Classic Fillies, Part II

Classic Fillies, part II

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is the second of my two part series on fillies who have in the last 40 years won either the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, or the Belmont Stakes. In part I, I looked at the careers of Genuine Risk and Winning Colors who had triumphed in the Kentucky Derby. Here, I will discuss Rachel Alexandra who was victorious in the 2009 Preakness Stakes and Rags to Riches who won the 2007 Belmont Stakes. 

Rachel Alexandra was bred in Kentucky by Dolphus Morrison and originally owned by Morrison in partnership with Michael Lauffer under the stable name of L and M Partners. Her racing career began under veteran mid-western conditioner Hal Wiggins. The bay daughter of Medaglia d’Oro started racing in May 2008 at Churchill Downs, breaking her maiden in her second start. After finishing second in the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs in June, “Rachel” was given time off to prepare for a fall campaign. Returning in October, she won an allowance race at Keeneland Racecourse and finished second in the Pocahontas Stakes at Churchill Downs. Rachel Alexandra concluded her juvenile season with an eye-opening 4¾ length victory in November in the Golden Rod Stakes under new jockey Calvin Borel. This impressive victory signaled she was a filly to watch in 2009.

If Rachel’s juvenile year was promising, the start of her sophomore campaign in 2009 was a revelation. Debuting in February at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, AK in the Martha Washington Stakes, Rachel Alexandra romped by 8 lengths. Shipping to New Orleans for the Fair Grounds Oaks, she took the lead from the start, and jockey Calvin Borel throttled her down in the stretch for an eased up 1¾ length victory. Back at Oaklawn for the Fantasy Stakes, Rachel Alexandra could not have won more easily with Borel spending more time in the stretch looking backward (for non-existent threats) than forward as she won by 8¼ lengths. All her final times were competitive to the best her sophomore male counterparts accomplished, so there was speculation that the best three-year-old heading to Kentucky was a filly.

In fact during Derby Week, the most impressive horse seen in the mornings was Rachel Alexandra gliding around the Churchill Downs track effortlessly as observers bemoaned the fact that she was going to run in the Kentucky Oaks instead of the Derby. Nevertheless, her owners and trainer were steadfast that they did not support the idea of females running against males.

In the 9 furlong Oaks, Rachel was the 3-10 favorite, and the way she ran made that price seem generous. Settled by Calvin Borel right behind early leader Gabby’s Golden Girl, Rachel, all on her own, cruised to the front around the far turn. Having a clear lead by the time she straightened out for the stretch, Borel never seemed to ask her to run as she, with consummate ease, put space between herself and the rest of the field. At the finish, Rachel Alexandra was a staggering 20¼ lengths (an Oaks record) ahead of Stone Legacy. Her final time was nearly a stakes record, and everything about her performance was spectacular. In the winner’s circle, owners Michael Lauffer and Dolphus Morrison and trainer Hal Wiggins celebrated their horse of a lifetime and again expressed no reservations about not running Rachel in the Derby. Their restraint was anachronistic and refreshing in this time, but upcoming events would soon overtake this conservative philosophy.

The major news during the two week interval between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes did not involve the 50-1 longshot Derby winner, Mine That Bird but was focused on the Kentucky Oaks victress, Rachel Alexandra. She was sold to Stonestreet Stables (Jess Jackson, owner) and Harold T. McCormick, leaving the barn of Hal Wiggins and turned over to Steve Asmussen. In taking control of the filly’s racing career, principal owner Jackson boldly announced, she would run in the Preakness for an unprecedented meeting between Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks winners. To further underline Rachel’s eminence, Calvin Borel chose her as his Preakness mount over Derby victor Mine That Bird.

A field of thirteen went postward at Pimlico Racecourse on Preakness Day with Rachel Alexandra the clear betting choice over Mine That Bird (with Mike Smith aboard) and other Derby participants’ Pioneer of the Nile, Musket Man, Papa Clem, Friesan Fire, General Quarters, and Flying Private. From her no. 13 post, Borel broke Rachel sharp, and she went head-and-head for the lead with Big Drama with Friesan Fire close back in third position. Meanwhile, Mine That Bird, as in the Derby, was lopping along in last place. Nearing the far turn, Rachel Alexandra, with her ears pricked, dispatched her pursuers and gained a daylight lead by the time she straightened out for the stretch run. At the same time, Mike Smith had Mine That Bird in full flight passing horses readily, but he was floated very wide on the tight Pimlico final turn. In mid-stretch, Rachel had opened up a 4 length lead, and her victory seemed secure. Mine That Bird, though, provided some drama by closing dramatically so that at the finish the margin had diminished to 1 length. Musket Man, replicating his Derby placing, was third only a ½ length further back.

