Viva Canonero!

 

Viva Canonero!
Latin American Hero

Joseph Di Rienzi

This year marks the 50^th anniversary of the implausible Kentucky Derby victory of an erstwhile undistinguished horse who had previously raced in Venezuela. In the mold of a true “rags to riches” story, Canonero II for a brief five weeks shined across the U. S. thoroughbred racing landscape, until coming back to reality on a sultry Saturday in June at Belmont Park. In this piece, I will discuss the dizzying climb to the top of this true underdog and his ultimate fall.

Canonero II for all his Latin American roots was a product of European-U. S. breeding. His sire was English bred Pretendre who raced prominently in the UK, narrowly losing the country’s premier race -the Epsom Derby. Canonero II’s dam, Dixieland II, was sired by successful stallion Nantallah. The resulting foal of this union, a bay colt born in 1968 in Kentucky, was bred by Edward Benjamin. Having a misshaped foreleg led to the horse who would be named Canonero II (there was a predecessor with the same appellation) sold at auction as a yearling for a paltry $1200. He was bought by Pedro Baptista raced in the name of his son-in-law, Edgar Caibett, and was trained by Juan Arias.

Beginning his racing career in August 1970 as a two-year-old at La Rinconada Racetrack in Caracas, Venezuela, Canonero II won his initial start, drawing away by 6½ lengths. Making his first foray into the U. S., his connections sent him to California to race twice at Del Mar Racetrack in September where Canonero II finished third in an allowance race and then fifth in the Del Mar Futurity. Returning to Venezuela, he began what in retrospect was his Triple Crown campaign with a victory in December at La Rinconada, then raced steadily in the new year winning half of his first eight starts. Perhaps the most notable was a victory in March 1971 at the exact 1¼ mile distance of the Kentucky Derby.

Canonero II’s chances in the 1971 Derby were enhanced by the apparent lack of quality in his competition. The Two-Year-Old Champion of 1970, Hoist the Flag had made an auspicious beginning as a sophomore winning an allowance race at Bowie Racecourse and then decimating his field in the Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct Racetrack. However, in training for his next start in New York, the son of Tom Rolfe suffered a catastrophic injury that fortunately did not end his life, but terminated his racing career.

In the absence of a clear divisional leader, the top contenders appeared to be Jim French, a sturdy colt who under the training of John Campo raced literally coast-to-coast winning the Santa Anita Derby and placing in several of the year’s significant prep races. Also, there was Unconscious, who though defeated by Jim French in the Santa Anita Derby, had rebounded with an impressive victory in the California Derby at Golden Gate Fields. Calumet Farm had Eastern Fleet who, although inconsistent, had managed to defeat Jim French in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

All did not go smoothly for Canonero II in his immediate preparations for the Kentucky Derby. The airplane carrying him from Venezuela had to turn back twice due to mechanical issues. When the colt finally landed in Florida, he had to undergo a long van ride to Louisville, KY.  Upon arrival, he was required to stay in quarantine for four days. All this appeared to take a toll on Canonero II’s physical condition, and his lone timed workout over the Churchill Downs racing surface was slow by U. S. training standards.

The field for the 97^th Kentucky Derby swelled to 20 entries with the prospects of a wide open race. The public settled on Unconscious as the favorite over the Calumet Farm entry of Eastern Fleet and Bold and Able with Jim French the third choice. Canonero II, who as a single betting entry would have been at astronomical odds, went off instead at a modest 9-1, in that he was part of the mutual field and coupled with five other horses (which finished 16^th through 20^th place).

Bold and Able, breaking from the inside post position, set the pace followed by Jr’s Arrowhead and Eastern Fleet. Canonero II, at one point was in 18^th place but made a bold move outside of horses along the backstretch to reach contention around the final turn. Meanwhile, Jim French was weaving his way toward the front from mid-pack. Eastern Fleet slipped inside his stablemate to assume the lead at the head of the stretch, but he was no match for Canonero II’s sustained rally. At the finish it was the South American raced horse winning under regular rider Gustavo Avila by 3¼ lengths over Jim French with Bold Reason, third two lengths back. Eastern Fleet held on for fourth place, and Unconscious ran evenly to finish fifth.

The result was a shock that reverberated across the racing world. There were figurative fireworks in the winner’s circle as Canonero II’s connections celebrated their Venezuelan pride. (Fortunately there was a person serving as an interpreter in the post-race interviews, but despite some translation issues, the joy of the moment was evident for all).

Canonero II in the 1971 Kentucky Derby winner's circle
(cms.equibase.com)

The elation exhibited by this horse’s victory extended into the two week interval between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes. Suddenly he was a national hero and shouts of “Viva Canonero” were heard across Venezuela. (There was a vibrant party at the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington D. C. the night before the Preakness in honor of Canonero II, and the country’s Presidente sent a congratulatory message).

