The Greatness of Buckpasser

 

The Greatness of Buckpasser

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Buckpasser
(BloodHorse.com)

With the triumph of Golden Tempo in this year’s Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes memories of the stalwart runners in the Phipps family stable have flooded my mind. Co-owned by the partnership of Phipps and St. Elias Stables, Golden Tempo joins in the legacy of elite equines bred and raced by the Phipps family umbrella which included Mrs. Henry C. Phipps’ Wheatley Stable, Ogden Phipps, Ogden Mills Phipps, Stuart Janney III and now Phipps Stable. Champions and/or classic winners such as Bold Ruler, Bold Lad, Buckpasser, Numbered Account, Personal Ensign, Easy Goer, Heavenly Prize, Inside Information, Rhythm and Orb have raced under the purple and yellow Wheatley Stable, the cherry red and black Phipps or the red and white Stuart Janney silks.  

Among the above, however, I can say with confidence that the greatest was Buckpasser.  A magnificent physical representation of the thoroughbred horse, Buckpasser, foaled in 1963, was a bay colored son of the great Tom Fool out of the mare Busanda, she by Triple Crown winner War Admiral. Busanda was herself a distinguished and durable runner winning among other races, the Suburban Handicap against males. (Both Buckpasser’s parents were Suburban winners, and their son would continue the family tradition in 1967.) In appearance, Buckpasser was long and large with a grace and a power that would take your breath away. Throughout his illustrious career which would award him a championship every year he raced, at ages two, three and four, Buckpasser would have a tendency to do only what was necessary either in the morning in workouts or in the heat of battle in races. He also developed a habit, much to the consternation of his handlers, to slow down once he achieved the lead in a race. 

Trained as a two-year-old by Bill Winfrey, Buckpasser began his racing career in May 1965 with a rallying fourth place finish in a 5½ furlong race at Aqueduct Racetrack. Racing every two to three weeks, as was the norm those days, Buckpasser proceeded with a maiden win (at 5 furlongs), an allowance victory (5½ furlongs), a dead heat win with Hospitality in the 5½ furlong National Stallion Stakes, a neck win in the Tremont Stakes at Aqueduct and a 7 length allowance victory in a prep for the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The favorite for the 6 furlong Sapling was the speedy Our Michael who had won the Juvenile, Tyro, Christiana, and Great American Stakes, all impressively. The Sapling was billed as a race between the present (Our Michael) and the future (Buckpasser). Despite his win streak, Buckpasser seemed immature and the sprint distance of the Sapling appeared to favor Our Michael. In a race that would give the first indication of his extraordinary ability, Buckpasser under regular jockey Braulio Baeza missed the start and conceded about 4 lengths to the rest of the field. What looked like a disaster turned into an inconsequential event, as he gradually caught up with the field and in mid-stretch wrested command and drew away to a 2 length win with Our Michael second and Quinta third. 

In late August at Saratoga Racetrack, Buckpasser again came from off the pace to win the 6½ furlong Hopeful Stakes over his stablemate, Impressive, by 2½ lengths in a fast final time. The latter, a son of Court Martial from the former Two-Year-Old Champion mare High Voltage, had previously won the Saratoga Special and would develop into a top sprinter. He was co-entered on occasion with Buckpasser to ensure a decent pace and to give his stablemate a target to run at during the race.

Buckpasser traveled next to Chicago for the rich Arlington-Washington Futurity at 7 furlongs. He made his move around the turn and gained command at the top of the stretch. At one point Buckpasser had a lead of almost 4 lengths, but he started losing interest in the race and nearly lost it to Fathers Image who rallied along the rail to miss by a ½ length.

The Futurity at Aqueduct at 6½ furlongs was Buckpasser’s next start and he faced the filly Priceless Gem, owned by Mrs. Ethel D. Jacobs and trained by her husband Hirsch, who four days prior had just had won an allowance race by 8 lengths in the fastest time at 6 furlongs for any two-year-old in New York that year. In the 6½ furlong Futurity, Priceless Gem using her vaunted speed made the early lead. Buckpasser was in a challenging position and when Braulio Baeza called upon him he made his move. Most onlookers expected him to go right by Priceless Gem in the stretch, but she was unwavering and held the much larger colt at bay winning by a ½ length.

Priceless Gem returned against her own sex in the 1 mile Frizette Stakes and scored a convincing win. Not showing much caution, trainer Hirsch Jacobs supplemented Priceless Gem to run once more against Buckpasser, this time in the 1 mile Champagne Stakes. Unlike the Futurity, Buckpasser would have two things in his favor, longer distance and the reliable pacemaker Impressive. Sent to the lead, Impressive fought with Priceless Gem with Our Michael close behind. When Buckpasser made his move at the top of the stretch, he uncharacteristically drew out to win by 4 lengths over Our Michael with Advocator another ½ length back in third. Priceless Gem was a tiring sixth and Impressive, having accomplished his mission, finished seventh. With the two-year-old championship secured, Buckpasser was retired for the year.