Rachel Alexandra winning the 2009 Preakness Stakes
(Michele MacDonald)

The final time was average, but the achievement by Rachel Alexandra was at the highest level. For the record, her Preakness victory was the fifth time it was won by a filly with Flocarline (in 1903), Whimsical (1906), Rhine Maiden (1915), and Nellie Morse (1924) being the previous distaff victors. Jess Jackson, who with trainer Steve Asmussen had won the Preakness in 2007 with Curlin, demonstrated that an aggressive approach to campaigning horses can produce startling achievements. Calvin Borel, emotional in the winner’s circle, claimed that Rachel Alexandra was the best horse he had ever ridden. However, it must be stated that Mine That Bird ran a strong race, and, if he would have not lost so much ground around the stretch turn, the Derby winner might have caught the filly.

Rachel Alexandra’s team decided to bypass the Belmont Stakes. The reason given was she had done a lot lately and needed more time between races. I think her connections feared that the 1½ mile distance of the Belmont was beyond her capabilities. The rest of Rachel’s three-year-old campaign was a march to glory as she won the Mother Goose Stakes (against her own age and sex) by 19¼ lengths and then defeated males in both the Haskell Invitational Stakes and the Woodward Stakes. In the Woodward, raced at Saratoga Racetrack, she became the first three-year-old filly in the race’s illustrious history to defeat older horses. Restrained from racing the rest of 2009, Rachel Alexandra was accorded Champion Three-Year-Old Filly, and in a close vote, outpolled the older mare, Zenyatta for Horse of the Year honors.  

There was great expectation the following year of a meeting between the now four-year-old Rachel Alexandra and the still undefeated Zenyatta. However, this match never happened because Rachel was not able to consistently display her previous year’s top form. After only two victories (and three seconds) in five 2010 starts, she was retired in September. As a broodmare, Rachel Alexandra has only produced two foals – Jess’s Dream and Rachel’s Valentina. The first named was a winner in his lone start, and the latter won the Spinaway Stakes and placed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. As a result of Rachel’s Valentina difficult foaling in 2013, Rachel Alexandra has been not bred since.

The Belmont Stakes had not been won by a filly in over a century when Rags to Riches wore the blanket of white carnations in the Belmont Park winner’s circle in 2007. Previous distaff victors were Ruthless (in 1867) and Tanya (1905). If ever a horse had a destiny to win the Belmont, it was Rags to Riches. Her sire A. P. Indy won the race in 1992, and his sire Seattle Slew and maternal grand sire Secretariat completed their Triple Crown glory with Belmont Stakes victories in 1977 and 1973, respectively. To add further to her Belmont heritage, Rags to Riches’ dam Better Than Honour produced Jazil, the 2006 Belmont hero.

This genetic masterpiece did not come cheap for Rags to Riches was purchased at a yearling sale for $1.9 million by Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith of the Coolmore Ireland based partnership. Turned over to Todd Pletcher to train, she made a single start as a two-year-old in June 2006 finishing fourth in a maiden race at Churchill Downs.

Based in California in early 2007, she was trained for her first two starts by Michael McCarthy while Pletcher was serving a suspension. In January, Rags to Riches won a maiden race at Santa Anita Park by 6 lengths and then rallied wide from off the pace for a ¾ length victory in the Las Virgenes Stakes. Strongly favored for the 8½ furlong Santa Anita Oaks, the blazed faced chestnut dominated the race winning by 5½ lengths under jockey Garrett Gomez.

With her connections resisting the temptation to run in the Kentucky Derby, Rags to Riches was installed the favorite in the Kentucky Oaks despite the presence of last year’s Two-Year-Old Filly Champion Dreaming of Anna. Run on a muddy racetrack, the fourteen horse Oaks field was sent on their way, with Rags to Riches tucked in fifth place as Dreaming of Anna set the early pace. Swung to the outside by Gomez at the top of the stretch, Rags to Riches showcased her quality and stamina as she powered clear for a 4¼ length victory. Not dwelling on what might have been if they had sent their filly in the Derby, Rags to Riches’ team contemplated where next their budding champion would next display her brilliance.

