The People's Horses: Part III, Smarty Jones

The People’s Horses, part III
Smarty Jones

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is the third of a series that highlights the racing careers of horses who rose from modest backgrounds to startling success and, in doing so, captured the imagination of racing fans. Previously (in parts I and II), I discussed Carry Back and Funny Cide, respectively. Here, I will examine the racing career of the pride of Pennsylvania – Smarty Jones.

Everything about the diminutive chestnut colt’s beginning seemed like an old Hollywood movie. The owners of Someday Farm, Pat and Roy Chapman, were in the process of downsizing their small breeding operation in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Their trainer had been murdered, and Mr. Chapman was suffering from a debilitating illness. They kept only two horses, one of which was Smarty Jones, a foal of 2001. He was a son of the speedy Mr. Prospector stallion, Elusive Quality, out of the mare I’ll Get Along. Given to regional trainer John Servis, Smarty Jones suffered a severe injury schooling at a starting gate in July 2003, fracturing his skull. First fearing for his life and then the use of his left eye, his connections saw the colt make a miraculous recovery and be able to resume training a few months later. Making his debut in a state bred race in November at Philadelphia Park, he cruised to a 7¾ length win under local rider Stewart Elliot who would be aboard “Smarty” throughout his mercurial career. Entered in the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes, the chestnut son of Elusive Quality streaked to a 15 length victory in time so fast for the 7 furlong race that observers all over the country took notice. As the new year turned, Servis raced Smarty Jones in open company in the Count Fleet Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, but the result was the same, a clear victory, this time by 5 lengths.

Resisting multiple offers to sell Smarty Jones, the Chapmans realized that Someday Farm had finally reached “the day”.  Escaping the cold weather, Servis sent his trainee to Oaklawn Park to run in their sophomore stakes races culminating in the Arkansas Derby. (An added inducement was that the racetrack had initiated a bonus of $5 million for any horse who won their Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby and the Kentucky Derby.)

Smarty Jones thrived in the comforts of Hot Springs. He won in succession the Southwest Stakes by ¾ of a length, the Rebel Stakes over the highly regarded Purge by 3¼ lengths and finally the climactic Arkansas Derby by 1½ lengths, setting the Someday Farm color bearer up to win the $5 million bonus if he could capture the Kentucky Derby. Analysts were suspicious of the compact colt’s facility at the 1¼ mile Derby distance, but there was no denying Smarty Jones’s ability to keep winning.

The discussions leading up to the 130^th Kentucky Derby all emphasized how wide open the race appeared. Of the eighteen that made it to the starting gate, several seemed to have a good chance. There was, of course, the undefeated, charismatic Smarty Jones, top 2003 juveniles Lion Heart and Action This Day, Blue Grass Stakes winner The Cliff’s Edge, his stablemate Birdstone (who had won last year’s Champagne Stakes) and the Wood Memorial victor Tapit. An upset possibility was accorded to Borrego who had finished a closing second in both the Louisiana and Arkansas Derbies. Few of the veteran handicappers picked Smarty Jones to win, despite a brilliant 5 furlong workout a week before the Derby, thinking he would be unsuited for the 1¼ mile distance and be used up in a speed duel with Lion Heart. However, the betting public disagreed with the analysts and made the Someday Farm representative the favorite over, respectively, Lion Heart and Tapit.

After rain on Friday and Saturday morning, the track seemed to be drying out when a severe thunderstorm hit the Churchill Downs area about two hours before the Derby turning the surface into a sea of slop. The running of the race over a track few could handle was very elemental. Mike Smith gunned Lion Heart from his no. 3 post to the lead, and by the time the field reached the backstretch, he was 2 lengths in front. Stewart Elliot also hustled Smarty Jones from the start to get position around the clubhouse turn. Heading down the backstretch, Smarty Jones was in second tracking Lion Heart. Around the far turn, Smarty went up to engage Lion Heart, and from the distance separating them from the rest of the field, it was clear that the Derby was between the two front runners. After a brief duel, Smarty Jones drew clear for an authoritative 2¾ length victory. Lion Heart held second by 3¼ lengths over Imperialism. The Cliff’s Edge rallied somewhat to finish fifth while Action This Day was sixth. Birdstone finished eighth, and Tapit, who made a brief move around the far turn, faltered to be ninth. Borrego finished tenth. Despite fast early fractions, the final time was slow, attesting to the difficult track conditions.

Smarty Jones winning the 2004 Kentucky Derby
(Associated Press photo)

It was an all PA based group in the winner’s circle. Owners Pat and Roy Chapman enjoyed their unbelievable success while John Servis and Stewart Elliot proved that good training and solid riding are not restricted to the major racing centers. In addition, the victory by this appealing colt, the first undefeated winner of the Kentucky Derby since Seattle Slew in 1977, resulted in the $5 million bonus award. However, the connections, although enjoying their achievement, were thinking ahead to the Preakness Stakes and a possible Triple Crown bid.

By Preakness time, the racing world was on fire with Smarty Jones mania. He had quickly become the most popular thoroughbred in decades (or, at least, since Funny Cide the previous year). The little colt “who could” faced nine rivals in the “Middle Jewel”.  Included were Derby holdovers (Lion Heart, Imperialism, Borrego and Song of the Sword). The rest were newcomers to the classic, and the two that drew the most attention were lightly raced colts who had insufficient earnings to start in the Derby. Eddington was a robust son of Unbridled who had a single race as a two-year-old but showed promise as a sophomore finishing third in the Gotham Stakes and a close second in the Wood Memorial Stakes. An additional asset was the riding services of Jerry Bailey. The other was the leggy Rock Hard Ten, a dark hued son of Kris S. who had only three 2004 starts to his resume. After a maiden and allowance win at Santa Anita, he finished second in the Santa Anita Derby, but his disqualification to third place cost him a Derby spot. In the Preakness, he also had a big race jockey in Gary Stevens who flew in from a riding stint in France.

