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Work the 2020 Unique Thoroughbredracingcoveragesince2001 Saturday, May23,2020

Work the 2020 Unique Thoroughbredracingcoveragesince2001 Saturday, May23,2020

Year 1•No.2 Unbeaten Maxfield returns in Churchill’sreturns Winn Maxfield Unbeaten Matt Back toWork The 2020 Unique ThoroughbredRacingCoverageSince2001 Saturday, May23,2020

Alex Evers/ Sportswire 2 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 BY SEAN CLANCY It took a pep talk from Boyd Browning to launch the inaugural issue of The 2020 Special. No pep talk needed this time. Browning has moved on from motivational speaking to running a sales company Two Step – a good sign that life is returning to normal – and we are back with our second edition. A Thank You Letter Three weeks after our Derby Day edition, we focus on , Santa Anita and other When we decided to publish the first edition of The 2020 Special early this month, we had no idea what to expect but one action from around the country. It’s Memorial Day thing we truly wanted to do was give back. Weekend, no beach trip with the kids and cousins, So we agreed to donate a portion of any advertising revenue to the Racing Association’s backstretch charities. no funnel cake at Fair Hill, no lazy afternoon cook- Well, a 44-page first edition and some loyal support from our advertisers let us do just that as we donated 15 percent of out, no trip to the track for a bet and a brew. the advertising revenue from that first edition to the Racetrack Chaplaincy of America’s New York chapter, the Backstretch Written, designed and edited from a Sears house Employee Service Team and the Belmont Child Care Association. Officially, it came from The 2020 Special and ST Publishing, in Saratoga, an office in Fair Hill and a farm in Inc. but it’s really courtesy of the advertisers who helped support an idea that only made a little bit of sense at the time. Middleburg, here is your 2020 Special. We’ve Now we’re at the second edition, with three more planned after this through July 4. We’ll try to do something similar but checked in with recent Hall of Fame inductees Dar- encourage you to support the cause as well. The backstretch community at was hit hard by the coronavirus - rel McHargue and , saluted the late, great demic, and all three organizations stepped in to help with food, clothing, medicine, supplies, entertainment, advice, whatever Charlie Whittingham, previewed stakes at Chur- was needed. The work is by no means finished, and every dollar raised gets put to good use. chill Downs, including undefeated Maxfield, and To the staff and volunteers at the three organizations, thank you. Be proud of the work you do. Santa Anita, strolled (virtually) the stable of recent – Joe Clancy Hall of Fame inductee Mark Casse, handicapped To help, see: Racetrack Chaplaincy of America’s NY Chapter • Backstretch Employee Service Team • Belmont Child Care Association coast-to-coast cards, reset the table in New York and created other gems that will surely keep you away from TCM’s three-day, war-movie marathon. For now. We are here. We are healthy. And here’s white awnings and black and white form. Melodic At least for a little while. a 40-page stroll. horses. Magical nights. That’s Saratoga. In the world of coronavirus and racing, a lot has But, of course, you ask, we ask, what’s next? We have spent far too many hours contemplat- happened in just three weeks since we were last How does life get back to normal? What is normal? ing what we would do if it happens without fans, with you. Main attractions Churchill Downs and Do we want it to go back to normal? without press. If it goes on like the ones of yester- Santa Anita reopened, cogs Golden Gate, Charles No doubt, we need the pandemic to run its ugly year (doubtful). If it’s renamed and reinvented as Town and others bounced back, Tampa and Gulf- course. We need the economy to get rolling again, Saratoga at Belmont. If it doesn’t happen at all. stream continue to keep the lights on, NYRA has we need our businesses to rejoin the rails, but do we We don’t know the answers. NYRA doesn’t targeted its reopening (June 3) and a date for the need to fall back into the routine, the rat race, the know the answers. First things first, Belmont Park (June 20). Racing has begun to find rut? We’ll try to stay out of the latter. gets underway, people stay healthy and a pandem- its kilter. Admittedly, it’s tepid and tenuous. At best. Saratoga is normal to us. The vibe, the energy, ic slowly snuffs out. If that happens, then, we can As for us, we’re riding the wave like the rest of the atmosphere. We yearn for early mornings and take the next measured step, then the next, the next the world. At some point, we decided to turn off late nights, cold pizza and deadlines, stakes hors- and perhaps contemplate if Saratoga will happen cable news, its death-toll ticker, ever-falling market es and old friends. Beers at the Paddock Bar and and how it will happen. Forget our business, your updates and do something. This is our something. Henry Street Taproom, a walk down Broadway business, the most important part is the health of A dive, a delve, an escape, an excursion through our and a run at SPAC, a singer songwriter at Caffe the track and its horsemen, the town and its citi- favorite game. Ask us what we’re doing next. This Lena and a lemonade stand outside our office. Fast zens. That we don’t know. Not yet. is our next. Ask us what we’re doing for Saratoga. horses and slow dances. Fresh air. Tall trees. Con- Sure, we yearn for a return to normal. The Sara- We’ll let you know as soon as we know. NYRA versations and commiserations. The swinging door toga normal. When racing is robust. When life is could probably offer the same answer. Life in 2020. of our East Avenue office. The clanging doors of vibrant. When that happens is anybody’s guess. We actually emailed potential advertisers declaring the starting gate 10 times a day, five days a week. Certainly, it’s more tangible now than three weeks that we had finalized a tentative plan. Yes, that’s life Hall of Fame rides, Hall of Fame signatures, Hall ago. When it does happen, we’ll be ready, if it’s this in 2020, where finalizing tentative plans feels like a of Fame speeches. Art shows on the walls, riding summer or next summer. step in the right direction. clinics on the oval. Big bets. Small frets. Red and As for now, we’ll keep bringing you The Special.

The 2020 Editors/Publishers/Owners Sean Clancy: (302) 545-7713. [email protected] Joe Clancy: (302) 545-4424. [email protected] Managing Editor: Tom Law: (859) 396-9407. [email protected] Writers/Handicappers/Photography/Design: Paul Halloran, Charles Bedard, ST Publishing, Inc. 364 Fair Hill Drive, Suite F, Elkton, MD 21921. John Shapazian, Rob Whitlock, Nolan Clancy, Tod Marks, The Bell Group. (410) 392-5867 thisishorseracing.com The Saratoga Special, thisishorseracing.com, Racing Calendar, The Best of The Saratoga Special, New York Thoroughbred Breeders awards program, Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred and a whole lot more. 2020 publication dates: May 2, May 23, June 20, June 27, July 4. Look for the 20th season of The Saratoga Special this summer. Call us about your editorial needs.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 3 here&there...in racing Presented by Shadwell Farm BY THE NUMBERS 1: Jump who jumped a hedge in the paddock at Auteuil Saturday.

139: 2-year-olds entered on Ruidoso Downs’ 14-race card Saturday.

2: Books sent to Miles Clancy by friend Frank Durkee.

8: Books sent to Miles Clancy by friend Britt Graham (must be a trend, quarantine declutter).