The 2007 Belmont Stakes appeared to be a rather sedate affair. The Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense’s connections, after a narrow loss to Curlin in the Preakness Stakes, declined to run their colt in the Belmont. Curlin (owned by the same connections as Rachel Alexandra) faced Derby second and Preakness third place finisher Hard Spun and Derby participants Tiago and Imawildandcrzyguy in the seven horse field. Rags to Riches was a late entry and that prompted a jockey change. Garrett Gomez, her regular rider, had committed to Hard Spun when the filly’s participation was in doubt. But when Rags to Riches’ connections opted to run in the Belmont, trainer Todd Pletcher put his main rider, John Velazquez, aboard her. Curlin was installed the strong favorite, but Rags to Riches was the second choice due to her pedigree and performance.

For a race that received little publicity and the lowest attendance in over a decade, it was one of the most memorable Belmont Stakes in history. The early pace in the Belmont was a veritable crawl as Hard Spun, Curlin, and Rags to Riches were all grouped together not far from the leader C P West in third, fourth and fifth positions, respectively. Around the long Belmont Park far turn, the tempo quickened with the three mentioned previously challenging C P West. Suddenly, the race became a two horse battle between Curlin on the inside and Rags to Riches to his outside. The filly gained a narrow advantage at the top of stretch and held it grimly to the wire to win by a head. Curlin, in a determined effort, was second, 5½ lengths in front of Tiago who had rallied mildly. Hard Spun tired to be fourth. The final ½ mile was run very fast, underlining the stamina of the first two finishers.

Rags to Riches winning the 2007 Belmont Stakes
(bloodhorse.com)

In winning, Rags to Riches not only became the third filly to win the Belmont Stakes, she was the first sibling of a previous Belmont winner (see, Jazil above). Owners Tabor and Smith have won many important races as part of the Coolmore global empire, but this victory by their superbly bred filly was definitely one of the highlights. Todd Pletcher, now the dominant trainer in the U. S., had his first classic winner (after 28 previous losses), and John Velazquez’s ride was also his first such success. But most of the honors went to Rags to Riches. When a female horse defeats colts in a major race, it can usually be attributed to having faced an inferior group of males. This Belmont Stakes was an exception in that Curlin, the horse Rags to Riches out-gamed down the stretch, would be remembered as one of the decade’s best. 

In lieu of her spectacular performances in the Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes, the three-year-old filly championship was already conceded to Rags to Riches. Unfortunately, she only raced once more. After missing an intended start in the Coaching Club American Oaks due to a fever, the daughter of A. P. Indy was reserved till September to run in the Gazelle Stakes. Giving 7 lb. to Lear’s Princess, Rags to Riches was unable to withstand the latter’s closing charge, losing by a ½ length. The cause of her surprising defeat became apparent the next day when Todd Pletcher revealed his filly had suffered a hairline fracture of her right front leg. Unraced for the remainder of the year, Rags to Riches returned to training in 2008 until a re-injury to her front leg necessitated her retirement.

Initially at Ashford Stud (Coolmore’s U. S. breeding farm) in Versailles, KY, she was sent to Ireland in 2009 before returning to the U. S. in 2016. As a broodmare, Rags to Riches has produced several foals, the most prominent being Rhett Butler who was a champion in Serbia.

So in conclusion of this two part series, it is clear that each of these four females (Genuine Risk, Winning Colors, Rachel Alexandra, and Rags to Riches), demonstrated their class and brilliance in America’s most keenly contested races. It must be noted they all received a 5 lb. sex allowance that may have aided their efforts. However, this should not diminish their respective achievements and the rarity of their accomplishments.  

Classic Fillies, Part I

Classic Fillies, part I

Joseph Di Rienzi

The North American Triple Crown (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) over the years has been the traditional staging area for determining the best of the breed in a given generation. The performances in this three spring contests have served to identify the best young stallion prospects. However, these races are open to either sex, and, although not common, females over the years have been able to capture each of the three classics. In this two part series, I will look at the recent females (i.e., in the last 40 years) who have been able to best their male counterparts in either the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont Stakes. 

Three fillies have won the Kentucky Derby: Regret (in 1915), Genuine Risk (1980), and Winning Colors (1988). In this part of “Classic Fillies”, I will examine the racing careers of the last two mentioned.

Genuine Risk was an attractive chestnut daughter (with a white blaze running down the center of her face) of Exclusive Native from the Gallant Man sired mare Virtuous. Owned by Diana Firestone, she was trained throughout her career by LeRoy Jolley. As a two-year-old in 1979, Genuine Risk began her racing career in September. She won her first three starts including the Tempted Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. Making her final juvenile start in the 9 furlong Demoiselle Stakes, Genuine Risk faced Smart Angle, the presumptive two-year-old filly champion. In a rousing race, Smart Angle and Genuine Risk, who were nearly co-favorites, battled down the stretch with Genuine Risk (getting 5 lb.) prevailing by a nose over Smart Angle. The latter’s championship was secure, but Genuine Risk would cast a long shadow in 1980 and not just in the three-year-old filly division.