Despite the intrigue of these newcomers and the back form of some of his Derby rivals, the Preakness was a tour de force for Smarty and Stewart Elliot. The Derby winner broke fastest, but Elliot took back on his colt when Mike Smith drove Lion Heart for the lead. Elliot even allowed Smith to fan Smarty Jones wide around the clubhouse turn while maintaining his position nearest the front runner. Approaching the far turn, Smith kept his colt wide daring Elliot to steer his mount inside of him. Accepting the offer, Elliot chirped to Smarty, and the response was immediate as the chestnut opened up on his rival. Leaving all in his wake, Smarty Jones sauntered down the stretch for an 11½ length victory, a record margin for the Preakness. Rock Hard Ten gained second by 2 lengths over Eddington who out finished a tired Lion Heart by a head for third place. As Smarty crossed the finish line, race caller Tom Durkin exclaimed, “The Philadelphia Story continues”. Indeed, Smarty Jones’ utter domination of his foes, both new and old, convinced many who were previous skeptics of this horse’s superiority and the likelihood of his winning the Triple Crown. 

When the Belmont Stakes arrived, there was a frenzy of Smarty Jones fandom. It seemed the whole racing world wanted this miracle story to have a resoundingly happy ending. A record crowd of over 120,000 were at Belmont Park hopeful of witnessing racing history. In the nine horse field that assembled for the final classic, most of the field had already been beaten by Smarty Jones. Eddington and Rock Hard Ten returned for another try. Purge whom Smarty had defeated twice in Arkansas had recently won the 9 furlong Peter Pan Stakes. Nick Zito entered two: Birdstone (at odds 36-1), who had skipped the Preakness and classic neophyte Royal Assault (at 27-1). The one doubt that was raised about Smarty Jones’ invincibility was his jockey’s unfamiliarity with the Belmont track configuration, particularly its long sweeping turns.

As in the Preakness, Smarty Jones broke well and went up to contest the early pace set by Purge with Rock Hard Ten and longshot Caiman; the four spread out across the track. As the field raced down the long Belmont backstretch, Alex Solis on Rock Hard Ten made an early move along the inside to join Smarty Jones in challenging Purge’s lead as Caiman dropped back. Meanwhile, Jerry Bailey had Eddington looming on the outside close behind. With a ½ mile to the finish, Smarty Jones gained the advantage, pursued intently by Rock Hard Ten and Eddington as Purge gave way. The early fractions were moderate, but the pace did not slow down as the field headed for the far turn. Elliot gave Smarty his cue, and the colt spurted to a lengthy lead as the crowd roared with visions of a Secretariat-like runaway. However, Edgar Prado riding Birdstone had the son of Grindstone in full flight from mid-pack, slowly closing the gap on Smarty. Even at the top of the stretch, Smarty Jones appeared to have a safe margin, but inside the 1/8 mile pole, he became leg weary as Birdstone finally caught him and passed the dual classic winner for a 1 length victory. Smarty Jones finished 8 lengths in front of the other Zito entry, Royal Assault. Smarty’s early competitors all finished well back: Eddington (fourth), Rock Hard Ten (fifth), Caiman (eighth) and Purge (ninth). The final time was good indicating that the first two under the wire ran strong races.

The post-race scene at Belmont Park was once again muted. Even Birdstone’s winning connections, owner Marylou Whitney, Nick Zito and Edgar Prado were apologetic about spoiling the Triple Crown attempt. The Whitney name has been long associated with the classics. Birdstone’s Belmont victory was the seventh that was owned by a family member beginning with Tanya in 1905. Nick Zito completed a personal Triple Crown having won the Derby twice (Strike the Gold and Go for Gin) and the Preakness (Louis Quatorze) previously. Edgar Prado already had been associated with the denial of a Triple Crown in guiding Sarava to an upset win in 2002 as War Emblem’s bid faltered. In the end, Smarty’s family took the defeat with class and humility, accepting the fates of thoroughbred racing. Their colt had galvanized the nation’s attention, and there were many cherished memories to savor.

After the Belmont Stakes, Smarty was given a respite. Presumably preparing for a summer and fall campaign, the Chapmans sold 50% of the breeding rights of Smarty Jones to Three Chimneys Farm in Midway, Kentucky. As seen with other stallion prospects, this is not a good sign for the particular horse’s extended racing career. Anticipating a start before his hometown fans in the Pennsylvania Derby in August, it was announced that due to chronic bruising of his cannon bone, Smarty Jones would be retired, denying all the thrill of seeing this exciting horse run again.

Despite Birdstone’s later victory in the Travers Stakes, Smarty Jones was voted the Champion Three-Year-Old Male, but he lost Horse of the Year honors to the lightly raced four-year-old Ghostzapper. Smarty’s career totals 8 wins and 1 second (the Belmont Stakes) in 9 starts and earnings over $7.6 million.

The ebb and flow of a stallion’s career is no better illustrated than the history of Smarty Jones. Syndicated for some $39 million and beginning his stallion duties in Kentucky in 2005, he initially stood for a stud fee of $100,000 per foal. After Smarty’s first few crops did not produce significant runners, his owner Pat Chapman in 2010 moved him back to his home state of Pennsylvania where he stood for as low as $4,000. Convinced he was still a viable stallion, Chapman in 2016 made a deal with the present owner of historic Calumet Farm to move Smarty Jones back to Kentucky. However, after spending two years shuttling during the North American breeding off-season to Uruguay for stallion duty, he was brought back to Pennsylvania in 2018 where Smarty currently abides at Equistar Farm in Annville at a stud fee of $3,500. Truly an international sire, his sons and daughters have won races in the U.S., Singapore, Japan and Uruguay.    

