The Kentucky Derby - Breeders' Cup Classic Double, Part I

 

The Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic Double, Part I

Joseph Di Rienzi

In the 36 year history of the Breeders’ Cup World Championships, Kentucky Derby winners have several times participated in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, the climatic race of the whole Breeders’ Cup series. Contested at the same 1¼ mile distance as the Kentucky Derby, it is a fitting venue for the Derby hero to prove his/her worth against the best dirt campaigners of the year. In total, there have been fifteen Kentucky Derby winners to try the Classic with five returning victorious. In this two part series, I will reprise the Classic victory of those who completed the Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic double and give passing reference to those Derby winners who were not successful in the Classic. 

Though the Breeders’ Cup began in 1984, it was not until 1987 that a Kentucky Derby winner was entered in the Classic. In fact, in that year there were two Derby heroes – Ferdinand, the 1986 winner, and Alysheba the current year’s victor (and Preakness Stakes winner) who were among the twelve entered at Hollywood Park on November 21. Ferdinand appeared to have the advantage in the Breeders’ Cup Classic as the older competitor racing at a track where he won the Hollywood Gold Cup (at the same distance as the Classic). There was some support for the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker and Canadian bred three-year-old Afleet. Other contenders were Cryptoclearance, Nostalgia’s Star, Gulch, Candi’s Gold and Judge Angelucci. The last named, trained by Charlie Whittingham (as was Ferdinand) had developed into more than just a pace setter for his barn mate. Since finishing second to Ferdinand in the Hollywood Gold Cup, the son of Honest Pleasure had won three of four stakes races.

The Classic was, to employ an overused expression, a thriller. Candi’s Gold and Judge Angelucci went for the lead and set a steady pace. Ferdinand began in mid-pack but raced into contention along the backstretch. Alysheba was initially placed far back and made a bold move on the outside as the field headed around the far turn. At the top of the stretch, Ferdinand, under Bill Shoemaker, cruised up alongside the battling leaders, Judge Angelucci and Candi’s Gold. Knowing his mount’s habit of pulling himself up once he gains the lead, Shoemaker was waiting to the last moment to urge Ferdinand forward. However, when he saw Alysheba coming resolutely to his right, Shoemaker called on Ferdinand, who surged forward to gain a clear advantage. In the shadow of the finish line, Alysheba closed dramatically to just miss winning by a nose. (An unforgettable memory is race caller Tom Durkin’s pronouncement that “the two Derby winners hit the wire together”.) In third place, 1¼ lengths behind, was a very game Judge Angelucci with Candi’s Gold another 1½ lengths back in fourth place. (Skywalker in his attempt to win the Classic again finished twelfth and last.)

Ferdinand winning the 1987 Breeders' Cup Classic
(bloodhorse.com)

As a result of this victory, Ferdinand, owned by Mrs. Howard B. Keck, despite having lost his first six races of the year, was voted the Eclipse Award both for Champion Older Male Horse and Horse of the Year. Alysheba, due to his overall record and powerful performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was voted Champion Three-Year-Old Male.

Alysheba was given a second opportunity to the win the Breeders’ Cup Classic as a four-year-old in 1988. The sturdy son of Alydar, owned by Pamela and Dorothy Scharbauer and trained by veteran Jack Van Berg, was having another championship year racing all across the country. He had defeated Ferdinand twice at Santa Anita Park in the early part of 1988 and ventured east in the second half to win major races in New York and New Jersey.

Run on a cold miserable damp day in November at Churchill Downs, the nine horse Classic field contained all the top horses in training.  Alysheba, Waquoit, Cryptoclearance, Personal Flag, Cutlass Reality and Slew City Slew represented the four years and older division, whereas Forty Niner, Seeking the Gold and Lively One comprised the sophomore set. Alysheba’s overall record, plus the fact he was racing where he won last year’s Kentucky Derby made him the most probable winner. The doubters pointed to his recent narrow victories suggesting there was not much difference between him and his competitors. With the muddy conditions, there were memories of his floundering in the mud at Saratoga Racetrack in the previous year’s Travers Stakes. Nevertheless, Alysheba was the solid post time favorite. Waquoit, off a dominating Jockey Club Gold Cup win, was the second choice with Forty Niner the third betting favorite. The Phipps stable entry of Seeking the Gold and Personal Flag was the fourth choice.

Waquoit and Slew City Slew went head and head for the early lead; Cutlass Reality was third with Alysheba in fourth place. Forty Niner was just inside Alysheba down the backstretch. Alysheba launched his rally as the field approached the far turn. Forty Niner was moving with him when suddenly jockey Julie Krone lost control, and the Mr. Prospector colt dropped back to last place. (Krone reported post-race that she felt her mount had stumbled.) At the top of the stretch, several runners were in contention, but the strongest were Alysheba and Seeking the Gold who had rallied outside of everybody. For an instance, it looked that Seeking the Gold would gain the advantage, but Alysheba, resolute as always, held the younger rival’s surge at bay and finished a ½ length in front. Five lengths back in third was Waquoit with Forty Niner closing gamely from his setback along the turn, finished a neck back in fourth in a performance that should have had him closer. The impact of the race resulted in Eclipse Awards for Alysheba for both Older Male Horse and Horse of the Year.

Alysheba winning the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic
(bloodhorse.com)

The following year Breeders’ Cup Day was held at Gulfstream Park, and the Classic featured the fourth meeting between those racing titans Easy Goer and Sunday Silence. The two three-year-olds had battled fiercely through the Triple Crown series with the latter gaining victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes, while the former was triumphant in the Belmont Stakes. There were six others in the field, however, just about everybody picked the two sophomores to finish first and second. Easy Goer was the surprising strong favorite, considering that Sunday Silence had won two of the three previous meetings. The result of the Belmont Stakes was taken as definitive in which Easy Goer won by 8 dominant lengths. However, that was at 1½ miles and around Belmont Park’s gentle turns. The Breeders’ Cup Classic was run at a 1¼ mile around the tight oval of Gulfstream Park which Easy Goer had not negotiated well in the past. An added uncertainty was that Chris McCarron was now the rider of Sunday Silence in that his regular jockey Pat Valenzuela was serving a suspension due to repeated drug abuse.

As the race began, Slew City Slew showed his speed to take a 3 length lead setting a fast pace with Blushing John in second. Sunday Silence was parked in fourth and then advanced to third, with Easy Goer further back in sixth place. Down the backstretch, Sunday Silence ambled smoothly toward the leaders, and Easy Goer made a quick move to be just behind his rival. Around the turn, Blushing John forged to the front as Slew City Slew fell back. As feared, Easy Goer was not able to keep pace around the final turn with Sunday Silence and lost ground. At the top of the stretch, Sunday Silence readily moved to and then past Blushing John as Easy Goer mounted a desperate challenge once in the straight. In the last 1/16 of a mile, Easy Goer closed considerable ground but fell short by a neck at the finish. Blushing John in a strong effort was 1 length behind Easy Goer but almost 10 lengths in front of fourth finishing Present Value.

For the partnership of Dr. Ernest Gaillard, Arthur Hancock III and Charlie Whittingham that owned Sunday Silence, this victory was the year’s culmination. For Whittingham this was his second Kentucky Derby - Breeders’ Cup Classic double trained winner after Ferdinand in 1987.  Naturally, Three-Year-Old Male Champion and Horse of the Year honors were awarded to Sunday Silence although there are still some stubborn observers (myself included) who believe Easy Goer was the better horse.

                                 

(To be continued in part II.)