Memories of the Preakness - Part II.

 

Memories of the Preakness – Part II.

Joseph Di Rienzi

This is the second part of my recapitulations of memorable editions of the Preakness Stakes in preparation for the 150^th running that will be contested on May 17, 2025 at Pimlico Racetrack. In Part I., I recalled the 1962, 1969 and 1973 renewals. In this piece I will look at the 1989, 1997, and 2007 editions, all of which produced scintillating performances and dramatic finishes.

1989
This year’s Preakness featured Round II of what would become a fierce rivalry between two tremendous horses based on opposite coasts owned by leaders of the thoroughbred industry and trained by master horsemen. On the East Coast was based Easy Goer, a muscular chestnut son of Alydar from the champion mare Relaxing, born at Claiborne Farm (Seth Hancock, President) for owner Ogden Phipps and trained by Claude “Shug” McGaughey. Easy Goer was the two-year-old champion of 1988, and his performances evoked memories of Secretariat. On the West Coast was a lanky, almost black son of Halo with a curious stripe down his face. His name was Sunday Silence, owned by the partnership of Dr. Ernest Gaillard, Arthur B. Hancock III (Seth’s older brother), and Charlie Whittingham and trained by the legendary “Bald Eagle” himself.

In the Kentucky Derby, Easy Goer was the strong favorite, but did not seem to handle the muddy Churchill Downs track, closing belatedly to finish second, 2½ lengths behind Sunday Silence. The fact that the son of Alydar had finished second in the previous year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Churchill Downs under similar track conditions, gave his connections hope he could reverse the result at Pimlico in the Preakness two weeks later.  

Kentucky Derby runners, Dansil, Hawkster, Houston, and Northern Wolf were among the eight entries. Easy Goer was again the favorite; his believers willing to forgive his Churchill Downs performances, coupled with some foot issues that cast doubt on Sunday Silence’s soundness. The track was fast, so for this classic there were no concerns about the surface conditions.

This Preakness was one of the most dramatic races in history, comparing well with the epic 1978 Belmont Stakes between Affirmed and Alydar. Northern Wolf and Houston contested the early lead, with the latter gaining a clear advantage once the field straightened out down the backstretch. Sunday Silence was away well and assumed a position in fourth just behind the leaders. Easy Goer hopped at the start but quickly joined the field along the outside tracking Sunday Silence. Making a bold move halfway down the backstretch, Easy Goer, under Pat Day, swept by Sunday Silence to contest the lead with Houston. Around the far turn, Pat Valenzuela asked Sunday Silence for his run, and he readily went up to challenge Easy Goer on the outside for the lead. Down the stretch they were like two heavyweight boxers, exchanging punches toe to toe. For an instant, it looked like Sunday Silence would pull away, but then Easy Goer under Day’s whipping fought back to gain a slight advantage. Valenzuela shifted Sunday Silence closer to Easy Goer brushing him several times and forcing him close to the rail. In a desperate finish, Sunday Silence’s nose was in front. A foul claim by Pat Day for interference down the stretch was not allowed. The final time was excellent, indicating the powerful races run by the first two finishers. 

Sunday Silence winning the 1989 Preakness
(bloodhorse.com)

The son of Halo had won the first two classics, and it was on to the Belmont Stakes for immortality, plus a $5 million bonus if Sunday Silence should complete the Triple Crown. However, Shug McGaughey and the Phipps Stable were not ready to concede the Belmont to their rival and would prepare Easy Goer for another assault against Sunday Silence. At his favorite track, Easy Goer would produce a resounding 8 length victory in a time only run faster at its 1½ mile distance by Secretariat in his epochal Belmont Stakes triumph in 1973.

1997
This year’s Preakness Stakes promised a rematch of the pulsating Derby finish with the first two across the line - Silver Charm and Captain Bodgit entered. The former, a strong bodied gray son of Silver Buck owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis had provided trainer Bob Baffert with his first Kentucky Derby victory by a head over the latter owned by the Team Valor partnership.

Also entered in the Preakness were Derby alums Free House (who finished third) and Concerto (ninth). Of the six other entrants, the most intriguing was Frank Stronach and Stonerside Stable’s Touch Gold, a bay son of Deputy Minister out of the Buckpasser mare Passing Mood. Raced in Canada during his juvenile year, Touch Gold finished in the top three positions in two stake races. In 1997, now trained by David Hofmans, he started the year with a sharp 6 furlong allowance win at Santa Anita. Racing next in the 8½ furlong Lexington Stakes at Keeneland Racetrack, Touch Gold roared from off the pace to an 8½ length victory.