The People's Horses: Part II, Funny Cide

The People’s Horses, part II
Funny Cide

Joseph Di Rienzi

May 12, 2020

This is the second of a series that highlights the racing careers of horses who rose from modest backgrounds to startling success and, in doing so, captured the imagination of racing fans. In part I, I looked at Carry Back who raced in the 1960s. Here, and in subsequent parts, horses who raced in the 21^st century will be discussed.

The story of Funny Cide has a great deal to do with place and timing. He was bred in Kentucky at WinStar Farm. His sire, Distorted Humor, was in his first year of stud. Funny Cide’s dam, Belle’s Good Cide was the property of Anne and Joe McMahon. The McMahons wanted the result of this mating to take advantage of the subsidized program in New York for state breds, thus, Funny Cide was born in 2000 at the their farm in Saratoga Springs, NY.  Consigned to the Saratoga New York bred yearling sale in 2001, the tallish chestnut was purchased for $22,000 by Tony Everard who was looking for horses he could sell the following year as two-year-olds. After noting that his purchase was a ridgling with one undescended testicle, Everard had the colt gelded.

In early 2002, veteran trainer Barclay Tagg purchased the yet to race Funny Cide privately from Everard for $75,000 for a partnership called Sackatoga Stables. The ownership group consisted of ten former high school friends from Sacket’s Harbor, a small town in upstate New York. The managing partner, Jack Knowlton, a health care professional, explained that the stable name is a combination of the friends’ hometown and the nearby Saratoga Racetrack were the group would regularly go to the races. Only competing against New York breds as a juvenile, Funny Cide was unbeaten in three outings including victories in the Bertram F. Bongard and Sleepy Hollow Stakes, all at Belmont Park. Although Funny Cide was accorded 2002 Champion New York Bred Male Two-Year-Old, Barclay Tagg was already thinking beyond the state borders for his lean but racy looking gelding.   

Sent to Florida for a possible Triple Crown campaign in 2003, Funny Cide made his three-year-old debut in the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park and finished fifth after hitting the starting gate after the break. Funny Cide’s next start was in the 8½ furlong Louisiana Derby at the Fair Grounds Racetrack. Setting the early pace, under regular jockey Jose Santos, Funny Cide was passed by the Bobby Frankel trained Peace Rules in the stretch but gamely closed the gap near the finish to be beaten a total of 3¼ lengths in being placed second via a disqualification.

Still uncertain if Funny Cide could compete successfully against the best sophomores, Barclay Tagg brought his gelding back to New York in April to run in the Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct where he would face another Bobby Frankel trainee in Juddmonte Farms’ Empire Maker. The regally bred son of Unbridled had just confirmed all the potential seen in him with a near 10 length victory in the Florida Derby. In the Wood, New York Hero broke fastest and took the lead around the clubhouse turn. Funny Cide was a couple of lengths behind in second with Empire Maker a tracking third. Positions were unchanged until the far turn when Funny Cide moved to the lead, followed closely by Empire Maker urged on by jockey Jerry Bailey. As they straightened for the stretch drive, Empire Maker gained the advantage, while Jose Santos was driving Funny Cide on the inside. What looked like an easy victory for Empire Maker changed shortly before the finish as Funny Cide came again, and Bailey had to re-engage Empire Maker to maintain a ½ length victory margin. Some 7½ lengths back in third was Kissin Saint. Tagg and Santos were particularly encouraged by Funny Cide’s refusal to quit and his ability to run strongly at 9 furlongs.

As the Kentucky Derby drew near, the collected wisdom was the race was Empire Maker’s to lose. However, some doubts were raised when it was reported he missed a day of training due to a bruised hoof. This setback may have factored in Empire Maker’s post time odds inflating to 5-2. Second choice was the other Frankel entry, Peace Rules, with Santa Anita Derby winner Buddy Gil the third betting favorite. Funny Cide, despite his close finish to Empire Maker in the Wood and an impressive pre-Derby workout, went off at nearly 13-1 odds.

At the start of the Derby, Brancusi rushed to the lead followed by Peace Rules, while Jose Santos on Funny Cide put his mount on the inside around the clubhouse turn in third position. Empire Maker was back in eighth place in the sixteen horse field but within striking distance of the leaders. Around the far turn, Funny Cide went up to challenge Peace Rules as Brancusi retreated. Jerry Bailey had Empire Maker under a drive as he passed horses readily around the turn and came into the stretch right up against Funny Cide who had Peace Rules to his inside. For a moment, it looked like Empire Maker would go right by the top two, but it was Funny Cide, who under strong urging from Santos, spurted clear for a daylight lead that he maintained to the finish. Both Empire Maker and Peace Rules fought on, but at the end, the former was 1¾ lengths behind the winner but a head in front of the latter. The final time was good with no obvious excuses for the two favorites.

Funny Cide winning the 2003 Kentucky Derby

(Bill Strauss Photography)

In the winner’s circle, racing fans were treated to seeing the celebration of a group of former high school friends from upstate New York living out a dream. The winning owners had even rented a school bus to take their families and friends to Louisville for their date with destiny. In winning, Funny Cide became the first New York bred and first gelding since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929 to win the Kentucky Derby. This victory helped launch Funny Cide’s sire, Distorted Humor, into the upper echelon of U. S. stallions.