79: Combined wins of the 12 horses in the body of Saturday’s fifth race at Churchill Downs (a graded stakes masquerading as a turf optional claimer). Mr. Misunderstood leads the way with 13 wins.

1926: The year the Belmont Stakes converted to 1 1/2 miles. Before that, the distance varied from 1 5/8 miles (first running in 1867) to 1 3/8 miles, 1 1/4 miles and 1 1/8 miles. Hall of Famer won the 1894 renewal at 1 1/8 miles. Triple Crown winner won the 1919 race at 1 3/8 miles. The race has also occurred at four tracks – Belmont Park (duh), Je- rome Park, Morris Park and Aqueduct. This year’s race will be the first jewel in the Triple Crown June 20 at 1 1/8 miles.

7,058: Wins for Hall of Fame jockey after he rode Flying Aletha to victory in Thursday’s second race at . Prado passed fellow Hall of Famer Angel Cordero Jr. on the all-time list and ranks eighth all-time by victories. NAMES OF THE DAY Coady Photography Lone Rangers. A lead pony and rider head around the clubhouse turn at an empty Quarterback Dak, Churchill Downs, first race. The Cowboys quarterback was apparently Churchill Downs during morning training recently. The track’s empty in the afternoon too. not More Than Ready (sire of the Texas-bred gelding’s dam My Girl Bess; a bit of a stretch, we know) to sign a five-year, $175 millon contract extension this week. Gayla Rankin’s 3-year-old gelding is an also-eligible in Churchill’s Saturday opener.

Ithaca Falls, Churchill Downs, fourth race. Brant Laue’s 3-year-old filly is out of Cayuga’s The Chief Waters. Laue, a Kansas cattle rancher, Thoroughbred breeder and attorney, went to Cornell Law “Jimmy Rhodes could do anything, he was with me for 30 years, a horse School in Ithaca, N.Y. The Ithaca Falls are between the Cornell campus and Cayuga Lake, the would run off with Gargantua, he’d hold him, somehow. Sensitive Prince longest of the Finger Lakes at almost 40 miles. A stakes winner in 2005 for Laue and trainer Bill Mott, Cayuga’s Waters the horse is a popular producer of Names of the Day including Hail was as hard to hold as any horse. We put the hackamore on him, he’d pull Cornell, Glorious View and Sage Hall (a Cornell building dating to 1875). so hard even with the hackamore, his nose swelled up. Sensitive Prince came up here and Jimmy Rhodes couldn’t come up here, so we galloped Drop The Mic, Santa Anita, sixth race. Trained by Gus Headley, the 5-year-old is by Ac- clamation, out of Celebration. him on this little track (Saratoga’s Clare Court) the first day, piece of cake. The next day I heard this scream, he’s running off as fast as he could go. Empty Holster, Tampa Bay Downs, ninth race. Diane Olson’s 3-year-old gelding is by Suntrac- Imagine a horse as fast as him around that track. I had a good pony and er, out of Peaceful Battle. he caught him. We called him Whitey. He was only a bronc, they timed him one day, an eighth, in 13.”

– Trainer Allen Jerkens, 1929-2015 QUOTE OF THE DAY

“March, April it was pretty hairy just being in New York. You get people calling from or or Arizona and they didn’t grasp what was going on completely. It was a strange situation to be in.” NYRA’s Martin Panza, about working during a pandemic

New York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association www.nytha.com 516.488.2337 800-523-8143 Tod Marks photo Tod

4 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 here&there...in racing Presented by Shadwell Farm WORTH REPEATING “We’ll be wearing masks and all spread out, but we will have the best seats in the house.” NYRA’s Martin Panza, on looking forward to Belmont Park’s first live racing (without spectators) since March

“The only problem with all of this is that it was 32 years ago. I’m gonna turn 60 in a few days. My dad retired at 62, in great health. He’s 82 now. There is no way I could retire at 62.” Trainer David Donk, after talking about working with the great (who died in May at age 35)

“I look back and say, ‘Thank God we sent that horse to Qatar.’ It’s the highlight of our year so far. I’ve won a couple stakes, but I’m not sure any of them were worth $200,000 to the winner.” Trainer Graham Motion, on Standard Deviation’s second in the $1 million Amir Trophy in February

“I’ll go to that one, although it probably won’t be until the following year, I hope.” Trainer Mark Casse on the Hall of Fame induction ceremony (postponed to 2021) after missing the Sovereign Awards’ virtual event Tuesday

“There have been positives for us, we can catch up with each other over a period of time, talk Michael Burns/Woodbine Race Course and interact. Normally it’s for a day or two, some sort of event, Christmas, Thanksgiving. In Covered Up. A masked groom and a blanketed horse enjoy a morning break at the end I think it will have some positive effects on our society. Hopefully people will talk to Woodbine in Canada. The track looks to open for racing (without spectators) June 6. each other. People will talk to their kids, kids will talk to their parents instead of doing their cell phones, playing Nintendo and all that crap.” Randy Funkhouser of O’Sullivan Farms in West Virginia “The foal crop is going to take another fall, down from 20 down to the teens. But the left standing could run, were athletic, producers, half or whole to good ones, stakes winners. We’re “Oaklawn carried the hope for six weeks. The Cellas are turning it over to you. I know you will getting leaner and meaner. The Darwinian nature of this game, if you understand that and are deliver.” willing to play by the rules, the best of the best will be left one way or another.” Longtime reader Mike Candioto Country Life Farm’s Mike Pons on the breeding industry amidst the pandemic

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 5 here&there...in racing “McHargue looked like the strongest rider to come out of Okla- Presented by Shadwell Farm homa since Geronimo.” Leggett in Sports Illustrated, 1978, about recent Hall of Fame inductee Darrel McHargue

“Ask me Saturday evening.” Trainer Brendan Walsh, on if he was happy with Maxfield’s progress Thursday morning

“They’re almost roommates.” Trainer Mike Stidham about Alms and Sharing, rivals in today’s Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs but also Fair Hill Training Center neighbors

“Then you could give them information that they wouldn’t be able to get…” Trainer about the positives of publishing The Saratoga Special at a meet without fans

“My plan is to find a bush, with my phone and binoculars and have a day out, desperate measures in desperate times.” International steeplechase fan Richard Hutchinson about the projected June 1 start day in England

“Charlie Whittingham never gave me specific instructions, he would always say, ‘Get him out of there, get yourself a good position and give him someplace to go.’ ” Retired jockey Chris McCarron, on riding for the trainer remembered with a stakes at Santa Anita today

“Life is good. I’m playing a lot of golf. If there is one sport or engagement that you can practice social distancing, it’s on the golf course.” McCarron, on life in retirement Tod Marks Space Oddity. The friendy confines of Belmont Park will welcome back live racing – but no fans – June 3 with the “I miss those big events. I get a little twinge, I get a little, Belmont Stakes headlining a big card June 20. ‘Damn, I’d like to be riding…’ Especially with the purses today, everybody says that. Don Pierce says that, ‘These purses are crazy.’ ” WORTH REPEATING McCarron, on if he missed riding “I’m grateful it happened. Beyond grateful.” John Fahey III after being sent “He was over in Dubai as well. He’s doing well, it’s a super a column about his first at Saratoga tough race, his best race would put him right there and that’s what we’re hoping for.” “Weren’t those the days? Life was a lot easier back then.” Trainer Doug O’Neill, Brian Nadeau about writing for The Special in 2008 about Shoemaker Mile starter Blitzkrieg

