The Long Ride
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SKIP DICKSTEIN THE LONG RIDE Patience helps jockeys navigate But how do riders prepare and race- plan for this uniquely competitive contest the Belmont Stakes’ 12 furlongs staged at a distance that is as unusual to them as it is to their 3-year-old equine counterparts? BY PAUL VOLPONI “You have to do your homework. You have to know where all the poles are. THE GRADE 1 BELMONT STAKES has been dubbed Make sure at all times during the race you know your position,” said Hall of Fame “The Test of the Champion,” and for good reason. Not jockey John Velazquez. “The track is so only is it the final jewel of the Triple Crown, but along big; it can be very deceiving. At a normal with the Brooklyn Invitational Stakes (G2), run the racetrack you enter the backstretch and 1 same day, it is the only 1 ⁄2-mile dirt race of any major you’ve got three-quarters of a mile re- consequence in the U.S. The 12 furlongs unfold around maining. When you hit the backstretch at Belmont Park, you’re a mile from home.” one full circuit of the Taj Mahal of racing, Belmont Hall of Fame rider Braulio Baeza won Park, known for its immense, sweeping turns. There the Belmont Stakes three times, over is little doubt it takes an ultra-talented Thoroughbred three different surfaces—at the old Bel- to prove victorious. mont Park with Sherluck in 1961, at Aq- 26 / BloodHorse.com / JUNE 9, 2018 / TheBloodHorse / BloodHorse The Belmont Stakes, one trip around the track, is a test of horse and rider THE LONG RIDE BLOOD HORSE LIBRARY HORSE LIBRARY BLOOD JEFFREY SNYDER Braulio Baeza and Arts and Letters win the Belmont in 1969; right, John Velazquez aboard Rags to Riches (outside) in 2007 ueduct (while Belmont Park was being Those two elements—conservation of the window after the start,” he said. rebuilt) with Chateaugay in 1963, and at energy and luck (mixed with tremendous “So I grabbed her. I wanted to keep her the current Belmont Park aboard Arts skill in the saddle)—can be seen in the clean (from any kickback of dirt) so she and Letters in 1969. pair of Belmont Stakes victories record- wouldn’t get discouraged. I put her in the “First of all, you need to have a horse ed by Velazquez—Rags to Riches (one of four-path all the way around. Then I wait- that can go a mile and a half. That’s the three fillies to win the Belmont) in 2007 ed and waited to make sure I’d have horse most important thing; otherwise, you’ll and Union Rags in 2012. down the lane.” be dead,” said Baeza. “You have to get po- Rags to Riches nearly fell to her face Velazquez and Rags to Riches narrowly sition and conserve your horse; that’s also when the gates opened. Only Velazquez’ outran Curlin to the wire. very important. But you might need to be balance kept him aloft. Even though Union Rags had a dream a little lucky too.” “All our (positioning) plans went out trip at the rail, saving every inch of ground JUNE 9, 2018 / BloodHorse.com / 27 THE LONG RIDE throughout, good judgment mixed with racing mont Stakes winner en route to his record five luck was still needed before Velazquez, who straight. was stuck behind Mike Smith aboard Paynter Jockey Chris McCarron, who at the time until very late in the contest, could call upon hung his tack in California, piloted Stephens’ that reserve of energy in the final stages. record-setting fifth winner Danzig Connec- “I had the position where I wanted to be. I tion in the 1986 edition of the Belmont. His waited as long as I could,” he said. “I was hop- ride upon that sophomore colt serves as a SKIP DICKSTEIN SKIP DICKSTEIN ing that Mike (Smith) would see the horse next prime example of patience. to him (the onrushing My Adonis); that he’d “Woody told me, ‘He’s got speed; either be I was really try to get out and discourage him a little bit. in front or lie close (to the pace). Don’t move on influenced by the That happened at the eighth pole. Once Mike him until you’ve got to,’ ” recalled McCarron. ride that John did that, it was my opportunity to pass on the The Hall of Famer took to the track and re- Rotz gave to inside.” mained a relaxed passenger in the saddle for Hall of Fame jockey Eddie Maple began his almost 11 furlongs. High Echelon in career at smaller-circumference racetracks in “I didn’t ask Danzig Connection to run until winning the 1970 Ohio and West Virginia. Upon arriving on the we’d passed the three-sixteenths pole. I could Belmont Stakes.” New York circuit in 1971, winning the Belmont hear Ferdinand (the