The lead up to the Preakness Stakes was absorbed by two disparate news headlines. A newspaper in Miami displayed a photo of Jose Santos riding Funny Cide in the Kentucky Derby which inferred Santos may have been holding in his hand a prohibited electrical device. After an investigation by Churchill Downs officials, they concluded it was a spurious image caused by a shadow. The other news was that initially Bobby Frankel declared that both Empire Maker and Peace Rules would skip the second jewel of the Triple Crown. However, two days before the Preakness, Frankel had a partial change of heart and entered Peace Rules. Ten horses faced the Pimlico starting gate on Preakness Day. Derby winner Funny Cide ruled a slight favorite over Peace Rules, with more generous odds on the others.

If there were questions about the legitimacy of Funny Cide’s Kentucky Derby victory, his Preakness effort put them all to rest. On a track surface rated good, Peace Rules took over from Scrimshaw shortly after rounding the clubhouse turn followed by Funny Cide just about a length away. Positions were unchanged until just before the far turn when Jose Santos sent Funny Cide alongside Peace Rules. The two raced as a team until the top of the stretch when Funny Cide, responding to Santos releasing his hold, burst clear to open a commanding lead, leaving Peace Rules in his wake. At the finish, Funny Cide was 9¾ lengths in front of Midway Road who earned second, ¾ of a length in front of Scrimshaw. Peace Rules was a nose back in fourth. The final time was slow, but the racetrack was not on the fast side all afternoon.

So the incredible fantasy continued for the owners of Funny Cide who in two weeks had seen their horse become a racing hero. Funny Cide had gone from an over achieving New York bred to now once step away from racing immortality. The gelding’s unassuming trainer Barclay Tagg, who for a time was a regular on the Maryland circuit, found this notoriety jarring with his low profile approach to horsemanship. For Jose Santos, who had been accused of foul play in the Derby, this resounding Preakness triumph was sweet vindication of his integrity. 

News in the three weeks between the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes focused on the preparation of Funny Cide and Empire Maker. The dual classic winner had a very fast 5 furlong work the week of the Belmont that had observers and even Barclay Tagg questioning if that was too fast so close to a 1½ mile race. Empire Maker instead worked over the Belmont turf course to protect his tender hoof. The whole racing community had rallied behind the Funny Cide saga and longed for him to complete the Triple Crown. However, despite his resounding Preakness victory, there were still doubts about his superiority over Empire Maker and his ability to perform at his best at the Belmont’s distance.

Opposing the Derby’s 1-2 finishers were previous classic participants Scrimshaw and Ten Most Wanted, and newcomers to Triple Crown racing in Supervisor and Dynever. Belmont Day was cold, wet and miserable, and the racetrack was decidedly sloppy. At post time, Funny Cide ruled the even money favorite with Empire Maker a strong second choice at 2-1. After the break, Barclay Tagg’s fears of Funny Cide being too “on the muscle” were realized as his trainee took the lead from Scrimshaw approaching the clubhouse turn pulling against Jose Santos’ reins. Jerry Bailey steered Empire Maker from his inside position to stalk Funny Cide on the outside. As Funny Cide approached the long sweeping Belmont far turn, Bailey coaxed Empire Maker to join the leader, and they raced as a team with the latter going the better. From fifth position, Ten Most Wanted began a strong rally that took him them to a close third at the top of the stretch. Empire Maker drew clear from Funny Cide, who despite Santos’ urging could not keep up. In the final furlong, Empire Maker was able to repel Ten Most Wanted’s challenge and win by ¾ of a length. Funny Cide, in his bid for the Triple Crown, finished third, another 4¼ lengths behind.

The general disappointment of all who had braved the inclement weather was palpable. Boos greeted Empire Maker as he returned to be unsaddled. Funny Cide and his entourage had become folk heroes and to see their defeat on the threshold of Triple Crown glory, especially to the “blue blood” Empire Maker and his high profile connections, was a bitter pill to swallow. Notwithstanding, for those who believe in bloodlines, Empire Maker, fulfilled his genetic destiny. From his sire, Unbridled, Empire Maker would serve as a link in a stallion chain of classic success which includes 2015 Triple Crown hero American Pharoah [sic].

There was great anticipation for the next meeting between Funny Cide and Empire Maker. Both of their connections were targeting the Travers Stakes at Saratoga, although taking different paths to the “Midsummer Derby”. Funny Cide ran in the Haskell Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park where he faced classic rival Peace Rules in the seven horse field. Soon after the break, Peace Rules gained an uncontested lead and held it the whole way. Funny Cide, squeezed back around the clubhouse turn, never reached contention finishing third, beaten a total of 9 lengths. Empire Maker ran the same day as the Haskell in the Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga and closed strongly but fell short by a neck to Strong Hope.

Despite their respective defeats, Funny Cide and Empire Maker were the headliners for the Travers. However, neither made it to the starting gate. Empire Maker reportedly developed a cough that convinced Bobby Frankel to withdraw him, and Funny Cide developed a fever after the Haskell that forced Barclay Tagg to curtail his preparation. The trainer waited till the Friday before the Travers to scratch the dual classic winner to the dismay of the Saratoga community.

Subsequently, Empire Maker suffered a foot injury that led to his retirement, but Funny Cide was prepared for the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita Park on works alone. Funny Cide, who had not raced in three months was obviously not at his best and finished ninth in the ten horse field. Despite his poor Classic performance and Empire Maker’s 2-1 head-to-head race advantage, Funny Cide was voted the Eclipse Award for Champion Male Three-Year-Old.

Funny Cide, a gelding, did not have a stallion career as an option so his connections persevered. He would race four more years with muddled success and hobbled by nagging injuries. Mostly competing in stakes races, the highlight of Funny Cide’s career as an older runner was a victory in the time honored Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park as a four-year-old in 2004. Despite his infrequent wins, Funny Cide attracted a huge number of fans who came to see him race. His final start (at age seven) was at Finger Lakes Racetrack in upstate New York, a homecoming of sorts, where he delighted his followers with a victory in the Wadsworth Memorial Handicap. In doing so, Funny Cide became the only Kentucky Derby hero to ever run at this regional racetrack. 