“I’m tied with Jack Fisher.” “He had run high numbers at Del Mar, I reached out to Frank Steeplechase trainer Willie Dowling Gabriel and he put him on a list of invites. I called (owner) about the gridlocked trainer standings Glenn Sorgenstein, he said he would be honored.” (there has been no American jump racing in 2020) O’Neill, about taking Wildman Jack to Dubai

“My hair has gotten grayer and it’s down to my shoulders.” “That’s an advantage today, not tomorrow.” Trainer and race director Doug Fout about life in 2020 The Special’s Tom Law, about the three-hour time difference in California “I’m going to call you back, I’m breeding cows.” Trainer Charlie LoPresti, Wednesday evening “The overnights have gotten heavier, the racing has gotten tougher in the last two weeks, look at how many horses Shug “I started going through all those articles, it brought a tear to has brought over here.” my eye.” Trainer Kent Sweezey, about the Tampa Bay Downs’ LoPresti, after The Special sent seven articles cards which have become targets about recent Hall of Fame inductee Wise Dan for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey

Tod Marks “He’s great. He’s out there with his brother, he looks like a mil- “I went out once and went grocery shopping, right when they Teeth bared for extra traction or something, new Hall of lion dollars. It does my heart good, they’re happy, they’ve done put in these new rules, masks, lanes, it was the most stressful Famer Wise Dan rolls to victory in the 2012 Fourstardave what they’ve done and they’re just horses.” 45 minutes, just grocery shopping.” at Saratoga. LoPresti about Wise Dan and his brother, Successful Dan Trainer Jordan Blair

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 7 Tod Marks Preakness winner , who runs in California Monday, is a big part of the with Mark Casse barn. Mark Casse