Genuine Risk started 1980 stretching her unbeaten streak with two wins against her own sex. Diana Firestone and husband Bert then over-ruled trainer LeRoy Jolley’s reluctance to race Genuine Risk against males by entering her in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct where she faced the pre-Derby favorite in Plugged Nickle [sic] and his stablemate Colonel Moran.

The Wood Memorial was a three horse race as Plugged Nickle seized the early lead over Colonel Moran. The entry mates ran first and second down the backstretch with Genuine Risk tracking in third. Around the far turn, Genuine Risk, under jockey Jacinto Vasquez, was moving into contention on the outside of Colonel Moran with Plugged Nickle , on the rail, still in front. As the leaders headed down the stretch, Plugged Nickle veered out suddenly impeding Genuine Risk’s progress. The trio staggered down the stretch with the placings unchanged, and at the finish, it was Plugged Nickle 1½ lengths ahead of Colonel Moran who was a ½ length in front of the filly. A foul claim by Jacinto Vasquez against the winner for interference in the stretch was not allowed. (This would not be the last time Genuine Risk’s owners would believe their filly’s chance of winning was obstructed by a colt.) After some deliberation and again over Leroy Jolley’s hesitation, Genuine Risk was entered in the Kentucky Derby.

A field of thirteen entered the starting gate for the 106^th Kentucky Derby. The two favorites, Rockhill Native and Plugged Nickle, appeared vulnerable. They had each won their last two starts, but their finishing times suggested the 1¼ mile Derby distance would be challenging. Looking beyond the favorites, there was Rumbo whose finishes in the Santa Anita and Hollywood Derbies gave no suspicions of his inability to negotiate the Derby distance. Support was also for Jaklin Klugman, with his high profile co-owner Jack Klugman, and Super Moment whose second place finish in Blue Grass Stakes suggested he was sitting on a big effort. The sentimental choice was, of course, Genuine Risk, a name certainly apropos of what her connections did by entering her. The public, however, may have only rooted for her in their hearts, because she went off at 13-1 odds. What many did not realize that, although she suffered her initial loss in the Wood, it was the perfect prep to tighten her for the demands of the Derby.

Rockhill Native broke well at the start to contest the lead along with Plugged Nickle and Execution’s Reason. Down the backstretch, Rockhill Native had a 2 length lead setting comfortable fractions with Plugged Nickle and Bold ‘n Ruling chasing. Genuine Risk was in mid-flight, and for a few strides she was caught in traffic. However, Jacinto Vasquez steered her outside for a clear run at the leading group. Jaklin Klugman launched his rally further back, while Rumbo was near the rear of the field. Around the turn, Genuine Risk engaged both Plugged Nickle and Rockhill Native. It was apparent the filly was going much stronger than the two males on her inside. As the field straightened for the stretch run, Genuine Risk bounded to a clear lead but faced challenges, first from Jaklin Klugman who was following her around the turn. In mid-stretch, it appeared that the colt had the momentum, but Genuine Risk repulsed his bid and maintained her advantage. The second threat came from Rumbo who was closing powerfully through the stretch. He never looked like he would catch the filly, but at the finish, Rumbo was only beaten a length with Jaklin Klugman finishing the same distance behind in third. Rockhill Native was a disappointing fifth, and Plugged Nickle finished a tired seventh. The time of 2 min. and 2 sec. was solid, with Genuine Risk running the last ¼ mile in 24 2/5 sec.

Genuine Risk winning the 1980 Kentucky Derby
(getty-images)

Becoming the second filly at the time to win the Kentucky Derby and the first since Regret in 1915, there was wild acclaim for this pretty chestnut’s accomplishments. For the Firestones who had finished second with the prohibitive favorite Honest Pleasure in the 1976 Derby, this was a great reward for their bold judgement. LeRoy Jolley and Jacinto Vasquez celebrated their second Derby having won it together with Foolish Pleasure in 1975.

Genuine Risk performed with great distinction in the other classics. She finished, second beaten 4¾ lengths to Codex in the Preakness. A claim of foul by Jacinto Vasquez against the winner ridden by Angel Cordero Jr. for taking a wide path around the stretch turn was dismissed by the Pimlico Racecourse stewards. Not taking their filly’s loss gently, Bert and Diana Firestone filed an appeal to have the result overturned with the Maryland Racing Commission only to have the Commission support the stewards’ non-action. In the Belmont Stakes, Genuine Risk would finish second to the year’s three-year-old male champion, Temperence Hill, beaten only 2 lengths.

