Ferdinand – The
Bashful Derby Champion
Joseph Di Rienzi
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| Ferdinand winning the 1986 Kentucky Derby (The Courier-Journal) |
It’s been 40 years since a striking, regally bred chestnut darted to the inside of the stretch at Churchill Downs to win the 112th running of the Kentucky Derby. Much of the acclaim given to this horse was due to his connections, both legends of the sport. Trainer Charlie Whittingham and jockey William Shoemaker were both in the twilight of their careers, with the former 73 years old and the latter 54. To paraphrase David Kindred (The Blood-Horse, May 17, 1986, p. 3513), Ferdinand’s victory was like watching Hamlet, written by Shakespeare (Whittingham) and played by Laurence Olivier (Shoemaker).
The
son of the fabled European champion racehorse Nijinsky II had a very successful
racing career, but is legacy is now clouded by outrage by animal rights
advocates when it was discovered that he was a victim of a slaughterhouse in
Japan after his stud career was concluded. This piece will not dwell on his
untimely end but celebrate his journey to fame as a Derby hero.
Foaled
in 1983, he was out of the mare Banja Luka by Double Jay. Bred by Howard B. Keck and raced in
the colors of his wife, Elizabeth, the classically molded chestnut colt
with a small star on his forehead had taken four starts to break his maiden. Ferdinand’s
most accomplished performance as a juvenile was a third place finish, beaten 6½
lengths in the rich 1985 Hollywood Futurity to Carl Grinstead and Ben
Rochelle’s Snow Chief, a horse who would continue to be a formidable rival. Despite,
these modest accomplishments, observers had noticed a gleam in trainer Charlie Whittingham’s
eye whenever Ferdinand was mentioned that they had not seen before.
At
the beginning of 1986 on the West Coast, Charlie Whittingham was openly touting Ferdinand as his hope to train a Kentucky Derby winner.
For the record, Mr. Whittingham had previously run two horses in the Run for
the Roses (Gone Fishin’ (finishing eighth in 1958) and Divine Comedy (ninth in
1960)). After a close second to Badger Land in the Los Feliz Stakes at Santa
Anita Park, the handsome chestnut won the Santa
Catalina Stakes with a come from behind rally under regular rider Bill
Shoemaker. Ferdinand, who could display a
brilliant burst of speed, also had a disturbing habit of pulling himself up
when he found himself on the lead. It would take all of Whittingham’s skill and
Shoemaker’s patience to bring out the full potential in this colt.
After
losing the lead in the stretch to Variety Road in the San Rafael Stakes,
Ferdinand faced that rival and Snow Chief in the Santa Anita Derby. The last
mentioned had returned to California after winning the Florida Derby at
Gulfstream Park. At Santa Anita, it was all Snow Chief who rallied from just
off the pace to a dominant 6 length victory over Icy Groom with Ferdinand, 1
length back in third place. Variety Road finished a disappointing sixth. With
this victory, Snow Chief was assured the favoritism in the Derby. Whittingham,
blaming track conditions for Ferdinand’s loss, was not deterred from continuing
his quest for the roses.
The
discussions surrounding the 112th Kentucky Derby seemed to center on
Snow Chief and Badger Land. Snow Chief had finished ahead of his
rival in the three previous meetings, but Badger Land’s last two races in
Florida (the Everglades and Flamingo Stakes) were impressive, and the tall son
of Codex seemed the more classic type than his compact
adversary. Behind the top pair there was lukewarm support for the perpetually
promising Mogambo, British invader Bold Arrangement and the Arkansas Derby hero, Rampage. Wood Memorial victor Broad Brush was pegged at 14-1 and Ferdinand, who had never come close to defeating
Snow Chief was nearly 18-1. However, there was some support for this colt
mainly due to his outstanding bloodlines, Whittingham’s and Shoemaker’s
confidence in his ability, and some particularly strong workouts over the
Churchill Downs surface.
In
the 16 horse field there was little doubt that speedster Groovy would set the early pace, and so he did
producing fast fractions with Zabaleta, Bachelor Beau and Snow Chief in closest pursuit. Badger Land was shut off temporarily just after the start,
found himself behind horses, and his jockey Jorge Velasquez was forced to race him wide. Ferdinand, breaking well from his number one
post position, was eased back to last by Bill Shoemaker to make one run. Down the backstretch, Snow
Chief seemed to be in prime position as he edged closer to the leaders. Around
the far turn, the favorite momentarily gained the lead only to falter soon
after as the closers made their rally. First came Broad Brush from mid-pack to stick his head in front at
the ¼ mile pole, then Bold Arrangement made a strong move, followed closely by Badger
Land running wide around the turn. Meanwhile, Shoemaker aboard Ferdinand had
improved his position moving between horses and was just behind the leading
group at the top of the stretch. Shoemaker sensing an opening, darted the son
of Nijinsky along the inside and almost immediately Ferdinand spurted to a
clear lead. Bold Arrangement and Broad Brush kept fighting away, but the race
for the roses was over as Ferdinand went under the wire 2¼ lengths in front.