Mark Casse can handle the com- off back-to-back thirds in graded stakes in plexities of running his training op- Florida following a victory in the Sunshine eration out of multiple divisions. Millions Turf in mid-January at Gulfstream. He’s done it for years, successfully Winner of last year’s Grade 2 Wise Dan at enough to rank in the top seven in Churchill also trained this winter and spring North America by earnings since at Palm Meadows. “He has the worst trips. He could easily be a Grade 1 winner. One of 2011 and ninth by career earnings these days it will go his way. He causes some approaching the second half of 2020. of his own grief. He doesn’t real Casse earned a spot among the quickly and those kinds of horses, especially best of the best this spring when in grass races, get themselves in trouble. He elected into racing’s Hall of Fame, re- doesn’t like it soft, so I don’t think that’s go- ceived after a year that saw him win ing to happen.” two-thirds of the U.S. Triple Crown with War Of Will and Got Stormy. Barber’s multiple Grade and a record 12th Sovereign Award 1 winner scratched from last weekend’s as Canada’s outstanding trainer. $75,000 Powder Break at Gulfstream when it The coronavirus pandemic threw came off the grass. She finished second last a wrench into everyone’s schedule, time against males in the Grade 1 Frank E. Kilroe Mile at Santa Anita. Five-year-old Get Casse’s included, but he’s rolling Stormy mare produced four wins, three sec- with the changes. training center in Ocala. We’re ready and you’ll see onds and a third in eight starts last year, including victories in “It’s tough these days,” he said Wednesday we’ll be running in most of the 2-year-old races.” the Fasig-Tipton and Grade 1 Fourstardave Handi- morning from his Casse Training Center in Ocala, Casse does have other runners for this weekend cap in a seven-day stretch at Saratoga. Second in the Grade 1 just one base at the moment along with Churchill and beyond, including War Of Will and March To Breeders’ Cup Mile, she finished the season with a win in the Downs, Belmont Park, Palm Meadows Training The Arch at Santa Anita, and talked about them Grade 1 Matriarch. “The plan is for her to go in the Beaugay Center and Woodbine. “You don’t just worry about and more with The Special’s Tom Law. (Opening Day at Belmont Park June 3) and then hopefully the moving horses, now you have to worry about mov- Just A Game (June 27). She’s still at Palm Meadows. She trains ing people. Now we have (the equineherpes vi- War Of Will. ’s 2019 Preakness winner makes really well over the grass and Palm Meadows has about as nice rus outbreak) going on in Toronto and they just his return to the grass in Monday’s Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile of a training turf course as there is in North America. I won’t be changed a bunch of the rules in New York, so we’re at Santa Anita. Off since finishing ninth in last year’s Breeders’ in any rush to bring her out of there. She’s very happy.” trying to understand them as well.” Cup Classic, 4-year-old son of finished second in All part of the job for sure, but the main task Grade 1 on the grass and fifth in Breeders’ Sir Winston. Tracy Farmer’s homebred winner bounced back from disappointing end to 2019 always comes back to the horses and Casse heads Cup Juvenile Turf as a 2-year-old. He raced exclusively on dirt at 3, winning three graded stakes including the Preakness. with victory in an optional claimer at Aqueduct Jan. 31 but has into late spring with his usual loaded operation. Casse breezed him three times on the grass at Palm Meadows been on hold since. The 4-year-old son of Awesome Again The group includes the aforementioned classic in March and April before finishing the colt’s work with four shipped to the Middle East for the but didn’t winners, Grade 1 winners Got Stormy and Perfect works there on the dirt. “He’s on a plane as we speak. He’s get a chance in the $10 million headliner when the races were Alibi, recently transferred multiple Grade 1 winner training extremely well and we’re looking forward to a big year canceled because of the coronavirus. He’s back at Belmont Spiced Perfection and promising 3-year-olds who for him. We’re going to try and see if we can win a Grade 1 with with assistant trainer Jamie Begg and breezed five times from could make noise in the revamped Triple Crown. him on the grass. He could have easily won the Breeders’ Cup, April 16 to May 15, the latest a 5-furlong move in 1:03 on the Casse excels with 2-year-olds with the likes of he had a pretty bad trip in there. Luckily he didn’t or he may main track. “He’s ready. He’s doing good. I’m not overly crazy Classic Empire, Catch A Glimpse, Heavenly Love, have never won the Preakness. We’ll see after that. I haven’t with our options. I guess we’ll try the Westchester (at 1 1/16 My Conquestadory, Wonder Gadot, Flameaway really gotten that far. We’ll go through this step, see how he miles June 6), it’s a little short for him. But then that could set and Uncaptured coming through the stable in re- runs on the grass. We think he’s as good on the grass but he him up hopefully for the Suburban (July 4). We’ll take it. He’s cent years and the barn is loaded again. still has to prove that. I wouldn’t want to make too big of a probably going to need a race anyway, so maybe that’s what commitment until we see how he performs. I don’t see where the Westchester will do, set him up for the Suburban. Beyond “I’ve got some really good 2-year-olds, but we’re there’s a whole lot for him after that. There’s the Poker on July that we don’t know where the Whitney and other races will fall not going to get into them,” Casse said the morning 4, but that’s a Grade 3. I don’t know.” so we’ll have to wait and see.” after he won the Sovereign Award during a virtual ceremony hosted by the Jockey Club of Canada. March To The Arch. Live Oak Plantation’s homebred Continued On Page 9 “We’re ready with them. Luckily we have a big 5-year-old Arch gelding also runs in Monday’s Shoemaker, 8 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 his training center – a half-mile in :49.20 April 29 – before Dream Maker. Oxley’s homebred Tapit colt appeared in easing off. “I gave him a little break. He’s here with me right Casse’s 2018 Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour, then a debut winner Stable Tour – now in Ocala. My plan is to try and run him two times before at Churchill Downs who scratched from the Grade 3 Sanford. Continued from page 8 the Derby, I just haven’t decided where yet. I want to see what He eventually ran at Saratoga, finishing fifth in the Grade 1 my options are. He wouldn’t run until July. We’ll see if he has Hopeful. He won one of four starts at 3 and hasn’t run since a Spiced Perfection. Relatively new to the stable, multiple enough points. They had all these points and now there will be third in the Grade 3 Mile on the 2019 Grade 1 winner arrived at Fair Grounds in March after Haruya more. The truth is if he doesn’t have enough points he doesn’t undercard. “He’s a horse we had real high expectations for last Yoshida bought her privately from Pantofel Stable, Wachtel need to run. He’ll need to pick up some points probably, but year. We thought he and War Of Will were right there, that he Stable and Peter Deutsch. Previously trained by Peter Miller, again if he doesn’t do that he probably shouldn’t be running.” was about as good as War Of Will. He just would do everything California-bred 5-year-old by Smiling Tiger won the Grade 1 wrong. We gave him some time. He’s training extremely, ex- Madison, Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America at Perfect Alibi. Farmer’s 3-year-old Sky Mesa filly cost tremely well. I’m planning on sending him to Belmont, for an and Grade 3 Go For Wand at Aqueduct last season, along with $220,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale and allowance race right now.” the Grade 1 La Brea in late 2018 at Santa Anita. “She’s running won last year’s Grade 1 Spinaway and Grade 2 Adirondack at in the at Churchill (May 30). She’s all heart, a . She ended the season with a second Peace Achieved. JSM Equine’s Grade 3 Dixiana heck of a racehorse. She done well in Kentucky in the past and in the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades at Keeneland and a fourth in Stakes winner has been off since finishing 11th in the Breed- I hope now she loves Kentucky with Mark Casse.” the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies at Santa Anita. After a few ers’ Cup Juvenile Turf. “He got hurt. He didn’t get hurt in the hiccups this winter she’s trained with more purpose since Breeders’ Cup but after the Breeders’ Cup. He’s back training.” Tap It To Win. Live Oak’s homebred Tapit ridgling won shipping to Belmont, including a half-mile breeze on the train- 6-furlong optional May 9 at Gulfstream. A Travers Day maiden ing track in :47.93 May 15. “She’s ready to run, unfortunately Muskoka Gold. Conrad Farms’ 3-year-old Ontario-bred son winner last summer at Saratoga, he finished 10th in the Grade there’s nothing for her. I have two options: I could take her to of Lea broke his maiden in the last Oc- 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity and in Kentucky Churchill for the Dogwood, or wait and run her in the Acorn tober at Woodbine then placed in two important stakes north last fall. “He ran really well (May 9), he’s a horse that I’ve al- (June 20). That’s a tall task off of seven months. I think that’s of the border. “Unfortunately he was one that would have been ways been extremely high on. He got hurt pretty badly when he what we’ll probably have to do. We can’t do both.” one of the favorites for (the Queen’s Plate, now scheduled for ran his last start in Kentucky, ended up having to have surgery. Sept. 12) but he ended up having colic surgery. It was very He came out of it like a different horse. He hit himself so bad Uncle Bull. Casse went to $475,000 to buy son of Uncle long and hard on him. I don’t know if he can recover in time to that he had a little sequestrum, which they had to go in and Mo at 2017 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga select sale. He’s won three make the race.” remove. It was a little dead bone. He’s come back bigger and of six for Barber and Oxley but hasn’t started since a 12th in stronger. I’m flirting with the idea of maybe the Woody Ste- the Grade 1 in late November. In training at Victory. A $485,000 buy at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton phens (June 20 at Belmont).” Casse Training Center, he’s breezed nine times for his come- Saratoga select sale, 3-year-old son of Flatter finished second back. “He’s ready to run. The problem with those kinds of hors- in two Woodbine maiden races before a third in March 7 maid- Enforceable. John Oxley’s Grade 1-placed Tapit colt landed es is there’s nowhere to run them unless you run them in a en at Aqueduct just before racing halted due to the coronavirus on the Triple Crown trail with a win in the Grade 3 Lecomte and stakes because they’re three-other-thans. I just backed off him outbreak. “He’s a maiden of Mr. Oxley’s that, if he went the runner-up finish in the Grade 2 at Fair Grounds this a bit, which I do a bit with my 3-year-olds in the fall and then right way, could possibly be a Queen’s Plate horse for us.” winter. Fifth in the , he is 15th in the Kentucky bring them back. He’s ready to run but with all the chaos, he’ll Derby standings with 33 points. Casse worked him once at probably run up at Woodbine.”