After a light campaign the rest of 1980, Genuine Risk was voted the Eclipse Award Champion Three-Year-Old Filly. As a four-year-old, she only started three times with two allowance wins before retiring from the racetrack. As a broodmare, Genuine Risk was only able to produce two live foals, neither of whom ever raced. In 2008, she died at the Firestones’ farm in Virginia.

The second filly to win the Derby in modern times was physically the opposite of Genuine Risk. Winning Colors was a statuesque, strapping gray or roan (she did have a white blaze) daughter of the French bred stallion Caro. Purchased as a yearling in 1986 for $575,000, she was owned by Gene Klein and trained by the flamboyant D. Wayne Lukas. Winning Colors made her initial start at Saratoga Racetrack in August 1987 winning a maiden race. She did not re-surface in competition until late December at Santa Anita Park when she romped home in a 6 furlong allowance race by 3½ lengths.

Winning Colors began racing in 1988 with a dominating win in January in the 8½ furlong La Centinela Stakes at Santa Anita Park. The roan filly was showing great early speed in her races, but her long smooth strides suggested that she would not be limited by distance. A major confrontation occurred in her next start in the 1 mile Las Virgenes Stakes where Winning Colors was favored and getting 4 lbs. from the top class filly Goodbye Halo. Winning Colors bounded to the lead as Goodbye Halo tracked her some lengths back in the early going. When Goodbye Halo made her initial surge, Winning Colors repelled it. Undaunted, the smaller chestnut dug in and fought back to score a neck victory over her much taller roan rival.  The two principals faced each other again in the 8½ furlong Santa Anita Oaks where the duo was joined by two of Goodbye Halo’s stable mates, Jeanne Jones and Pattern Step. The tri-part entry looked formidable, but they were no match for Winning Colors who sprinted to the front and just drew away for an 8 length victory. Jeanne Jones held second 1¼ lengths in front of Goodbye Halo with Pattern Step completing the field, 9 lengths back. The margin of victory and the ease Winning Colors accomplished it, convinced Wayne Lukas that he had an exceptional filly who should be tested against males. As the trainer, opined, “Anything’s possible now.”

Off her dazzling win in the Santa Anita Oaks, Winning Colors was sent off the favorite against males in the Santa Anita Derby. Under jockey Gary Stevens, the daughter of Caro “took no prisoners” in a gate to wire 7½ length triumph over Lively One in a splendid final time. Stamping herself the best three-year-old in California, Winning Colors headed to Kentucky as one of the favorites for the Run for the Roses.

The 114^th renewal of the Kentucky Derby had a field rippling with quality with undefeated Private Terms and Winning Colors as co-favorites. Third choice was 1987 Two-Year-Old Champion Forty Niner with Risen Star a well-supported fourth favorite. In addition, the seventeen horse field included Brian’s Time, Seeking the Gold, Lively One and Proper Reality. The question in terms of the race strategy was whether anyone would challenge Winning Colors for the early lead. Forty Niner clearly had enough speed to do so, but when he drew the no. 17 post, it was thought he would be taken back. Also, his jockey, Pat Day, believed the horse had a limited high speed run and wanted to conserve it for the last part of the race. This reluctance to confront the filly early, I believe made her victory all but inevitable.

Winning Colors as expected bounded out for the lead. Forty Niner from his outside post position angled inward gaining second with Seeking the Gold and Proper Reality close behind. Private Terms was just behind the leading group with Risen Star towards the rear but racing in the clear. Down the backstretch, Gary Stevens let his filly coast to a 3 to 4 length lead. The fractions were solid, but not fast, and it was obvious that Winning Colors was running very easily. As the field approached the far turn, Forty Niner lost position and dropped back to fourth as first Seeking the Gold then Proper Reality made futile efforts to gain on Winning Colors. At the top of the stretch, the filly was well clear of the rest of the field, and her victory seemed assured. However, Forty Niner, under vigorous urging by Pat Day, rallied late and was gaining significantly in deep stretch. At the finish, Winning Colors had a neck margin of victory over a valiant Forty Niner. Risen Star closed steadily to be third, 3 lengths behind, and Proper Reality was a ½ length back in fourth place. Brian’s Time finished sixth; Seeking the Gold was seventh and Private Terms a very disappointing tenth. The final time was good, and the victory, the third female in history was certainly well earned, but if Day had kept Forty Niner closer to Winning Colors in the early going, the result may have been different.