His career total reads 11 wins in 38 starts with another 14 in the money performances and over $3.5 million in earnings. In retirement, Funny Cide originally was used as a stable pony for Barclay Tagg. But in late 2008, he was brought to the Kentucky Horse Park in Louisville and has become a fan favorite for those visiting this museum.

The People's Horses: Part I, Carry Back

The People’s Horses, part I
Carry Back

Joseph Di Rienzi

Thoroughbred racing has been called, “The Sport of Kings”, and although there are not that many royals presently, (Queen Elizabeth and Middle Eastern potentates, excepted) it still attracts the modern day equivalent in terms of wealth and swagger. Prominent individuals from manufacturing, finance and technology are typical owners with enough assets to compete in this high risk activity. Still over the years, the relatively speaking “little person” has been able to race a top class horse, usually acquired at a modest price due to unsung bloodlines. The success of these horses have only enhanced the romance of the sport, and these “underdogs” have attracted a wide following among the general racing public. I deem these animals “The People’s Horses”, and in this series, I will examine the racing careers of four:  Carry Back, Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and California Chrome.  

The dominant two-year-old of 1960 in the U. S. was Hail to Reason. However, the son of Turn-to was injured in September forcing his retirement. In his place, a plucky brown colt, Carry Back, became the most successful late season juvenile. Bred and trained by the colorful Jack Price (although the owner of record was his wife Katherine), this modestly Florida bred son of Saggy (whose claim to fame was being the only horse to defeat Citation in 1948) was produced by the mare Joppy who Price had purchased for $300. (Saggy’s stud fee was a grand total of $400.) The foal, Carry Back, described as “scrawny”, nevertheless was able to run an incredible 21 times as a two-year-old in 1960. He began his juvenile season in a 3 furlong race in January at Hialeah Racetrack, a distance he would run five consecutive times.  Subsequently defeated thrice in stakes races by Hail to Reason, Carry Back started his climb up the ranks when the former was retired, and the distances started to stretch out. He won at Belmont Park the 7 furlong Cowdin Stakes, was unplaced in the 1 mile Champagne Stakes, but he roared down the stretch to win the 8½ furlong Garden State Stakes. Carry Back finished the year with a victory in the 1 mile Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. 

With these triumphs, Carry Back was gaining a fan base. He was, at this stage of his career, on the small size with an uncharacteristic long tail. His regular jockey, John Sellers, was tall so this would even make the horse look smaller on the racetrack. He would race in the rear of the field and with a sweeping move on the stretch turn resolutely run down his opposition. Because he was always gaining ground at the end of his races, he appeared to be a bona fide contender for the classics in 1961, and this analysis would prove prescient.

At the beginning of 1961, Carry Back was sent to Florida, his birth state, to prepare for the classics. At Hialeah Park, he would find a talented and persistent rival in Fred W. Hooper’s Crozier. They met for the first time in the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes. Crozier finished ahead of Carry Back who finished fourth, but Crozier was run down by Vapor Whirl. A week later, Carry Back won an 8½ furlong allowance race, and a week after that he came from 11 lengths back to beat Sherluck by a ½ length in the 9 furlong Everglades Stakes. (Crozier who had a bad habit of swerving in the stretch finished a close third but was disqualified and placed fifth.) In the Flamingo Stakes, the premier race of the Hialeah meet for three-year-olds, Crozier had a clear lead in the stretch, but Carry Back, who was a tracking fourth in the early going, beat him narrowly despite being carried wide by his rival.

They both ran in the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park, with Crozier losing by a nose to Beau Prince with Carry Back a closing third. The Florida Derby result was a virtual replay of the Flamingo, only it was run on a sloppy racetrack, and Carry Back had to rally from a double digit length deficit. Once again, Crozier had a clear lead; once again he swerved into Carry Back; and once again, despite being bumped, Carry Back prevailed by a head with Beau Prince back in third.

As the three-year-olds moved north and east following their winter campaigns, Carry Back ran in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, and despite his closing rally he could not get within 3 lengths of Globemaster who led all the way. In the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Racetrack, Sherluck scored a runaway victory. Crozier had tuned up for the Kentucky Derby with an impressive victory in the Derby Trial Stakes over Santa Anita Derby winner Four-and-Twenty.

On Derby Day, the betting public endorsed Carry Back as the favorite in the fifteen horse field. The expectation of a lively pace between Four-and-Twenty, Globemaster and Crozier would seem to work in Carry Back’s favor. The Kentucky Derby of 1961 was one of those rare Derbies that enfolded exactly as anticipated. On a racetrack labeled “good”, Globemaster showed his speed to gain a clear lead with Four-and-Twenty in pursuit. Braulio Baeza on Crozier was able to rate Crozier and wait while Four-and-Twenty made his challenge to Globemaster at the top of the stretch. Swinging Crozier out a little wide, he ran down the embattled leaders quickly and opened daylight on the field. However, just as in the Flamingo and Florida Derby, Carry Back was launching his rally, this time from eleventh place. As Carry Back came up to Crozier in deep stretch, the latter resumed his penchant for bearing out, and even though being floated wide, Carry Back was able to prevail by ¾ of a length. Bass Clef was 2 lengths back in third, with Sherluck in fifth, Globemaster, sixth, and Four-and-Twenty finishing seventh. This was a very popular result. Carry Back’s modest breeding, his rousing finishes and his “everyman” connections made him the “people’s horse”.  