At the beginning of 1966 the stage was set in Florida for a meeting between Darby Dan Farm’s undefeated Graustark and Ogden Phipps’ Buckpasser. There was a jockey conflict in that Braulio Baeza was the regular rider for both these colts and was used regularly by both stables. He subtly gave the impression he favored Graustark, so Buckpasser’s new trainer Eddie Neloy sought and obtained the services of Bill Shoemaker. Graustark was first to race, winning a 6 furlong allowance the opening week of the Hialeah Park meet. He next competed in the 7 furlong Bahamas Stakes where he defeated Impressive by 4 lengths who had just come off a win in the 7 furlong Hibiscus Stakes. 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, Wheatley Stable’s Stupendous further back in third.

The initial encounter of Graustark and Buckpasser was scheduled to be the 9 furlong Everglades Stakes, but Graustark did not make the race due to a bruised left hind hoof. (He was subsequently retired after finishing second in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Race Course) In the Everglades, Stupendous, ridden by Braulio Baeza set a torrid pace, Buckpasser ranged up alongside and swerved into Stupendous. They battled to the wire with Buckpasser winning by a head in fast time. (Because they were part of an entry there was no Inquiry into the stretch bumping.)  Longshot Abe’s Hope was only 3/4 of a length back in third.

The 1966 edition of the Flamingo Stakes has been forever designated as “The Chicken Flamingo.”  That label is due to the Hialeah Park management decision to have it run as a betless exhibition, despite a field of nine (8 betting entries). It was presumed that the entry of Buckpasser and Stupendous would be so overwhelmingly wagered that if either of them would win it would result in a “minus pool”, namely the track would have to delve into its pari-mutuel takeout to repay all the wagers. The press derided the decision and there was loud booing by the fans as the horses paraded on the track.  As for the running of the race, it was anything but a sure thing. Buckpasser, racing just off the leaders, cruised to the lead in the upper stretch. But instead of drawing out, he seemed to lose interest in the race and found himself surrounded by the field. Abe’s Hope launched a rally on the outside and drew clear. However, as he was driving for the finish, he leaned inside enough that he crossed Buckpasser’s line of vision. With this target in front of him, Buckpasser, re-rallied and in a thrilling finish got to the wire a nose in front. The final time was slow, but that seemed inconsequential compared to the dramatic surge people had just witnessed.

Classic hopes for Buckpasser were derailed when he developed quarter cracks in a hoof, a condition that would plague him the rest of his racing career. The first response was to apply a patch to enable the colt to continue training while the hoof regrew itself. When the blacksmith discovered that the hoof was infected, that short-term measure was not taken, instead the hoof was cleaned and given a few months to heal on its own.

On Belmont Stakes Day (run in 1966 at Aqueduct), in which Kauai King was attempting to win the Triple Crown (he didn’t), Buckpasser cast a long shadow before the big race. Returning in a three-years-and older allowance race earlier on the card and reunited with Braulio Baeza, the big bay won impressively in the fastest 6 furlong time of the spring New York racing season.

Buckpasser returned to stakes competition two weeks after his allowance win. In the 9 furlong Leonard Richards Stakes at Delaware Park he carried 126 lb. and gave 12 lb. to Buffle in defeating him by ¾ of a length in the nine furlong race. The following week Buckpasser along with his stablemate, Impressive, shipped to the Chicago area to run in the Arlington Classic and faced Kauai King, an unexpected starter. Despite the presence of a double classic winner, the Phipps entry was the prohibitive favorite. On an extremely fast racetrack, Impressive, showing brilliant speed, shot to the lead and set world record fractions for the ¼ mile, ½ mile, and ¾ mile marks. Charging up on the outside, Buckpasser passed everyone to win going away by almost 2 lengths in world record time for the mile. Finishing second was Crème dela Crème and He Jr. was third. Impressive for his efforts finished fourth and Kauai King, finishing fifth, came out of the race injured and was retired.

Buckpasser returned to Arlington Park and won the 9 furlong Chicagoan in his characteristic way, gaining the lead in deep stretch and defeating Whisper Jet and Abe’s Hope narrowly. Buckpasser represented the stable in the Brooklyn Handicap and faced Buffle, giving him 7 lbs. There were only three older horses entered to face the formidable three-year-old pair over the 1¼ mile distance. In a virtual match race, Buffle went to the lead with Buckpasser tracking him. In the stretch, Buckpasser stuck his head in front, and then lost the lead, only to regain it right at the wire winning by a head in a thrilling finish. Pluck was the closest pursuer, 7 lengths behind Buffle.