Winning Colors winning the 1988 Kentucky Derby
(bloodhorse.com)

It was a popular victory not only for feminists, but for Gene Klein who in a short time had amassed a powerful stable. Known previously in the sports world as the owner of the NFL San Diego Chargers, Klein liked to muse that unlike human athletes, horses do not have agents to hassle with about compensation. Almost all of the Klein’s success came under the guidance of Wayne Lukas who had now won his first Derby. Jockey Gary Stevens had also his first scent of roses. For both Lukas and Stevens, there would be return trips to the Derby winner’s circle.  

Just as Genuine Risk, Winning Colors went on to compete in the other Triple Crown races. Engaged in a speed duel with Forty Niner in the Preakness Stakes, the gray filly was unable to withstand Risen Star’s closing rally and finished third, beaten a total of only 2½ lengths. In the Belmont Stakes, Gary Stevens tried to have Winning Colors set a deliberate pace for the 1½ mile contest, but she was overwhelmed by Risen Star halfway through the race and faded to last place as the son of Secretariat roared to a nearly 15 length triumph.

Given a freshening, Winning Colors had a fall campaign that saw her racing against older females. In particular, she faced one of the greatest in the undefeated Personal Ensign. In both encounters – the Maskette Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff, the Derby winner was second to the Ogden Phipps owned superstar. However, in the latter race at Churchill Downs, Winning Colors came within a single stride of defeating Personal Ensign as the four-year-old closed furiously to nip her at the wire in one of the most dramatic races ever. In year-end honors, Winning Colors was easily voted the Eclipse Award for Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.

Winning Colors did return to race as a four-year-old, but she never regained her top form in seven starts. She closed out her racing career ingloriously with a ninth place finish in the 1989 Breeders’ Cup Distaff. As a broodmare, Winning Colors produced ten live foals, six of which were winners but none that really distinguished themselves. She passed away at age 23 in 2008 and is buried at Greentree Farm in Lexington, KY. 

(To be continued in part II.)

The Centennials of the American Classics

The Centennials of the American Classics

Joseph Di Rienzi

The Triple Crown races (the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes) are venerable landmarks in the annual United States thoroughbred calendar. In a year where they need to be postponed or possibly canceled, I thought it might be soothing to look at each’s 100^th edition observing how they were celebrated and chronicling the various horses and human personalities involved in the respective race’s drama.

The Kentucky Derby has been run continuously at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY since 1875, and the centennial renewal on May 6, 1974 broke the previous attendance record and still holds the mark for the largest field (23 horses). The reported crowd of 168,628 shattered the record of 134,476 set the previous year when Secretariat launched his quest for the Triple Crown. The surge in popularity was attributed partly to the interest in thoroughbred racing generated by Secretariat, and the rest was due to the hoopla attached to this 100^th edition of the Run for the Roses. 

Unlike 1973, the 100^th renewal had no budding superstars. In truth, there were several in the field whose credentials did not seem to warrant entry into the Kentucky Derby, and in the future qualifications would be instituted to restrict the number of starters. (The maximum number settled on was 20.) There was an international flavor to this year’s Derby with Lexico and Set n’Go, although bred in the U. S., having done most of their racing in Venezuela, and Sir Tristram who was Irish bred but French raced.

The Woody Stephens trained entry of Judger and Cannonade was sent off the post-time favorite. The former, owned by Seth Hancock of Claiborne Farm, had a light but promising two-year-old campaign. The bay son of Damascus came to the fore as a prime Kentucky Derby prospect when he roared from extremely far back in the field to defeat Cannonade by ¾ of a length in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park. Cannonade was a regally bred bay son of Bold Bidder from the mare Queen Sucree, herself a daughter of the undefeated international star Ribot bred by his owner the industrialist John M. Olin. Heavily raced as a juvenile, Cannonade showed his hardiness with three stakes victories at the tail end of 1973. After the Florida Derby, the Judger-Cannonade entry both ran in the Flamingo Stakes at Hialeah Park but were soundly defeated with the former finishing third, and the latter was a non-factor in placing seventh.

Brought to Kentucky by Stephens, the stablemates regained their reputations with impressive victories in their respective final Derby preps. In the 9 furlong Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse, Judger, running his best race, rallied spectacularly around the far turn to win going away by 4 lengths. (In the beaten field was Bushongo who had won the Flamingo). A week before the Derby at Churchill Downs in the 7 furlong Stepping Stone Purse, Cannonade, under new jockey Angel Cordero Jr., showed an electrifying turn of foot to surge from thirteen place to win going away by 2 lengths.