Carry Back in the 1961 Kentucky Derby winner's circle
(BloodHorse Library)

The Preakness Stakes two weeks later promised to be a redo of the Kentucky Derby with Carry Back and Crozier as the leading contenders. From the Derby, there was also Globemaster and Sherluck in the nine horse field. (Four-and-Twenty did not contest the Preakness having returned to California.) The Preakness unfolded similarly to the Derby with Globemaster having a clear lead stalked by Crozier and Carry Back well behind. As the field entered the stretch, it became apparent Crozier was not closing ground as Globemaster began separating himself from the field. Carry Back went very wide around the Pimlico Racetrack stretch turn, and his chances of winning appeared impossible. However, he kept coming and in the last 1/16 of a mile ran down Globemaster to win going away by ¾ of a length, his identical Derby victory margin. Crozier finished third 4 lengths behind Globemaster with Sherluck a nonthreatening fifth. After such a stirring finish, there was great jubilation in the winner’s circle, and the expectations of the first Triple Crown winner since Citation in 1948 reached a fever pitch.

Facing, with the exception of Crozier (who was not entered), most of the same horses he had defeated in the previous classics, Carry Back was an overwhelming favorite to win the Belmont Stakes and complete the Triple Crown. The additional distance of the Belmont were thought to play to the advantage of the stretch running Carry Back over his speedier rivals. However, history shows the Belmont Stakes is invariably won by a horse who is in striking distance from the ½ mile pole and can keep up a steady pace, rather than make a late surge.  Another factor was Sherluck, who after winning the Blue Grass Stakes by open lengths and finishing out of the money in both the Derby and Preakness, was reunited with Braulio Baeza, his Blue Grass rider. 

As the Belmont unfolded, to no one’s surprise, Globemaster took the lead and set a leisurely pace with Sherluck tracking him in second. Racing fans accustomed to Carry Back’s meteoric finishes did not panic when he placed himself well behind the leaders. However, when the field made the turn around the enormous Belmont stretch turn, there was no response from John Sellers’ urgings, and it became apparent that Carry Back would be no threat. At the top of the stretch, Sherluck (at odds of 65-1) ranged alongside of Globemaster and gradually widened his advantage to prevail by 2 lengths with Guadalcanal 2½ lengths further back in third. The scene in the winner’s circle was muted and awkward except for winning owner Jacob Sher and trainer Harold Young. Former President Dwight D. Eisenhower was there to presumably welcome a new Triple Crown champion. There is a great photograph of the Panamanian born Baeza graciously accepting the Belmont trophy from President and Mrs. Eisenhower. 

The immediate aftermath was incredulity over Carry Back’s seventh place finish, beaten over 13 lengths. He did come out of the Belmont with a filled ankle that may have affected his performance but more telling may be his stamina limitations. Carry Back’s acceleration enabled him to win at shorter distances with a late surge, but bursts could not be maintained at the Belmont’s 1½ mile distance, especially when the race is run at a moderate pace. The fact remains that in Carry Back’s entire career he was never able to win a distance greater than a 1¼ mile.

The remainder of Carry Back’s three-year-old year showed inconsistency. He was victorious in the Jerome Handicap at 1 mile defeating Beau Prince and Sherluck. However, against older horses he was unplaced in the U. N. Handicap on grass and third to the mighty gelding Kelso in Woodward Stakes. Racing at 13 furlongs in the Lawrence Realization, he finished a weak third to his Belmont Stakes conqueror Sherluck. Carry Back did finish the year on a high note winning the Trenton Handicap at 1¼ mile at Garden State Park. In year-end honors, Carry Back was unanimously voted Male Three-Year-Old Champion.

As a four-year-old, after a slow beginning, Carry Back demonstrated he could compete against the best in the U. S.  He started 1962 running well without winning in most of the winter races for handicap horses. He re-found his championship form in May in the 1 mile Metropolitan Handicap at Aqueduct setting a new track record in defeating Kelso who finished sixth.

Kelso and Carry Back met again in the 1¼ mile Suburban Handicap with Kelso carrying 132 lb. and Carry Back 126 lb. But there would be a new adversary for both trained by the legendary Allen Jerkens in Beau Purple. He came into the Suburban with the reputation of a speedy but erratic racehorse. What no one but Allen Jerkens seemed to know was that if left alone on the lead, his courage would increase, and his pedigree would carry him as far as racehorses needed to travel. Weighted at 115 lb. in the Suburban, Beau Purple set a moderate pace and met the challenge of Kelso winning by 2½ lengths in new track record time at Aqueduct with Carry Back finishing last. Within two weeks, this trio were re-matched in the 1¼ mile Monmouth Handicap. This time, Beau Purple (117 lb.), after being pressed on the lead, faded, and Carry Back (124 lb.) drew clear to defeat Kelso (130 lb.) by 3 lengths. Kelso did not contest the Brooklyn Handicap, but Beau Purple (117 lb.), finding his courage again, led all the way besting his recently set track record with Carry Back (127 lb.) back in fourth. At Saratoga, Carry Back would win the 9 furlong Whitney Stakes beating his old classics rival Crozier who returned the favor downstate in the 1 mile Aqueduct Stakes.

Always eager to challenge convention, Carry Back’s owners ambitiously sent their homebred to France in October to contest the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, a rare attempt by a North American-based runner to win the European continent’s greatest race. He could not finish better than tenth, but on grass, going 1½ miles, racing the opposite direction than he was accustomed to, it is a better performance than appears at first blush.

