saratoga Racetrack, John Veitch, entered his star next against older horses in the 9 furlong Whitney Stakes. With the age allowance, Alydar was high weighted at 123 lb., although the actual highweight at 128 lb. was the four-year-old speedster J. O. Tobin. The Whitney was a horse race until the field straightened out in the stretch. Three-year-old Buckaroo set the early pace with Nearly On Time in close attendance. J. O. Tobin, after breaking poorly, went up to challenge the leaders as they approached the far turn. Just as J. O. Tobin raced alongside Buckaroo, Alydar who had been well back was launching a tremendous rally along the inside. Under Jorge Velasquez, he passed the leaders in a few strides and drew out to humble the field by 10 lengths in near track record time. Buckaroo held on for second, and J. O. Tobin finished sixth.  A few days later at Saratoga, Affirmed made his first start after the Triple Crown in the 9 furlong Jim Dandy Stakes where carrying 128 lb. he faced, Sensitive Prince (119 lb.) and three others. After allowing Sensitive Prince to steal away to an 8 length lead down the backstretch, visions of the racehorse Jim Dandy upsetting Triple Crown winner Gallant Fox in the 1930 Travers came to mind. However, another upset was not to happen as Affirmed under Steve Cauthen closed resolutely and caught Sensitive Prince near the finish to win by a ½ length.

The Travers Stakes with a record Saratoga crowd was the 10^th and what would be the final meeting of Alydar and Affirmed. Despite Affirmed’s decided win margin (7-2) over his rival, Alydar’s connections were optimistic. Once again Alydar seemed to be coming into the race sharper than his rival. In addition, Affirmed’s rider, Steve Cauthen was injured and was replaced by Laffit Pincay. There were only two other horses entered. Nasty and Bold had carved out a very successful summer for himself winning in succession the American Derby and the Brooklyn Handicap against older horses. The remaining entry was Shake Shake Shake, a rank outsider, who nonetheless played a role in the Travers’ controversial result. Under Angel Cordero Jr., Shake Shake Shake took the early lead with Affirmed directly to his outside. Alydar settled initially in fourth, just to the flank of Nasty and Bold. Down the backstretch, Velasquez seized the initiative by moving Alydar abruptly to the rail, coming up the inside of Shake Shake Shake. As Shake Shake Shake dropped back, Pincay angled Affirmed toward the rail, squeezing the oncoming Alydar and forcing him to lose his action and drop back suddenly. For a moment, it appeared, Alydar had broken down, but showing extraordinary courage he came back and made a valiant effort to catch Affirmed who had vaulted to a clear lead. At the finish, Affirmed was 1¾ lengths ahead of Alydar with Nasty and Bold some 3¾ lengths further back in third. The blinking lights on the tote board started flashing “Inquiry”, and, after some deliberation, the stewards justly disqualified Affirmed for interference and declared Alydar the official Travers winner. The result satisfied no one. The Harbor View Farm group, and especially, Laz Barrera were upset. There were accusations of a conspiracy between Angel Cordero on Shake Shake Shake and Velasquez on Alydar against Affirmed.  On the other hand, Alydar’s connections were convinced their colt was in a position to win the race when Affirmed cut their horse off depriving Alydar of a true victory.

It was hoped this titanic rivalry would continue through the major fall races, but it was not to be.  Alydar, in prepping for the Marlboro Cup Handicap, in which he was to meet again Affirmed and the 1977 Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew, suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot that forced him to miss racing the rest of the year. Affirmed, although losing both the Marlboro Cup and the Jockey Club Gold Cup, was voted both Three-Year-Old Champion and Horse of the Year.

With Affirmed and Alydar still in training in 1979, there was hope their mighty rivalry would continue. Just as in 1978, they started their seasons on opposite coasts. Affirmed, after some early losses, regained his Triple Crown form and dominated his races on the West Coast. Perhaps the most eagerly awaited event of the Florida season was the four-year-old debut of Alydar. However, although reportedly recovered from his injury, Alydar would not this year be the same racehorse seen before. The John Veitch trainee began the year with a facile win in a 7 furlong Hialeah Park allowance race.  Next the chestnut son of Raise a Native traveled to Arkansas to contest the 8½ furlong Oaklawn Handicap. Weighted at 127 lb., Alydar rallied along the inside and just failed (by a nose) to give 13 lb. to the lightly raced San Juan Hill.

Returning to New York in the spring, Alydar, under 126 lb., failed to catch Star De Naskra (at 122 lb.) in the 7 furlong Carter Handicap at Aqueduct, losing by a neck. In the beaten field were Sensitive Prince and last year’s co-champion sprinter Dr. Patches. Alydar was running well, but the horses he was finishing second to were not in Affirmed’s class. In the 1 mile Metropolitan Handicap Alydar, again top weighted at 126 lb., was the prohibitive favorite but could only finish fifth to State Dinner.

Just when things were looking dark for Alydar, he responded with an authoritative win in the 9 furlong Nassau County Handicap over a sloppy track. In the traditional Suburban Handicap, a field of five went postward with Alydar (126 lb.) favored over Tiller (126 lb.) and State Dinner (118 lb.). Mister Brea (120 lb.) set a leisurely pace with Western Front (113 lb.) and Alydar tracking. Around the far turn, State Dinner went on the outside to challenge a stubborn Mister Brea and Alydar. Under a hard drive, State Dinner pulled away to win by a ½ length. Mister Brea was second ¾ of a length ahead of Alydar. Seventeen days later, Alydar was entered in the 1½ mile Brooklyn Handicap but was scratched the morning of the race due to another fracture. This second injury would force Alydar’s retirement into an illustrious stud career at Calumet Farm.

Alydar winning the 1979 Nassau County Handicap
(photo: NYRA by Bob Coglianese)

Although, by the record Affirmed was the superior racehorse, in the breeding shed Alydar was the clear winner and considered a super stallion until the time of his mysterious death. The Calumet Farm stallion sired two Kentucky Derby winners (Alysheba and Strike the Gold), a Preakness winner (Alysheba) and a Belmont winner (Easy Goer). Of these Alysheba and Easy Goer were Eclipse Award Champions along with Criminal Type, Turkoman and Althea. Alydar also sired a host of other major winners, such as Cacoethes, Dare and Go and Stellar Madrid. In 1990, it was reported Alydar severely fractured his hind leg. After medical procedures failed to alleviate his condition, he was euthanized. Years lately it was speculated that Alydar’s death may have not have been accidental in that John T. Lundy, the heir to the owners of Calumet Farm, may have purposely killed Alydar to settle an insurance claim to help his faltering finances. In 2000, Lundy was convicted of fraud and sent to prison for four years, but no charges were made for animal cruelty.

Alydar’s racing record totaled 14 wins, 9 seconds, and a third in 26 starts. But more importantly, he showed the brilliance, class and heart of the best of the thoroughbred breed. Despite never achieving championship status, this copper colored chestnut is one of the most renowned and loved horses in racing history.