Of the two, Judger was considered the better, but it was questionable whether his tactics of closing from far back would work if he had to pass 22 horses to win. Also, he drew way on the outside in post position 22. Cannonade, on the other hand, had post 2, and there was concern he would lack room when he would launch his rally. Second choice was afforded to California raced Agitate, and third betting favorite was the entry of Rube the Great and his stablemate Accipiter. Remarkably, despite the bulky field, the race was run without serious incident. Triple Crown and Hudson County set the early pace with Destroyer and Sir Tristram in third and fourth place, respectively. Cannonade was back in twelfth saving ground along the rail, and Judger was mired in twenty second place. Cordero, riding Cannonade very aggressively, steered him to the outside down the backstretch and made a bold move to gain command around the far turn. As the field turned into the homestretch, Cannonade was leading by as much as 4 lengths over Destroyer and Hudson County. It was similar to Cannonade’s move in the Florida Derby, but this time he was not caught, although Hudson County, actually made up ground in deep stretch to beaten only 2¼ lengths. Agitate closed some to be third another 3¼ lengths back. Unnoticed by many was the closing punch of Darby Dan Farm’s Little Current who at one point was twenty third and then was fanned extremely wide at the top of the stretch. He finished fifth, beaten a little less than a total of 6 lengths. Judger, who did rally mildly, finished eighth in a disappointing performance. The final time was slow, but the track was not at its fastest.

 Cannonade winning the 1974 Kentucky Derby
(gettyimages)

In the winner’s circle there was regality with Princess Margaret of England and, at that time her husband, Anthony Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, presenting the trophy to John Olin’s stepdaughter, Mrs. Eugene Williams. Olin, who watched the race on television from his office in St. Louis, MO, had made sizable investments in the racing business and saw in Cannonade the fruition of his efforts. Woody Stephens, a Kentucky native, finally won the Kentucky Derby (he would win it again in 1984 with Swale), and Angel Cordero solidified his position as one of the country’s top riders with this victory. 

Cannonade went on to contest the other Triple Crown races, but he could do no better than third place in both the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. In the remaining classics, Little Current, not having to contend with such large fields, drew away to win each by 7 lengths, establishing himself as the champion three-year-old male horse of his generation.

The Preakness Stakes now Maryland State mandated at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore has a more muddled history than its Kentucky counterpart. The inaugural running was in 1873, two years before the first Kentucky Derby. However, it was not run from 1891-1893. To further complicate the story, the Preakness was contested in New York in 1890 and from 1894-1908 and twice (in 1917 and 1922) contested on the same day as the Derby. Its appellation derives from a horse of the same name who won a stakes race at Pimlico’s grand opening in 1870.

The centennial renewal of the Preakness Stakes was on May 19, 1975. On a rainless afternoon, the attendance of 75,216 was a record at the time. The ten entrants attracted the first six finishers in the Derby: Foolish Pleasure, Avatar, Diabolo, Master Derby, Media and Prince Thou Art, respectively. Foolish Pleasure, the Kentucky Derby victor and previous year’s juvenile champion was the solid but not overwhelming favorite. Avatar, who was compromised in the Derby by being bumped in deep stretch by Diabolo, was the second choice and Singh, who did not contest the Derby, the third betting favorite. There was a lightly raced undefeated colt from California, Native Guest, who also drew some attention.  Master Derby, a prominent two-year-old of 1974 and major stakes winner earlier in the year, was sent off at 23-1 odds, based on his disappointing fourth place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

On a fast but dull racetrack, Native Guest set the pace tracked by Media. Unlike the Derby, Master Derby was much more forwardly positioned by jockey Darrel McHargue, just behind the two leaders. Singh was in fourth with Diabolo stalking in fifth. Avatar, who went wide on the clubhouse turn, was sixth, and Foolish Pleasure was saving ground in seventh place. Heading for the far turn, the field suddenly bunched up with Master Derby, Singh and Avatar all challenging the leading pair. As a result, Singh was forced to check briefly and lost his position. Master Derby, running between rivals, took the lead as the field headed in the stretch with Avatar in second place. Foolish Pleasure launched his rally at the same time that Singh re-engaged himself in the race. Diabolo, also with some run, was fanned very wide around the stretch turn, and even Prince Thou Art commenced a rally up the rail. Master Derby spurted clear to a 3 length lead and, though tiring in the stretch and bearing out, he held a 1 length margin at the wire. Foolish Pleasure, altering course in the stretch as Master Derby drifted to the outside, fought doggedly to the end, finishing second with Diabolo, also closing well, a length behind Foolish Pleasure in third. Prince Thou Art was fourth, 1½ lengths back with Avatar fifth and Singh sixth. The first six finishers were within 5¼ lengths of each other and all ran credibly, although the final time was on the slow side over the deep racecourse. A foul claim by Jacinto Vasquez riding Foolish Pleasure against McHargue for interference was disallowed by the Pimlico stewards.