Two weeks later, Buckpasser was back in Chicago completing “The Mid-American Triple” with Stupendous now serving as his “rabbit.” Under 128 lb. once again he gained the lead in the shadow of the wire, winning the 9 furlong American Derby by a neck, over Jolly Jet and Advocator, setting a new track record. Stupendous finished fourth, Belmont Stakes winner Amberoid fifth and Abe’s Hope seventh.

For the traditional Travers Stakes at Saratoga, Buckpasser faced familiar rivals in Buffle, Amberoid, Abe’s Hope and his stable companion, Stupendous. After overtaking Stupendous at the ½ mile pole, Amberoid spurted to a 2 length lead at the top of the stretch. With Buckpasser still near the rear of the field, an upset seemed in the making. But no, Baeza, who knew his mount well, had timed Buckpasser’s move perfectly, and he surged to the front (not too soon this time) to win by ¾ of a length equaling Jaipur’s 1¼ mile track record. Buffle could do no better than third 3½ lengths behind Amberoid with Abe’s Hope fourth and Stupendous sixth and last. 

The Woodward Stakes at 1¼ miles at Aqueduct, as it often did, brought the best three-year-olds (at least those still in training) against the leading older horses. This year’s edition featured Buckpasser, whose winning streak was at nine, with fellow three-year-olds Amberoid and Buffle against 1965’s three-year-old champion Tom Rolfe and other “elders” Royal Gunner, Malicious and O’Hara. Buckpasser had a new “rabbit” in Poker, a three-year-old, who would have his greatest success on grass. The race was run on a very sloppy track but unfolded in a familiar way with Poker racing the speed threat Malicious into defeat.  Buckpasser bided his time under Baeza and resolutely and confidently took over in deep stretch to defeat a rallying Royal Gunner by ¾ of a length with Buffle another ¾ lengths back in third. Tom Rolfe finished fourth and Amberoid sixth. This win, in effect, clinched the three-year-old championship and Horse of the Year honors for the Phipps superstar.

Not stopping with his Woodward success, Buckpasser added in succession the 13 furlong Lawrence Realization by 2½ lengths over Ring Twice and stablemate Poker and the two mile Jockey Club Gold Cup by 1¾ lengths over Niarkos with O’Hara third. In the Gold Cup, Amberoid was fifth and pacesetting Poker was eased. This ran Buckpasser’s winning streak to 12 with his only loss to his stablemate Impressive in that exhibition race in February. In the course of his campaign, he won races from 6 furlongs to 2 miles in a remarkable display of superiority, albeit by narrow margins. Truly remarkable by today’s standards

Buckpasser with Ogden Phipps and Braulio Baeza
(BloodHorse.com)

Buckpasser actually raced once more as a three-year-old at the end of 1966. Sent to California for the Stub Series, a set of lucrative races for four-year-olds of 1967, the bay son of Tom Fool was entered in the 7 furlong Malibu Stakes on Boxing Day (December 26, 1966). The fact that he was dropping down in distance from his previous race at 2 miles to this sprint made no difference as the Ogden Phipps super horse ran his typical come from behind race to win by ¾ of a length over Drin. Two weeks later Buckpasser won the San Fernando Stakes relatively easy by 1½ lengths over Fleet Host with Pretense ¾ lengths back in third. This was Buckpasser’s 14 straight win dating from last year’s Everglades Stakes at Hialeah. He was the prohibitive favorite for the Charles H. Strub Stakes but had to be withdrawn due to a recurrence of quarter cracks in his hoof. Buckpasser would be unable to race again until Memorial Day.

Buckpasser, absent since January returned to races auspiciously in the Metropolitan Handicap. Using a tag team of workout mates, he trained brilliantly leading up to the race. Employing one of his most reliable pacemakers in Impressive, Buckpasser was closer to the pace in the mile contest. Making light of his 130 lb. impost, Buckpasser coasted to the lead in deep stretch to win by 1¼ lengths over the late closing Yonder with Impressive 4½ lengths back in third.

In a departure from the usual campaign for an older horse on the East Coast, Buckpasser’s owner Ogden Phipps entertained the idea of racing his champion next in the Prix de Saint Cloud in France. Before embarking on this transatlantic journey, Phipps wanted to make sure Buckpasser could reproduce his form on grass. Buckpasser was entered in the 13 furlong Bowling Green Handicap at Aqueduct. This was hardly an exhibition race because also entered was Assagai, Champion Grass Horse of 1966, whose connections had similar French aspirations. Buckpasser was assigned a career high of 135 lb. with Assagai weighted at 127 lb. As usual, Buckpasser had a pacemaker, in this case, Poker (112 lb.). The race was won in Ogden Phipps’ words by “the wrong horse.” Poker led all the way and finished 1½ lengths ahead of Assagai who was 3 lengths in front of Buckpasser. With this loss, Buckpasser’s 15 race winning streak came to an end, as well as his proposed French excursion. (Assagai did run in the Prix de Saint Cloud and finished fourth.)