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 9 MATT WINN STAKES PREVIEW Comeback Story Gr. 1 winner Maxfield heads revised prep for Kentucky Derby BY TOM LAW Brendan Walsh couldn’t wait for the 2019 Breed- ers’ Cup. The day after he pre-entered a pair of 2-year-olds for races on Breeders’ Cup Friday at , the trainer talked about his lifelong dream to win a race at the World Championships. Speaking that late October morning after training from his barn at Keeneland, Walsh recalled a conversation with fellow Irishman Mark Wallace. “We were working in England at the time and he Keeneland Photo said Royal Ascot, that he’d love to trainer a winner Maxfield charges home first in last year’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. there, especially a 2-year-old winner,” Walsh said. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile the day after entries were ward a spot in the Derby starting gate in September. “The funny thing was I said the one I’d love to win taken and then Vitalogy from the Breeders’ Cup Ju- Walsh hoped Maxfield could make the May 2 is the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. That’s a true story. venile Turf the morning of the race. Both are back, Kentucky Derby, albeit in a rather unorthodox way I remember it well and who knows, maybe it will well Maxfield is almost back and entered for his re- most likely with only one prep. Now he and Godol- happen.” turn in Saturday’s Grade 3 Matt Winn which head- phin’s unbeaten Street Sense colt are blessed with The dream didn’t happen, nor did it ever get the lines the Stephen Foster Preview card at Churchill the benefit of time, one of the few gifts of the global chance. Downs. health crisis. Walsh seems content to take whatever Walsh absorbed a 1-2 punch at last year’s Breed- Over the disappointments in a “game full of is thrown his way. ers’ Cup, first losing Maxfield from his spot in the disappointments,” Walsh now looks to another “I don’t care when the Derby is, if I can win it bucket-list race on any trainer’s radar. Perhaps the in September or May,” he said. “If I could win it bucket-list race. January I’d take it in January. This year is an ex- “When I came to this country, first you’d love ception for everything in the world. Everyone’s had to win a Breeders’ Cup race, being Irish you watch to adjust . . . We really need to count ourselves as it all internationally,” Walsh said Thursday. “Then being blessed just that we’ve got racing and have a when you’re around it for long enough, everybody chance to even have a Derby, whether it’s May or wants to win the Derby. If you asked every trainer September.” that’s alive, ‘what’s the race you want to win?’ I’d Maxfield’s first serious step toward September say there are very few that would say a race outside comes in the 1 1/16-mile Matt Winn, which attract- the Derby.” ed 11 horses (with the of Mystic Guide) The Kentucky Derby was not run on its tradi- with similar aspirations. tional first Saturday in May slot, postponed to Sept. Unlike the other 10, Maxfield possesses an un- 5 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Now beaten record and a Grade 1 victory. He ran his re- the Matt Winn, formerly either a rebooting spot cord to 2-for-2 in Keeneland’s Claiborne Breeders’ for 3-year-olds looking to regroup from the rigors Futurity last fall to become a major player in the Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire of the Triple Crown or a start-up spot for late de- Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. An ankle chip that required Trainer Brendan Walsh follows Maxfield through the paddock velopers, figures as a Derby prep. The race offers Continued On Page 12 at Santa Anita last year. a $150,000 purse and 50 points to the winner to-

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 11 get in the gate, just as they broke he turned his head,” Foley said. “If you Matt Winn – watch the re-run he was way, way Continued from page 10 back. Four or five lengths behind the next-to-last horse in the race, 16, 20 surgery last fall derailed those plans lengths behind. He’s not that type of but he returned with Walsh this win- horse.” ter at Palm Meadows Training Center Major Fed raced 12 lengths back at in Florida and into this spring at the the first call, last of 14, and stayed in trainer’s main base in Lexington. that position until late on the far turn. “It’s been a long wait,” Walsh , who rides again in the said of what will be more than seven Matt Winn, steadied Major Fed near months between races for Maxfield. the half-mile pole and then brushed “But at least we were able to get him with another rival in midstretch while ready and get him a good prep. He making a run. They wound up fourth, should be good to go now . . . The beaten 4 3/4 lengths by Wells Bayou, more time the horse would get the and added 10 points to the 20 earned better anyway.” in the Risen Star toward a spot in the Walsh said last fall, and again Kentucky Derby starting gate. Thursday, that Maxfield’s best days Major Fed ranks 18th on the stand- would be as a 3- and 4-year-old. A ings heading into Saturday’s Matt February foal out of the Bernardini Winn, now one of nine races added mare Velvety, Maxfield has started to to the Road to the Kentucky Derby fill out more of his big frame. Walsh series. The Matt Winn offers a similar also hopes the colt sheds some of his 50-20-10-5 point distribution to the slow tendencies away from the start- Risen Star and several other preps run ing gate, which didn’t prevent him in February and March. from winning both of his starts last Major Fed drew the outside post in year in double-digit fields. They won’t Tod Marks the Matt Winn, not exactly what Fo- help in a big field like the Matt Winn, Third in the Gotham in New York, Attachment Rate takes aim at the Matt Winn. ley wanted to hear while he listened or the Derby if they make it. to the draw Wednesday on his phone. Kentucky Derby. Raised in the busi- which campaigned multiple graded “He’s got serious natural talent “When I heard ‘Major Fed, 12’ … ness, he grew up just outside Louis- stakes-winning sprinter and million- and a fantastic mind,” Walsh said. sink again. I’d take it over the 1 hole,” ville the son of trainer Dravo Foley aire Champali with Foley in the ear- “He just exceeds everything you ask he said. “Anyway, it’s what we got and brother to fellow trainer Vickie ly 2000s, Major Fed put his name in . . . tends to go out there, takes over and the main thing is the horse is do- Foley. Greg is stabled at Churchill – the Triple Crown picture with a run- and gets it done. ing great, we expect a great race out famously always one of the first back ner-up in the second division of the “The majority of horses you think of him. There’s some speed in there.” on the grounds when the barn area Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds are nice horses, an awful lot of them The speed could come from Lousi- opens in the spring – and watches the in mid-February. The homebred son something will happen, they won’t be ana Derby runner-up Ny Traffic, who Derby every year. of Ghostzapper broke his maiden a able to handle it mentally, or physi- ships in from South Florida for Saf- Foley hopes to be more than a month and a half before, New Year’s cally, but the mental part is huge. Not fie Joseph Jr. The son of Cross Traffic spectator Sept. 5, when Derby 146 Day, in his second start going 1 1/16 just on the track, in the barn, with raced on the lead in the second divi- goes as the middle jewel of the Triple miles at Fair Grounds. eating, rest. The horses with a great sion of the Risen Star before finishing Crown thanks to the shuffled series Foley didn’t plan to run in the Ris- mental capacity they’re able to do third behind Modernist and Major courtesy of Covid-19. en Star but couldn’t find an allowance that. If you ask other trainers with Fed and close to the pace when sec- “I’m up every year watching the with suitable spacing after the maiden good horses, the majority of them ond to Wells Bayou in the Louisiana Derby,” he said Thursday. “I’ve been win, so he aimed high. have had good minds.” Derby. doing this a long time . . . It’s all I’ve “That was a tough call, but the The Matt Winn leads off the re- Celtic Striker, who faded to 11th done all my life . . . Oldham County, timing of a-other-than, non-winners vised Road to the Kentucky Derby in the Grade 3 Gotham last time for I’m from there, my horse is from Old- of two allowance was too quick,” schedule and awards points to the New York-based trainer Ray Han- ham County. Hopefully we run big Foley said. “The Risen Star was com- top four finishers. It’s also the feature dal, could also factor in the pace if Saturday and go on from there.” ing up and nothing after that so we on the five-stakes card that includes he returns to the 2- and 3-year-old Major Fed could get him there, and decided to take a chance in the race. four $100,000 stakes – the Shawnee, form racing in the Northeast and Foley even thought he’d have a shot He went wide in the race and came Tepin, Blame and War Chant. Mid-Atlantic. Necker Island, 2-for-2 back on the first Saturday in May. running. We thought he ran a great Greg Foley knows all about the at Churchill for Stan Hough last year “He’s run well all winter,” Foley race. Naturally we went right back in and fourth last time in the Unbridled said. “We would have probably went the Louisiana Derby.” Stakes at Gulfstream; and Attach- in the Derby regular time and been Major Fed drew the rail in the ment Rate, third in the Gotham and For more award-winning proud to walk over behind him. I like 14-member Louisiana Derby field, second in the Unbridled for Dale Ro- racing content, check out him, a lot. I wouldn’t be going over new territory at that point in the colt’s mans, would also not surprise show- there (in the Derby) thinking just to three-start career. ing some speed. run one.” “He’s standing there a good while, Trainer Mike Stidham said Mystic thisishorseracing.com Owned by the Oldham Coun- wasn’t doing anything wrong or any- Guide, a Godolphin runner like Max- ty-based Lloyd Madison Farms IV, thing but had to wait for the others to field, would scratch.