The Preakness field featured Canonero II, Jim French, Eastern Fleet, Bold Reason, Vegas Vic, and Impetuosity, all from the Derby, with the additions of Flamingo Stakes winner Executioner, and leading two-year-old of 1970 Limit to Reason who had finished second and third, respectively to Sound Off in the Preakness Prep. The question surrounding the second jewel in the Triple Crown was the Derby win by Canonero II a fluke? He did go to post the co-favorite with Jim French with Executioner the third betting choice. In a race that was the polar opposite of his Derby win, the Venezuelan raced horse pressed the pace set by Eastern Fleet as soon as the field turned down the backstretch. Setting fast fractions, the two runners ran 1-2 around the racetrack until deep stretch Canonero II when gradually pulled away to win by 1½ lengths in a track record performance. Eastern Fleet finished a game second 4½ lengths in front of the ever present Jim French. Bold Reason was fifth, Executioner sixth and Limit to Reason 11^th and last. Amid the joy and celebrations from the Venezuelan contingent, in the winner’s circle the word “superhorse” was heard. Was there anything this horse could not do?

Canonero II winning the 1971 Preakness Stakes
(Blood-Horse photo)

Belmont Park on Belmont Stakes day was a fiesta of Latin American exuberance with a record crowd of 83,000 people. Bands were playing, people were singing and dancing all in anticipation of a new Triple Crown winner. Canonero II’s performances in the Derby and the Preakness had caught people’s imagination in the U. S., particularly the Latin American community. All he needed to do was to complete the triple by winning the Belmont to unleash all the longing for a new equine hero. Unfortunately, thoroughbred racing is full of disappointments, none greater than seeking to win the Belmont after dual classic triumphs. A sign that this was not a fait accompli were the 12 other entries challenging Canonero II. There were reports that not all was well with the Derby-Preakness winner. He had developed a skin infection and thrush in his right hind hoof, and he did not appear to be doing any serious training in preparation for the Belmont. However, he did go off the odds-on favorite with the John Campo trained entry of Jim French – Good Behaving the second choice.  A new horse to the Triple Crown races was October House Farm’s Pass Catcher. Conditioned by Eddie Yowell, the son of All Hands as a two-year-old had placed in several stakes. An injury suffered in the Hopeful Stakes ended Pass Catcher’s juvenile year. Slow to find his best form as a sophomore, Pass Catcher came into the Belmont Stakes off a strong second place finish in the Jersey Derby run at Garden State Park the Monday before the Belmont.

At the start, jockey Avila sent Canonero II straight to a clear lead and set a controlled pace with Bold Reason, Pass Catcher and longshot Twist the Axe tracking him. Twist the Axe moved first, getting within a ½ length of the leader. However, it was Pass Catcher under jockey Walter Blum who made a sudden move with ½ mile remaining to sweep pass Canonero II who had no response and established a lengthy lead in the stretch. Blum, however, lost his whip, and Jim French closing relentlessly cut the margin to ¾ length at the wire. Bold Reason repeated his Derby third, 2½ lengths behind Jim French with Canonero II, a game but tired fourth, a neck back.

Pass Catcher leading in the 1971 Belmont Stakes
(Blood-Horse photo)

The celebration in the winner’s circle was muted, only enjoyed by the connections of Pass Catcher – October House Farm owner Peter Kissel, trainer Eddie Yowell, jockey Walter Blum and the bettors who cashed in on the 35-1 odds. Many in the Latino community at Belmont that day went home disappointed not seeing their “compadre” perform at his best to win thoroughbred racing’s greatest goal. 

Canonero II was sold to the legendary King Ranch shortly after the Belmont for a price reportedly to be $1.5 million. Plagued by injuries, he would not return to the races until the following year, and when so, he would trained by Buddy Hirsch. His four-year-old campaign was not successful except for one shining moment. He began 1972 with a decent second place finish in the Carter Handicap at Belmont Park, then went on a five race losing streak. However, in September he found his best form winning the Stymie Handicap by 5 lengths from Riva Ridge, the year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner, setting a new 9 furlong Belmont Park track record. (It must be noted that the younger Riva Ridge was conceding the older Canonero II a hefty 13 lb. in weight assignments.) In what would be Canonero II’s last race he finished second to Autobiography, who would be voted the year’s best older male horse in an allowance race at Belmont Park.  Entered for the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Canonero II was scratched due to an ankle injury and retired. oHohOhH

His stud career in the U. S. was desultory and eventually he was returned to Venezuela where Canonero II died of an apparent heart attack in 1981. But despite his quiet ending, the memories of his Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories still are etched across the thoroughbred landscape along with the resounding cry, “Viva Canonero!”