Excuses for Buckpasser’s defeat included the weight assignment, the smooth French shoes that were used, and the grass surface. Whatever the reason, he was re-routed to run in the traditional July 4 Suburban Handicap which has been noted his parents had previously won. Carrying 133 lb., without the use of a pacemaker, Buckpasser seemed hopelessly beaten on the rail in mid-stretch when Ring Twice (111 lb.) forged to a clear lead.  But as we have seen before, Buckpasser often saved his best for last; he was wheeled to the outside, found his best stride and surged past Ring Twice to win by ½ length. In the beaten field were Yonder, Amberoid and Handsome Boy.

In trying to complete the Handicap Triple Crown Buckpasser was assigned 136 lb. for the Brooklyn Handicap. In the field was Handsome Boy, who was trained by “The Giant Killer” Allen Jerkens. He had raced indifferently the last two years until he won the Nassau County Stakes in June at Aqueduct. After the Suburban in which he finished fourth, Handsome Boy won the Amory L. Haskell Handicap at Monmouth Park defeating Amberoid. Carrying 116 lb. in the Brooklyn, Handsome Boy went straight to the lead, set very fast fractions and kept going to win by an astounding 8 lengths over Buckpasser in nearly track record time. Buckpasser came out of the Brooklyn with some heat in his troublesome right front foot and would not race again to the fall.

As mentioned earlier, the weight-for-age Woodward Stakes often became the stage for a championship deciding contest. In 1967 it was the battle of giants with three horses who were among the best in the 20^th century. In addition to Buckpasser who had, according to his connections, recovered from his foot problems, there were the brilliant three-year-olds Damascus and Dr. Fager among the entries. For this reason, the 1967 edition was called, “The Race of the Century”. 

There were three other horses loaded into the Woodward starting gate: Handsome Boy, Great Power and Hedevar. The last two were entered by the respective owners of Buckpasser and Damascus to insure Dr. Fager would not get an easy lead. Dr. Fager’s trainer John Nerud complained about “ganging up on his horse”, but he was reminded he used the same tactic on Bold Ruler in the 1957 Belmont Stakes to insure victory for his Gallant Man. There was a significant jockey re-assignment. Braulio Baeza chose Buckpasser over Dr. Fager, so veteran Bill Boland hopped aboard the Tartan Stable super-speedster. Bill Shoemaker, who expressed great confidence in his mount, remained on Damascus. With all the anticipation, leading up to the race, the running was somewhat anticlimactic. It preceded mostly as expected with Dr. Fager, not wanting to be restrained, shooting right to the lead. Great Power was unable to keep up, but Hedavar, who at his best was a very good horse up to a mile, pressed Dr. Fager for the lead. Damascus and Buckpasser settled in fourth and fifth respectively, many lengths behind the embattled leaders. They made their move as the field approached the far turn with Damascus a few lengths ahead of Buckpasser. As they approached the stretch, Damascus ran right past Dr. Fager who was visibly tiring. Buckpasser did not have his customary surge and could not keep up with Damascus’ rush. Damascus in a bravura performance drew away to a 10 length victory, a margin no one expected. Buckpasser kept pressing on and out finished Dr. Fager for second by ½ length. Handsome Boy finished a distant fourth 13 lengths back of Dr. Fager.

With the Woodward result, the three-year-old championship and Horse of the Year was settled in Damascus’ favor. Buckpasser, Champion Handicap Male Horse, never really recovered from his hoof infection and was retired to Claiborne Farm in Paris, Kentucky. His race record was outstanding; in 31 starts his only out of money performance was in his first start at two in which he was fourth, beaten about a length. Having won 25 races and was champion at ages two, three and four, Buckpasser was a natural selection by the Horse Racing Museum for their Hall of Fame and was inducted in 1970.  

As a stallion Buckpasser was particularly strong in producing females with European classic winner Quick as Lightning as well as North American champions - Numbered Account, La Prevoyante, and Relaxing. He also produced male Canadian champions, L’Enjoleur and Norcliffe, in addition to U. S. major stakes winners Silver Buck and State Dinner. A terrific broodmare sire, he is also the grandsire of Kentucky Derby winners Spend the Buck and Silver Charm and great grandsire of Lil E Tee, as well the damsire of such major winners as Slew o’ Gold, With Approval, Easy Goer, El Gran Senor, Plugged Nickle, Coastal, Touch Gold, Seeking the Gold, Private Account, Fast Play, Believe It, Woodman and Miswaki.

Buckpasser died unexpectedly from a ruptured aorta in 1978 at the age of 15. He lies buried at Claiborne Farm. His memory though lives on among those who cherish thoroughbreds of outstanding looks and confirmation who race long and consistently excel at the highest level.