12 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Grade 1 Winner of the $1 Million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf SHARING Returns in Saturday’s Tepin S. at Churchill Downs

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 13 Field Day -based Alwaysmining detours to tough Churchill stakes

Alwaysmining streaks to victory in Lau- rel Park’s Jennings Stakes in January. Jim McCue/

BY JOE CLANCY BLAME STAKES PREVIEW ed. At the beginning of it all, one horse blasted through the middle, sideways and half-under con- You’re never sure what you might see when you trol, before getting back in line. Alwaysmining watch a stakes horse train at Maryland’s Fair Hill Owned by Greg and Caroline Bentley’s Runney- just watched and kept to his business, though he Training Center. moore Racing, Alwaysmining enjoyed his jogging tossed in his own smaller versions of misbehavior. Tuesday’s action involved six session in the field – even if he worried his trainer. You could almost hear him squeal. Dump trucks in- stepping out of trainer Kelly Rubley’s barn who in- “You can see him fly leap through the air,” Ru- volved in a local construction project rumbled past, stead of heading to the racetracks via the horsepath, bley said the day before. “I’m not sure he ever has a groundhog ducked back in its hole in a berm near hung a hard right out the back door and walked more than one leg on the ground at a time. It’s kind the manure area, birds flitted away from the horses past the turnout paddocks, across the gravel road of frightening.” to a safe perch on a board fence across the gravel that snakes through the place and into a six-acre Reality wasn’t nearly that harrowing. road, and the horses kept jogging. field with knee-high grass. The field is bordered by Alwaysmining took rapid baby steps at first, then Rubley, aboard the stable pony, watched as best a county road (Route 213), Sharp’s Cemetery (old- bowed his neck and settled in. He’s no dressage she could, knew her horse enjoyed himself and gave est grave 1753), the training center’s manure trans- horse, but he’s working on his trot. The group went him extra credit for good behavior. fer area and that gravel road/driveway. left-handed “He’s doing really well,” said the trainer. “I’m It’s also a perfect place to get in some work, as for two laps, pointing to (the Blame) because the stakes sched- multiple stakes winner Alwaysmining and his mates then crossed ule at Laurel is more up in the air than running. showed. He’s a longshot in Saturday’s $100,000 through This looks like the spot for now until we start see- Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs and looking to re- the center ing what else comes up. It’s such a strange year, we start his 4-year-old campaign after the global health and went crisis halted racing for more than two months. right-hand- Continued On Page 16

14 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 IT’S TIME FOR TO SHOW HIS

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 15 vember. The 4-year-old Into Mischief colt won the Grade 3 Lexington last Blame – spring and added derbies in Ohio Continued from page 14 and Oklahoma. Florent Geroux rides from post eight. don’t know where any of the stakes Sagamore Farm’s Global Cam- stand at any of the tracks. It’s unfor- paign won his 2020 allowance come- tunate because I would rather stay at back at Gulfstream Park in April and Laurel.” is the 9-2 second choice for trainer A Maryland-bred, Alwaysmining Stan Hough and jockey Jose Ortiz. boasts a 9-for-13 mark on the Laurel The son of won the first two Park dirt track (with one turf loss) in- starts of his career early last year, then cluding seven stakes triumphs. Away finished fifth in the Fountain of from there, he’s lost all six starts. Last and won the Grade 3 Peter Pan be- year, he ran the table of Maryland fore a third in Saratoga’s Grade 2 Jim 3-year-old stakes (Miracle Wood, Pri- Dandy in what turned out to be his vate Terms, Federico Tesio) to earn a final start of 2019. spot in the . Sent off Trainer Bret Calhoun sends out at 7-1, he was wide throughout, in Mr. Money, whose 2019 included the mix with the leaders until the final wins in the Pat Day Mile, Matt Winn, turn and faded to 11th. War Of Will Derby and West Virginia Der- beat Alwaysmining by 13 1/2 lengths. Coady Photography by (all Grade 3) and a second in the Rubley’s horse shortened up for Mr. Money, a winner in last year’s Matt Winn, figures to be tough in the Blame. Grade 1 . The son the on Belmont Stakes the John B. Campbell, and was third be a goal,” Rubley said. “I backed of closed last year with a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Day and finished fourth (moved up to last time in the Harrison Johnson go- off everyone and spaced our works, third after getting blocked late), then Mile and opened 2020 with a sixth ing 1 1/8 miles March 14. then I heard we were going to run (at was ninth in the Indiana Derby in July behind Tom’s d’Etat in the Oaklawn Since then, like most racehorses in Laurel) May 15 so I got them fitter Facebook, yelp, Instagram, Tri-before getting a five-month break. again and now I’m thinking I could Mile. The 5-1 third choice gets Gabri- His 2020 began with two stakes wins North America, he’s done nothing but el Saez and breaks from post 13. pAdvisor have waited a week. Luckily he looks at Laurel in January and February, train. great, he’s training well. I’m in a good Calhoun also has multiple graded the latter a gutsy neck triumph over “We just keep ticking around place with him.” winner and $778,277 earner Silver Monongahela going 1 1/16 miles in there, but eventually there has to The Laurel opening was delayed Dust (8-1) in the field. to May 22 and then again to perhaps Others include Grade 2 winner May 29 as the Maryland Thorough- Long Range Toddy, Grade 3 win- bred Horsemen’s Association and ner Bourbon Resolution, Preakness track management tried to solve is- runner-up Everfast, Grade 2 winner sues with state health guidelines. Due Backyard Heaven, four-time winner to decreased purses, Alwaysmining Extraordinary Jerry, millionaire - might not get a stakes start in his per Sinclair, Grade 2 winner Ameri- home state for months so the 1-mile can Anthem, Grade 1 winner Discreet Blame fits. The son of Stay Thirsty Lover and the Grade 2-placed Dia- breaks from post four for Manny mond King. Franco at 20-1 on the morning line. Rubley likes the one-turn race for her horse, who has won all four starts with that 1-mile setup at Laurel. The trainer is not as enamored with the competition level at Churchill, how- ever, as the ungraded stakes attracted nine graded winners in a full field of 14. “Mr. Money, Owendale, Long Range Toddy . . . that doesn’t give you an easy feeling,” said Rubley, be- fore entries were taken. “He likes the one-turn mile, and I’m most excited about that. It’s hard to pass that up.” Third in the Preakness last year for Rupp Racing and trainer Brad Cox, Owendale is the 3-1 favorite but makes his first start since finishing second to Tom’s d’Etat in the Grade Tod Marks 1 Clark at Churchill Downs in No- Discreet Lover makes his first start in more than a year.

