The Breeders' Cup - Kentucky Derby Classic Double - One Year at a Time

 

Kentucky Derby - Breeders’ Cup Classic Double - One Year at a Time

Joseph Di Rienzi

 

Sovereignity winning the 2026 Breeders' Cup Classic
(Barbara Livingston)

With Sovereignty’s authoritative victory in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic, it has come to mind other thoroughbreds that have completed a Kentucky Derby – Breeders’ Cup Classic double. (See “The Kentucky Derby - Breeders’ Cup Classic Double,” https://tjtgreen.blogspot.com/, October 22, 2025.) First was Ferdinand in 1987, followed consecutively by Alysheba (1988), Sunday Silence (1989) and Unbridled (1990). Then there was a gap until Triple Crown hero American Pharoah completed the double in 2015. Five years later, Authentic, under COVID-19 conditions in 2020, parlayed his Kentucky Derby win in September with a gate-to-wire victory in the Classic in November. Perusing the preceding list, it is noted that only Ferdinand and Alysheba won the Classic in the year after their respective Kentucky Derby triumphs. One could argue that is a more difficult feat than winning both races in the same year, albeit as a three-year-old. So, with that premise, I would like in paying homage recall both Ferdinand and Alysheba’s victories in the Classic.

On November 21, 1987 at Hollywood Park, the stage was set for the fourth Breeders’ Cup Classic. A field of 12 entered the starting gate headed by two Kentucky Derby winners, Ferdinand and Alysheba. The former, a four-year-old son of Nijinsky II out of the mare Banja Luka, owned and bred by Mrs. Howard B. Keck and trained by the venerable Charlie Whittingham. The classically moulded chestnut colt was a surprise winner (at 18-1) of the 1986 Kentucky Derby. Pamela and Dorothy Scharbauer, the daughter and granddaughter, respectively, of the owners of 1959 Kentucky Derby winner Tomy Lee had purchased Alysheba as a yearling for $500,000. The rugged, raw boned bay son of Alydar was turned over to Jack Van Berg to train. Winner of both the 1987 Derby and Preakness Stakes, Alysheba failed in his Triple Crown bid, finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes to Bet Twice.

Going into the Classic, Ferdinand appeared to have the upper hand as the older competitor racing at a track where he won the Hollywood Gold Cup (at the same 1¼ mile distance as the Classic) and bringing a series of sparkling workouts leading up to the race. There was some support for the defending Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Skywalker and Canadian bred three-year-old Afleet. The son of Mr. Prospector had finished second in the Queen’s Plate, but in the U. S. had won the Jerome Handicap and the Pennsylvania Derby before finishing second to Crème Fraiche in the Meadowlands Cup Handicap by a nose, but ahead of Cryptoclearance, another Classic entry. The durable Nostalgia’s Star was also in the race after his victory in the Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap in which he defeated, among others, Crème Fraiche. Other contenders were Gulch, Candi’s Gold and the Whittingham trained Judge Angelucci. The last named had developed into more than just a pace setter for Ferdinand. Since his second to his stablemate in the Hollywood Gold Cup, the son of Honest Pleasure had won three of four races including the Bel Air, Longacres Mile and Bay Meadows Breeders Cup Handicaps.

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 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.”) Third, 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 12^th and last.) As a result of this victory, Ferdinand, despite having lost his first six races of the year was voted the Eclipse Award both for Male Older Horse and Horse of the Year. Alysheba, because of his national record and powerful performance in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, was awarded Champion Three-Year-Old. 

Ferdinand (inside) defeating Alysheba in the 1987 Classic
(BloodHorse)

The next year saw the Breeders’ Cup races run over a very sloppy Churchill Downs. Alysheba’s four-year-old campaign was spectacular. The now four-year-old son of Alydar started the year winning the Charles S. Strub Stakes. Then he won the Santa Anita and San Bernardino Handicaps (defeating arch rival Ferdinand in both). After suffering loses in both the Pimlico Special and Hollywood Gold Cup Handicaps, Alysheba (racing now without blinkers) came into the Breeders’ Classic with victories in the Iselin (at Monmouth Park), the Woodward (at Belmont Park) and the Meadowlands Cup Handicaps.  

It was generally thought that unless Alysheba won the Classic, Horse of the Year would go to the undefeated filly Personal Ensign who had earlier in the day won the Breeders’ Cup Distaff dramatically. The nine horse Classic field contained all the remaining top horses in training. Alysheba, Waquoit, Cryptoclearance, Personal Flag, Cutlass Reality and Slew City Slew represented the four-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 coming off two track record performances at the Classic 1¼ mile distance and 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 slop at Saratoga in the previous year’s Travers Stakes. Nevertheless, Alysheba was the solid post time favorite. Waquoit, off his dominating Jockey Club Gold Cup win, was the surprisingly second choice with Forty Niner the third betting favorite. Seth Hancock, head of Claiborne Farm, still annoyed over a jockeys’ strike at Aqueduct, chose Julie Krone over Laffit Pincay as Forty Niner’s rider, a decision that would come back to haunt him. The entry of Seeking the Gold and Personal Flag was the fourth choice, and there was some degree of confidence in the Phipps stable that Seeking the Gold was prepared to run his best race.

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 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 had the advantage, but Alysheba, resolute as always, held the younger rival’s surge at bay and finished 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 and Horse of the Year.

Alysheba winning the 1988 Classic
(BloodHorse)

Now Sovereignty has joined this select group that have demonstrated their mastery over a year span in arguably the two biggest races on the American calendar, proving he imbodies the essence of the highest class, that is quality tested over time.