Returning to the U. S. in time to face again Kelso and Beau Purple, Carry Back stayed on turf for the 1½ mile Man o’ War Stakes at Belmont Park. At equal weights with his rivals, Beau Purple, defied his critics that claimed he needed weight concessions to win, by leading all the way beating the pursuing Kelso by 2 lengths and setting a new course record in the process with Carry Back fifth. In the climatic Washington D. C. International at Laurel Racetrack, Kelso’s connections, determined not to let Beau Purple “steal another race”, sent Kelso after Beau Purple early in the race. He ran that rival into the ground, fought off Carry Back’s charge in the stretch but was unable to withstand the closing kick of the French representative Match II who defeated Kelso by 1½ lengths with Carry Back finishing third.

Retired to stud in Florida, Jack Price, surprising everyone, announced that his horse would be returned to racing competition in the summer of 1963. After some disappointing efforts including a drubbing by Kelso in the Woodward Stakes, Carry Back silenced Price’s critics in winning for the second time the Trenton Handicap. After this triumph, he was officially retired from racing.

Carry Back’s record includes 61 starts over a span of four years with 21 victories and 22 additional in the money performances. His stud career showed some modest success with a few stakes winners. In 1983, he was diagnosed with cancer and died soon after at age 25. His grave stone identifies him as “The People’s Choice”.

Brief Candles but Lasting Lights, Part II

Brief Candles but Lasting Lights, part II

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is the second of a two part series on thoroughbreds who although having brief, albeit brilliant, racing careers, became significant genetic influences as stallions. In part I, I looked at Hail to Reason and Raise a Native. Here, I will examine Graustark, Hoist the Flag and Danzig.

John W. Galbreath’s Darby Dan Farm bred and raced many outstanding horses, including two Kentucky Derby winners (Chateaugay and Proud Clarion) and an English Derby winner (Roberto). If you ask anyone associated a long time with the stable’s operation who was the best horse ever raised at Darby Dan, he/she would probably say Graustark. Foaled in 1963, he was a dark-hued chestnut son of the undefeated European champion Ribot out of Flower Bowl, making him a half-brother to two-year-old filly champion Bowl of Flowers. Everything about Graustark exemplified class. Considering the stamina influences in his pedigree, what was surprising was Graustark’s precociousness as a two-year-old. He started his career in the Midwest under Loyd (Bo) Gentry. This prompted Darby Dan’s East Coast division trainer, James Conway, to resign because he was not given Graustark to train. Showing great speed in winning his first two starts with ease, Graustark then romped in Arlington Park’s Arch Ward Stakes by 6 lengths. Coming out of that race with an injury, he raced no more in 1965. At the end of the year, Ogden Phipps’ mighty Buckpasser was accorded the two-year-old male championship. However, there were some observers who believed that Graustark was the best juvenile seen in 1965.

Early in 1966, the stage was set in Florida for a meeting between Graustark and Buckpasser. There was a jockey conflict in that Braulio Baeza was the regular rider for both these colts. He subtly gave the impression he favored Graustark, so Phipps Stable trainer Eddie Neloy, obtained the services of Bill Shoemaker for Buckpasser. Graustark was first to race, winning a 6 furlong allowance race the opening week of the Hialeah Park meet. He next competed in the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes where he defeated Buckpasser’s stablemate, Impressive by 4 lengths. Buckpasser made his three-year-old debut on St. Valentine’s Day at Hialeah in an exhibition race. In this 7 furlong sprint, Impressive, surprisingly, defeated Buckpasser by 4½ lengths equaling the track record with another stablemate, Stupendous, further back in third.

The 9 furlong Everglades Stakes was intended to be the initial encounter of Graustark and Buckpasser, but the former did not make the race due to a bruised left hind hoof. In the race, Buckpasser would forge a narrow victory over Stupendous. With Graustark still on the sidelines, Buckpasser re-rallied after seemingly passed in the stretch to win dramatically the Flamingo Stakes. However, the son of Tom Fool developed his own hoof problems (that would plague him the rest of his illustrious career) and was forced to miss all the Triple Crown races.

Graustark was shipped to Kentucky in the early spring to prepare for the Blue Grass Stakes, his major Kentucky Derby prep race. At Keeneland Racetrack, the finely molded chestnut dazzled all who saw him train and run. He won two sprint allowance races with ridiculous ease. Racegoers marveled at his fluid motion and his enormous stride which was measured to be almost as long as that of the fabled Man o’ War.

Only Abe’s Hope (second in the Flamingo Stakes) and Rehabilitate opposed Graustark in the Blue Grass. On the day before the race, the big chestnut breezed 3 furlongs in a sensational 33 3/5 seconds on a sloppy track. But in cooling out, it was noticed he had bleeding with an infection in his right front hoof. No broken bones were detected, and the wound was drained and cleaned. In a decision that would come to haunt Graustark’s connections, they decided to run him in the Blue Grass to get that 9 furlong prep race he desperately needed for the Kentucky Derby. The running of the race on the sloppy Keeneland surface was unorthodox. Graustark displaying his tremendous natural speed bounded to a large lead and appeared to be coasting. Around the far turn, Baeza restrained Graustark as he let his two rivals come closer. Graustark went wide around the final turn and when Abe’s Hope with Bill Shoemaker came to challenge on the outside, Baeza asked his mount to respond. Unlike his previous races, he did not open up, but was passed by Abe’s Hope. Graustark did fight back, although he was not running with his usual fluidity. One final surge found Graustark falling short by a nose of winning what would be his final race. Soon after, it was discovered he had broken his coffin bone in his left front foot during the race and finished it on three legs with tremendous courage. Graustark was immediately retired and began his stallion career at Darby Dan Farm the following year.

(janiceLblake.com)

At stud, Graustark sired Belmont Stakes winner Avatar, French Derby hero Caracolero, champion Key to the Mint and such major winners as Proud Truth, Prove Out and Jim French. He also distinguished himself as a broodmare sire. (In an interesting twist, Graustark’s full brother, His Majesty, who did not have the lofty reputation of his older sibling, became an even more influential sire.)