16 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 17 Starting Over Breeders’ Cup winner Sharing faces off with Alms in turf stakes BY JOE CLANCY TEPIN STAKES PREVIEW In January, Graham Motion talk- ed about 2019 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Breeders’ Cup winner. Two others are Fillies Turf winner and soon-to-be- graded stakes winners. Some come- crowned Maryland-bred Horse of the back spot. The 1-mile turf race is the Year Sharing and mentioned a few eighth of 11 on a day that finishes potential goals for 2020. with five stakes. The Florida Oaks was first on the The season may be starting a few list. Second week of March, 1 1/16 months late for Sharing, but she’s not miles, turf, logical. Further along, the all that far behind schedule or in need trainer planned to have a conversa- of fitness. tion with owners Aron Wellman of “The first time I worked her in Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and Florida I thought she was a little stiff Antony Beck of Gainesway Farm or she came out of it a little stiff any- about a dirt race. There’d been talk Tod Marks way,” said Motion. “Maybe it was Sharing makes her first start since winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf last fall. about the . And then, because the ground was firm and she even further down a promising road, overdid it. She worked a pretty sol- all four starts – three last year as a With Sharing on the sidelines, Out- England’s at Royal id half-mile (:48.70 Feb. 3). I got to 2-year-old and her 2020 debut at burst landed the Grade 3 Florida Oaks Ascot might beckon. thinking we were going to have to Fair Grounds in February. She ruled in March for trainer Eddie Kenneal- Sharing didn’t make any of those rush it to make Tampa and we didn’t the Shantel Lanerie Memorial there, ly and owners Marc Detampel, TSF stops. She emerged from a sharp want to rush her.” kicking away late to score by 4 1/4 Racing and Rebecca Hillen. The En- workout at Palm Meadows with a Instead, Sharing shipped home to lengths. glish-bred daughter of Outstrip is un- minor setback so the Tampa race was Fair Hill Training Center and didn’t “Our intentions were to just start defeated in two American starts (both scrapped. The Kentucky Oaks got work again until late March. She’s her off in what we hoped would be this year) and is the 5-1 third choice moved to September because of the breezed nine times at Fair Hill, all a fairly easy spot just as a prep go- on the morning line from post seven coronavirus pandemic. Royal Ascot but two on the Tapeta track includ- ing into Keeneland where we were for Javier Castellano. Kenneally also still hopes to run next month (with- ing moves of 6 (twice) and 7 furlongs planning to run in the Appalachian,” entered Abscond, who won Wood- out fans) but is awaiting government this month. Motion first targeted said Stidham. “Obviously, that never bine’s Grade 1 last year and approval. Pimlico’s Hilltop Stakes on Preakness happened. Everybody’s in the same finished seventh behind Sharing at So Sharing makes her 2020 debut Weekend, but sends his filly to Ken- boat, trying to make the best of a bad the Breeders’ Cup. Owned by Apogee in Saturday’s Tepin Stakes at Chur- tucky instead. situation and you wind up in a list- Racing, the daughter of Blame placed chill Downs. The 3-year-old daughter “I would have run her last week- ed stakes against the winner of the in her two stakes at Gulfstream Park of Speightstown, bred in Maryland end at Pimlico, so I’m only a week Breeders’ Cup.” this winter. by Sagamore Farm, hasn’t raced since behind,” he said. “She’s really not off Alms nearly met Sharing in the Others in the field are 50-1 shot that Breeders’ Cup score in Novem- schedule. This race has come up and Breeders’ Cup last year, but got sick Oxum Power for trainer Paulo Lobo, ber and is co-favored with fellow Fair just before shipping and stayed home. Irish-bred Walk In Marrakesh (beat- Hill shipper Alms at 3-1 in a field of it suits her. Aron and I talked about Instead, she capped her year by win- en a nose in the Natalma) for Ignacio 14. Alms is undefeated. Sharing is a pointing for the Hilltop and if things went really well we could go to En- ning Del Mar’s Grade 3 Jimmy Du- Correas, three-time winner Dominga gland. That would be a stretch now, rante in late November after starting for Brad Cox, two-time winner (in as but it’s possible. The logistics of send- out with two wins at Belmont includ- many starts) Hendy Woods for Mark ing a horse and people to Europe now ing the Grade 2 Matron. Casse, Al Stall-trained double winner are hard to consider.” “I think she’s a real, good quality In Good Spirits, Kentucky Downs Aboard for all four prior starts, filly,” Stidham said of the daughter of stakes winner Jezebel’s Kitten for Manny Franco takes the call again City Zip and the Empire Maker mare Cox, the stakes-placed Pass The Plate from post nine. Charity Belle. “The sky’s the limit for for Paul McGee, the Norm Casse- Sharing and her chief foe Alms, her. She’s got a ton of talent, she’s trained Heir Of Light, Moral Reason- from the Mike Stidham barn, might one of those light-bodied fillies that ing from the Chad Brown barn and recognize each other from the Ta- knows how to get it done.” four-time winner Queen Of God for peta track at Fair Hill but they had Paco Lopez, aboard for the last Mike Maker. Eve Of War, a winner Tod Marks to get on a van to meet in a race. A two starts, takes the return call from last time out at Gulfstream, is on the Alms seeks her fifth win in as many starts. Godolphin homebred, Alms has won the outside post. also-eligible list for Todd Pletcher.