Kentucky Derby, G1, win- became one of his goals. ner with Shoemaker aboard) coming. Then I —EDDIE MAPLE “Coming up as a young rider, I watched chirped to my horse and he responded.” (Eddie) Arcaro and (Bill) Shoemaker. But I More than a decade later McCarron used was really influenced by the ride that John that experience seemingly to outstrategize his Rotz gave to High Echelon in winning the rivals in getting Touch Gold into the Belmont 1970 Belmont Stakes,” recalled Maple, who Stakes winner’s circle in 1997. today manages an equestrian center near Coming off the first turn, Touch Gold rode Bluffton, S.C. “I never saw a jockey sit so quiet the rail to the lead entering the backstretch. for so long. That ride became a template for me “When we made the lead, his ears pricked COADY PHOTOGRAPHY COADY on how that race should be won. I had it in my and he relaxed. The other riders (Gary Ste- mind that none of the horses in that race had vens aboard Silver Charm, who was looking to Woody told ever gone that far before, so I should save the capture the Triple Crown; Kent Desormeaux me, ‘Don’t move horse for as long as I can.” on Free House; and Jerry Bailey aboard Wild Hall of Famer “Gentleman” John Rotz, who Rush) sensed the pace slowing down. They on him until at the age of 83 is currently a farmer in War- didn’t like that and began to accelerate,” said you’ve got to.’ ” rensburg, Ill., concurs with Maple’s assess- McCarron. “I communicated to Touch Gold ment. that it wasn’t time to go yet. I didn’t allow him —CHRIS MCCARRON “Coming down the stretch, you must have to accelerate (with the others).” some horse,” said Rotz, who worked for years As a result Touch Gold had enough in re- as a racing steward in New York after his rid- serve to make the last move in the stretch, out- ing career ended. “You must map out the first side of runners, registering a stirring three- quarter-mile. Do you want to be up near the quarter-length victory. pace or take back? High Echelon was dead last Why are jockeys so focused on not moving early on. But not too far back. He was always too soon in the Belmont Stakes? within shouting distance and moved up on the The enormity of the racetrack can influence ANNE M. EBERHARDT (far) turn.” a rider’s perceptions, especially one from out Maple went on to win the Belmont Stakes of town. It was twice—aboard Temperence Hill (1980), who “I’d tell a young rider (coming to Belmont enormous, so did his best running through the final six- Park for the first time) to watch a lot of tape,” teenth of a mile to surge to the fore and then noted McCarron. “It’s easy to get fooled by much bigger draw clear at 53-1, and Crème Fraiche (1985), the configuration with those sweeping turns. than I thought who cruised up to the leaders under a hand- You ask your horse for run and you might be at first.” ride coming off the turn before being asked for farther from home than you think. I believe his best nearing the eighth pole, giving trainer that’s what confused (jockey) Ronnie Frank- —JEREMY ROSE Woody Stephens his fourth consecutive Bel- lin (aboard Spectacular Bid in his failed at- 28 / BloodHorse.com / JUNE 9, 2018 / TheBloodHorse / BloodHorse don’t change the (running) style of your horse,” said Christophe Clement, who saddled Tonalist to victory in 2014. “You want your horse to be as fit as possible; that’s obvious. Tonalist loved Belmont Park. He trained very well here. We trained him for the Belmont the same way we did for the Peter Pan (G2, the traditional nine-furlong stepping-stone to the Belmont). So we were sure that he was going to get the distance. It gets eas- ier for a trainer when you have a jockey like (Joel Rosario). But you tell him, no extremes.” Does any particular running style fare best in this marathon event? Deep closers have had little success BOB COGLIANESE in reaching the Belmont Stakes win- Maple aboard 53-1 Temperence Hill in 1980 ner’s circle. In the last 85 editions of the race, 61 (71.7%) of the eventual winners tempt to win the Triple Crown in 1979). second turn I’d still be about five-eighths held the lead turning into the stretch He asked his horse on the backstretch of a mile from the finish, with a lot of (it’s important to note that when going and still had a mile to go.” racetrack in front of me.” 11⁄2 miles at Belmont Park, the chart’s Current racing analyst and former Rose entered the Belmont intent on “stretch” designation is closer to the jockey Richard Migliore, a longtime not moving too soon with Afleet Alex.