The next horse on my list of “Brief Candles …” was related to Graustark through his sire line. This was Mrs. Stephen C. Clark’s Hoist the Flag, a powerfully looking and moving son in the first crop of Tom Rolfe who was, just as Graustark, sired by Ribot. Hoist the Flag was produced by the mare Wavy Navy, she by Triple Crown winner War Admiral from a family of stout runners. He was bought as a yearling in 1969 at Saratoga by Mrs. Clark for $37,000 and was trained by noted stepplechase conditioner Sidney Watters, Jr.  Breaking his maiden in September, first out at Belmont Park at 6 furlongs, Hoist the Flag followed that with a facile win in an allowance race at 6½ furlongs. When a horse of Hoist the Flag’s physique and pedigree wins easily sprinting, the mind boggles as to what he will do when the distances stretch out.

In the 7 furlong Cowdin Stakes, under jockey Jean Cruguet, Hoist the Flag broke slowly as he did in his previous races but cruised to the lead in the stretch winning handily by 1¾ lengths over Limit to Reason who had 4 lengths on Executioner. The Champagne Stakes attracted sixteen runners with Hoist the Flag the odds-on favorite. Just as in the Cowdin, he drew clear in the stretch to win with authority by 3 lengths over Limit to Reason. However, a stewards’ inquiry found Hoist the Flag had crossed over on the backstretch bothering several horses. Clearly best, Hoist the Flag was nonetheless placed last, and Limit to Reason was elevated to the win, in a result that gave no satisfaction to anyone. Despite his disqualification, Hoist the Flag was voted the Two-Year-Old Champion and based on his performance and pedigree, there was a great sense that this was a future superstar in the making. All he would have to do is remain sound. 

Hoist the Flag did not race in Florida or California in the winter of 1971. He was in Camden, South Carolina preparing for his three-year-old year. In the second week in March at Bowie Racecourse in Maryland, an allowance race was carded and among the entries was Hoist the Flag. Under jockey Jean Cruguet, the previous year’s Two-Year-Old Champion demolished the field winning by 15 lengths in the fastest 6 furlong time of the Bowie meet. Eight days later in the 7 furlong Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack, he carried co-top weight of 126 lb. and faced aspiring sophomores Jim French, Limit to Reason and Droll Role. On a miserable March day in Queens, New York that saw snow, ice and hail, Hoist the Flag, in a signature performance, crushed the field in near track record time and the fastest time ever recorded by a three-year-old in New York at the distance. Seven lengths back in second was Droll Role, a neck in front of Jim French with Limit to Reason another 1½ lengths back in fourth. Those who braved the weather to see the Bay Shore were convinced they not only saw the best three-year-old in the U. S. but were looking at a possible Triple Crown winner.

This feeling of euphoria only lasted a few weeks. Horse racing can be cruel, and, in one of the harshest twists, Hoist the Flag, breezing in preparation for the Gotham Stakes, twisted his right ankle and fractured his pastern and cannon bones ending his racing career. Right after the injury there was the question of the horse’s survival, but the skill of the medical team and the cooperation of the patient allowed Hoist the Flag to pull through.

Years later, Jean Cruguet, best known as the jockey of Seattle Slew during his Triple Crown sweep in 1977, stated without equivocation, "Hoist the Flag was the best horse I ever rode, by far...Seattle Slew was a top miler, and because he was so much better than everyone else that year he was able to win the Triple Crown, but Hoist the Flag would have beat everyone else going any distance at any time. He was just that much better than everyone else."

Retired to Claiborne Farm in Paris, KY, Hoist the Flag was able to transmit his brilliance and class through his sons, daughters and their progeny. Despite dying in 1980 at a relatively young age of 12, Hoist the Flag sired major winners such as champion Alleged (double winner of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe), Sensational (Champion Two-Year-Old Filly), Linkage and Stalwart. He was also influential as the broodmare sire of the undefeated Personal Ensign and such top class horses as Broad Brush, Sacahuista, Personal Flag and Cryptoclearance. 

Hoist the Flag
(claibornefarm.com)

The last horse in this series was the least raced of the group and never even ventured into stakes competition. However, he was so brilliant in his only three starts and was given the commendation of his well-known trainer, that he was afforded the opportunity to have a stallion career.

Pennsylvania bred Danzig was a small but burly son of Northern Dancer purchased as a yearling for $310,000 in 1978 by Henryk de Kwiatkowski and trained by Woody Stephens. Making his initial start as a two-year-old in 1979, he won a 5½ furlong maiden race at Belmont Park in an impressive final time before an injury sent him to the sidelines. Returning in May 1980, he won two sprint races at 6 and 7 furlongs in fast times before reinjuring himself. On the advice of Woody Stephens, he was retired to Claiborne Farm where he became an instant success at stud.

Danzig’s classic winners include Pine Bluff (Preakness), Danzig Connection (Belmont) and Shadaii (Irish Two Thousand Guineas). Champions include Chief’s Crown, Dance Smartly, Dayjur and Anabaa. Major winners, to name only a few, were Lure, War Chant, Hard Spun and Danehill. The last named is probably the most significant due to his phenomenal success as a stallion in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere. Currently, War Front, a very successful stallion son of Danzig, is standing at Claiborne Farm. 

Danzig at stud
(Tony Leonard)

If this re-capitulation of the careers of these five thoroughbreds provides any illumination, it is that their brilliance, although fleeting on the racing scene, was enough to provide each one of them the opportunity to pass on their prowess. We can only wonder how much they could have accomplished on the racetrack if not cut down too soon, but we are thankful for their descendants who have inherited their genetic superiority.