Master Derby after the 1975 Preakness Stakes
The Thoroughbred Record)

Sadly, Robert E. Lehmann, breeder of Master Derby (and owner of 1970 Kentucky Derby winner, Dust Commander (the sire of Master Derby)), had passed away in 1974. His wife, Mrs. Verna Lehmann, who was now running Golden Chance Farm’s racing and breeding operation, accepted the Woodlawn Vase trophy along with other family members. Trainer, W. E. “Smiley” Adams and jockey McHargue mutually celebrated their first classic victories.

Most of the principals in the Preakness returned in three weeks to contest the Belmont Stakes, and in a thrilling finish, Avatar out lasted Foolish Pleasure by a neck with Master Derby 3½ lengths further back in third place.

The 100^th renewal of the Belmont Stakes in 1968 was scheduled to coincide with the re-opening of a renovated Belmont Park. Closed in 1963, a new grandstand was built and racing was resumed at Belmont Park on May 20, 1968. The Belmont Stakes was first run in 1867 at Jerome Park in The Bronx, NY. and named after August Belmont who secured the finances for the facility. It was moved to Belmont Park on Long Island, NY at the track’s grand opening in 1905. Not contested from 1911-1912 due to anti-gambling legislation in New York State, the race has been run continuously since 1913.

On Belmont Stakes Day on June 1, 1968, there was the possibility of a Triple Crown winner, but with a significant asterisk attached. In the year’s Kentucky Derby, Dancer’s Image had crossed the finish line first, but was disqualified three days later for testing positive for a prohibited medication. As a result, second finishing Forward Pass owned by Calumet Farm was declared the official winner. However, Peter Fuller, Dancer’s Image’s owner, lodged an appeal that would take four years to resolve in Forward Pass’ favor. In the Preakness, Forward Pass was a decisive winner with Dancer’s Image finishing third but disqualified back to fourth for interference.

With 54,654 in attendance, the Belmont Stakes attracted nine entries with Forward Pass the 1-1 race favorite. (Dancer’s Image was not entered as he had been retired due to an injury.) The entry of Call Me Prince and Draft Card were the strong second choice, but the third choice was a horse that had still been a maiden on Kentucky Derby Day. Bred and owned by the famed Greentree Stable of John Hay Whitney and his sister Joan Payson, Stage Door Johnny was a burly chestnut son of Prince John that was attracting considerable attention. A very attractive horse with a big blaze running down his face, Stage Door Johnny was bred for stamina, his grandsire being Princequillo and his dam, Peroxide Blond, a daughter of Irish Derby winner Ballymoss. Longtime Greentree trainer John Gaver showed patience with running him only twice as a two year-old finishing a closing second both times. Stage Door Johnny had made his initial start in 1968 on April 17 at Aqueduct Racetrack and finished third in a maiden race. By Preakness Day, the big chestnut had won his first race by 6 lengths. He followed that with a very impressive victory under jockey Heliodoro Gustines in the 9 furlong Peter Pan Purse at Belmont Park defeating other Belmont Stakes hopefuls in a good final time.

As a horse race, the 100^th running of the Belmont Stakes was truly a classic. Forward Pass took the lead early and set sensible fractions. Stage Door Johnny gradually made progress from the back of the pack to reach contention at the top of the stretch. In a stirring duel, Stage Door Johnny gradually pulled away from Forward Pass to win by 1¼ lengths in very fast time. So dominant were the first two finishers that the third place horse, Call Me Prince was 12 lengths back in third. Stage Door Johnny became the fourth winner of the Belmont to carry the salmon pink and black colors of Greentree Stable. It was trainer John Gaver’s third victory and jockey Gustines’ first in the classic. Most people who watched the Belmont, admired Forward Pass’s tenacity and durability, but were convinced they saw a champion in the making in Stage Door Johnny.

Stage Door Johnny with owners John Hay Whitney and Joan Payson
(NYRA-Mike Sirco/BloodHorse)

Sure enough, with victories in his next two starts, the Saranac and Dwyer Handicaps, before an injury forced his retirement, Stage Door Johnny was voted at year’s end the champion three-year-old male horse. 

So as we lurch through 2020 under the threat of COVID-19, let us remember that human activities including the sport of thoroughbred racing have endured over the tumult and chaos of the last 150 years. If history is a guide, we all can take heart that future generations will have the opportunity to celebrate the bi-centennials of these Triple Crown races.