Despite his Derby success, Silver Charm was only the third betting choice in the Preakness behind favorite, Captain Bodgit and Free House. Bettors recognizing Touch Gold’s potential made him the fourth betting chance. The start was eventful as Touch Gold under Chris McCarron stumbled badly and nearly fell to his knees. Longshot Cryp Too went for the early lead followed closely by Free House. Jockey Gary Stevens had Silver Charm assume a tracking position a few lengths from the leaders while Captain Bodgit settled in ninth place. Touch Gold, who was last as the result of his near disaster at the break, moved up impressively along the inside in the run down the backstretch until having to steady at the ½ mile pole. As the field swung around the tight Pimlico far turn, Free House was in the lead with Silver Charm about a length away with Concerto trying to hold third position. Touch Gold tried to come up the inside, but as the field straightened out for the stretch run, Kent Desormeaux riding Free House tightened up the opening on the rail so that the hole was very narrow. In a torrid stretch drive the two Californian based runners, Free House and Silver Charm, battled tenaciously as Captain Bodgit closed furiously on the outside. Silver Charm managed to get his head in front of Free House just before the finish as Captain Bodgit was a similar margin behind in third place. Touch Gold, who never made it past Free House, nevertheless, ran a remarkable race in finishing fourth, beaten only a total of 1½ lengths.

Silver Charm (no.,  6) wiining the 1997 Preakness
(Daily Racing Form)

Despite another desperate finish, Silver Charm now stood on the brink of racing history. No one could question his gameness and his breeding with Buckpasser and Round Table influences suggested that the 1½ mile distance of the Belmont Stakes would be no obstacle. However, the takeaway from the Preakness was that the best horse may have finished fourth, and he, Touch Gold, was also being pointed for the Belmont. And as the racing fates would have it, a Triple Crown would be denied as Touch Gold would catch Silver Charm in the closing strides of the Belmont Stakes.

2007
This year’s Preakness Stakes brought together the two best horses of their generation. Street Sense, a leggy dark bay son of Street Cry, was the two-year-old champion of 2006 and became the first horse (there has been only one other since) to win both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Kentucky Derby. Owned by James Tafel, trained by Carl Nafzger and ridden by Calvin Borel, in the Derby, Street Sense finished 2¼ lengths clear of Hard Spun at the finish. The latter easily held second; some 5¾ lengths further back in third was the lightly raced Curlin.

The last mentioned would have a complicated ownership and change of trainers in his racing career. He was named after Charles Curlin, an African American slave who fought in the Civil War, by one of his owners who was a distant descendent. Curlin, the racehorse was a big bright chestnut son of Smart Strike from a Deputy Minister mare, announced his presence with an eye-opening 12¾ length victory in fast final time in a maiden race at Gulfstream Park in February 2007. After this initial victory, Midnight Cry Stables sold a controlling interest in the colt to a partnership consisting of Jess Jackson, owner of Stonestreet Stables, Satish Sanan, owner of Padua Stables, and George Bolton. Helen Pitts, who had trained Curlin and brought him to his first start was summarily replaced by the more well-known Steve Asmussen. (Because of the four-part ownership, Curlin’s jockey would appear in different silks on a rotating basis.) Winner of both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, he went into the Derby with no races as a juvenile and only three total starts.

The Preakness, in addition to five other less fancied entrants, featured the first three finishers from the Kentucky Derby and one other participant, Circular Quay. Street Sense was the favorite, but Hard Spun, Curlin and Circular Quay all were given solid chances to upset the Derby hero. In drama and sheer racing performance it was one of the best Preakness’ ever, matched by the Sunday Silence – Easy Goer duel in 1989.

The early pace was fast, carved out by longshots Xchanger and Flying First Class. Hard Spun was reserved in third place a few lengths behind with Curlin, Street Sense, and Circular Quay much further back occupying the last three positions. Midway down the backstretch, Hard Spun cruised past the pacesetters to establish a clear lead. Around the far turn C P West made a mild challenge, but the real threats were coming from Curlin and Street Sense who were both rallying strongly. Borel took Street Sense off the rail to split horses at the top of the stretch and surged to the front. Curlin on the outside had been passed by Street Sense, but re-rallied when he changed leads for Robby Albarado to close the gap and finally gain the lead just before the finish. At the wire, Curlin was a head in front of Street Sense who was 4 lengths clear of Hard Spun. C P West finished fourth, and Circular Quay had a tepid rally to finish fifth. The final time equaled the fastest Preakness ever (not counting Secretariat’s corrected final time); however, the Pimlico surface was providing swift final times the entire day.

For Curlin’s several owners, it was a special moment of unified celebration. (It would not last, due to jail sentences for his original owners and lawsuits by the clients they had defrauded.) Steve Asmussen, who now had one of the largest stables in the country, was relishing his first classic victory, and the beginning of a run that would propel him to the upper echelon of the training ranks. For Robby Albarado this also was his first classic success. That Curlin in only his fifth career start would be able to win the Preakness, suggested he was a horse who would only become more formidable in time.
 

Curlin (on outside) winning the 2007 Preakness
(Denver Post)

So, as we approach the 150^th renewal of the Preakness, it is hoped horse racing enthusiasts will be treated to another spectacular race that will build on the great tradition and bring honor to the horse who wears in the winner’s circle the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans (actually dyed Poms or Mums).