Second in a mighty effort was Bold Arrangement who finished ¾ of a length in
front of Broad Brush. Rampage, who unlike Ferdinand was unable to
get clear running till late in the stretch was a closing fourth, a neck behind
Broad Brush, but 1½ lengths in front of Badger Land. Mogambo was never a factor, finishing 10th,
but the big disappointment of the race was Snow Chief, who tired badly to
finish 11th in a puzzling performance.
In
the winner’s circle, Mr. and Mrs. Howard B. Keck who had so many good horses in association
with Claiborne Farm and Charlie Whittingham over the years celebrated their first classic
victory. (The Keck name will be forever also associated with astronomy, as Mr.
Keck was the primary sponsor of the large telescopes built in Hawaii.)
Ferdinand’s sire, the great Nijinsky, had the
unique distinction of also being this sire of the year’s Epsom Derby, the Aga
Khan’s
Shahrastani. The
73 year-old Whittingham and the 54 year-old Shoemaker were undoubtedly the
oldest trainer-jockey combination to win the Derby. But apart from their
longevity, this victory represented a culmination of their combined mastery of
the sport.
Ferdinand
equipped himself credibly in the other two Triple Crown races. The Preakness
Stakes brought together again the Derby first and third place finishers,
Ferdinand and Broad Brush, respectively with the beaten
favorites Snow Chief and Badger Land. In addition, Groovy returned. Snow Chief’s baffling loss in the
Derby did not deter his connections from moving forward, and he seemed to train
eagerly over the Pimlico surface.
To
the surprise of no one, Groovy was sent to the lead again with Snow Chief close behind along the inside. Unlike the
Kentucky Derby, the pace was moderate as it appeared that jockey Alex Solis
aboard Snow Chief was just biding his time to strike for the lead. Broad Brush was some lengths away in third, while Badger
Land who had ducked out from his outside post was
in fifth with Ferdinand 4 lengths back in sixth place. Around the far
turn, Snow Chief ranged up inside Groovy and gradually forged to the front.
Broad Brush was called upon but could not close ground. Ferdinand put in a
strong move along the inside around the far turn, but at the top of the stretch
it was clear that it would take a complete collapse by Snow Chief for the Derby
winner to catch him. Both Snow Chief and Ferdinand strode out strongly with the
California bred maintaining a 4 length margin to the finish. Another 6½ lengths
back was Broad Brush who just held third by a nose over Badger Land. The final
time was good considering the Pimlico surface appeared slower than it was
normally on Preakness Day.
In
the Belmont Stakes, Ferdinand did not face Snow Chief who after winning the
Jersey Derby at Garden State Park was sent back to California. But in the 10
horse field was Danzig Connection owned by Henryk de Kwiatkowski and trained by Woody Stephens who was seeking
his fifth straight Belmont winner. On a very sloppy Belmont Park surface,
Ferdinand made a challenge in the stretch but could not pass Danzig Connection
and had to settle for third beaten about 1½ lengths with John’s Treasure besting
him by a neck for second place.
After
the classics, Whittingham gave his Derby winner a break, resurfacing towards
the tail end of 1986 to win the 7 furlong Malibu Stakes (beating Snow Chief).
Ferdinand’s four-year-old campaign began with narrow losses in big races, but
towards the second half of 1987, the sculptured chestnut found his top form
which cumulated in a memorable victory (by a nose) over 1987 Kentucky Derby
winner Alysheba in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Hollywood Park. That victory
enabled Ferdinand to win Eclipse Awards for Champion Older Male Horse and Horse
of the Year. Both Derby winners continued their rivalry into 1988, until
Ferdinand’s form had diminished enough that his connections retired him in the
fall.
Sent
back to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky where he was foaled, Ferdinand stood
at stud until he was exported to Japan in 1994. News of his demise surfaced in
2002, and the outrage spurred initiatives in the aftercare treatment of
thoroughbreds that continues to this day. I, for one, like to focus on
Ferdinand’s triumphs, particularly his unexpected win in Kentucky which through
Charlie Whittingham’s patience and Bill Shoemaker’s skill, a shy leader was
transformed into a Derby champion.