18 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Hieronymus has won four of five for trainer CHURCHILL DOWNS SATURDAY NOTES Dunbar Road Brad Cox and is the 9-2 second choice, while Pix- elate (6-1) has won twice including a stakes score at Stakes action begins at 4:08 p.m. with the sev- Aqueduct late last year while finishing in the trifec- enth race, the $100,000 Shawnee Stakes for older ta in all seven starts. fillies and mares. Eight entered, but two – 4-5 fa- “He’s been a gem of consistency,” Stidham said. vorite Dunbar Road and 2-1 second choice She’s A “The Fair Grounds race was really good, the other Julie – rate the longest looks. Godophin horse beat us but in another few jumps Four-year-old filly Dunbar Road won last year’s he might have won that. We think he’ll be a better Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga and three other races 3-year-old than he was at 2.” for Peter Brant and Chad Brown. The daughter of Quality Road closed her season with a third in the • Saturday’s card goes 11 races deep and finishes Spinster and a fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff be- with five stakes, but the fun really begins with the fore a winter break. She gets back to work today, fifth race – a turf optional claimer featuring nine looking for her fifth win. Marks Tod graded stakes winners. Now 5, She’s A Julie finished second in the 2018 didn’t acclimate well and she hasn’t done much to On paper it’s for non-winners of four races other Alabama and opened 2019 with scores in the Grade excite us. She’s been working really well on the dirt than maiden, claiming, starter, restricted or state- 3 Bayakoa and Grade 1 La Troienne before losing at Fair Hill and we just decided to try something bred or $46,905 twice other than at a mile or over her next four (all graded stakes). The daughter of different with her and hopes she figures something on the turf since July 4; if none of those fit, hors- Elusive Quality finished fourth in the Spinster, then out.” es could be entered for a $150,000 claiming price. went to the sidelines. A winner of three at Churchill The purse is $88,000. Based on who showed up, it Downs, she returns today for trainer Steve Asmus- • The finale, a $100,000 turf stakes named could be four or five times that. sen. the War Chant, drew a big field of 3-year-olds all A Thread Of Blue ($1 million in career earnings) Trainer Mike Stidham tries something new with looking to step forward in the division. Field Pass rates the mild 4-1 favorite on the morning line while Irish-bred Flower Party, a Group 3 winner (and is the 4-1 favorite on the morning line for train- making his first start for new trainer John Servis. Group 2-placed) in Italy in 2018. The 5-year-old’s er Mike Maker. The Maryland-bred exits stakes Three horses are 5-1 on the early line – three-time American form consists of five losses, four on turf. wins at Gulfstream Park and . Godol- stakes winner English Bee, 13-time winner and She gets her first try on what Stidham hopes will be phin is represented by three homebreds – the even- $918,204 earner Mr. Misunderstood and multi- a dry dirt track. ly matched Hieronymus and Pixelate plus Shared ple Grade 2 winner and $704,927 earner Caribou “She’s been a bit of a disappointment obvious- Sense. The first two finished three-quarters of a Club. Twelve run, with two on the also-eligible list ly, the trainer said. “She trained well, looked good, length apart when first and second in the Black and one eyeing a main-track-only chance. she was healthy. We gave her time off thinking she Gold Stakes at Fair Grounds in February. – Joe Clancy NTRA NTRA YEARLING SALE NOTICE: 1/4% CHECK-OFF PROGRAM ENROLLMENT UNDERWAY

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 19 Churchill Downs – Saturday

the Power grid Race # John Tom Charles Rob Ed Shapazian Law Bedard Whitlock DeRosa Golden Notion Golden Notion Golden Notion Looking At Liberty Golden Notion White Wolf Pow Wow Prince My Name Is Phred Golden Notion Step Ten 1 No Bad Days No Bad Days No Bad Days No Bad Days Victoryatvicksburg Slick Silver Slick Silver Strut The Ring Dangerfield Slick Silver I Will Stand Charlie’sarchangel Charlie’sarchangel Tez County Court 2 Laddie Boy Tez Kearny County Slick Silver Laddie Boy Blame The Cake Blame The Cake Verb Fugitive Verb Verb Verb Bubba Caballo Belfast Boy Fugitive 3 Bubba Caballo League Of Legends League Of Legends Verb Shadow Boat Valletta Valletta Altaf Take Charge Patti Bobby’s Goldengirl Altaf Take Charge Glenda Take Charge Glenda Altaf Take Charge Glenda 4 Bobby’s Goldengirl Majorette Bobby’s Goldengirl Valletta Valletta Fact Finding English Bee Caribou Club Mr. Misunderstood Just Howard Parlor Just Howard Hembree Hembree First Premio 5 Doctor Mounty Caribou Club First Premio Just Howard Caribou Club Get The Prize Get The Prize Picasso Get The Prize Get The Prize Picasso Breaking News Smart Time Picasso High Crime 6 High Crime High Crime Hidden Hidden Ruler Picasso Dunbar Road Dunbar Road Dunbar Road Dunbar Road Vault She’s A Julie She’s A Julie Moonlit Garden She’s A Julie Awe Emma 7 Chocolate Kisses Moonlit Garden She’s A Julie Vault She’s A Julie Alms Sharing Alms Sharing Alms Sharing Outburst Sharing Alms Hendy Woods 8 Outburst Abscond Walk In Marrakesh Abscond Sharing Global Campaign Owendale Mr. Money Silver Dust Diamond King Backyard Heaven Mr. Money Silver Dust Global Campaign Snapper Sinclair 9 Silver Dust Global Campaign Alwaysmining Owendale Silver Dust Maxfield Maxfield Major Fed Pneumatic Ny Traffic Attachment Rate Pneumatic Ny Traffic Necker Island Crypto Cash 10 Pneumatic Crypto Cash Mystic Guide Mystic Guide Attachment Rate Field Pass Smooth Like Strait Hieronymus Field Pass Shared Sense Hieronymus Field Pass Smooth Like Strait Hieronymus South Bend 11 South Bend Hieronymus South Bend Pixelate Pixelate 2020 Records 42/120 37/120 36/120 32/120

Guest Handicapper: Ed DeRosa is director of marketing for Brisnet.com and a handicapper and writer for TwinSpires.com.

20 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 All Out. Blame (left) is recognized with a stakes in his name at Churchill Downs today. Back in 2010, he and Quality Road slugged The Big Picture it out in a memorable Whitney at Saratoga. Garrett Gomez rode Blame, with Tod Marks who scored by a head, while John Velazquez was aboard the runner-up.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 21 United We Stand Mandella aims favorite at stakes named for Cal. training legend BY SEAN CLANCY WHITTINGHAM STAKES PREVIEW “What would Whittingham have thought of him?” “He’s developed into a very good Richard Mandella paused, rumi- horse,” Mandella said. “It took a lit- nated and then answered. tle while to kind of believe in him, “Oh, I’m sure he would have liked he was just a late-developing gelding United,” Mandella said. that got better as we went on.” Charlie Whittingham would After winning one of three starts for have loved United. A long-striding, LNJ Foxwoods and Woodbine-based late-developing, stamina-laden geld- Hall of Famer Roger Attfield, United ing getting better with age? That was spent seven months on the sidelines Whittingham’s wheelhouse. Well, ev- before making his debut in California erything was the wheelhouse for the last February. He finished eighth in legendary Hall of Fame trainer but a first-level allowance, came back to especially granite-tough routers with upset the same condition in his next California graded stakes on their re- start, rallied to be fourth in a two- cord and their radar. other-than before trying last year’s United lines up as the favorite for Whittingham. United clipped heels Alex Evers/Eclipse Sportswire United strolls the Santa Anita track while prepping for the Breeders’ Cup last year. the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham, a while traversing the dirt path early, 10-furlong turf stakes that highlights loped along in fifth, slugged into the Longines , a great horseman and great person. He the nine-race Santa Anita card Satur- fray in the stretch before succumbing $10 million turf race March 28. Turns treated everybody the same, from hot- day. late to Marckie’s Waters. After that out the prep was a prop after the en- walkers to owners to the management Owned by LNJ Foxwoods, trained stamp of arrival, United hasn’t missed tire Dubai World Cup program card of the track, everybody. He was just by Hall of Famer Mandella and rid- the board in five starts, including two was canceled because of the coronavi- a good person, didn’t have any airs den by Flavien Prat, the 5-year-old photo-finish twisters. rus and United returned to Santa Ani- about him, he was good to anybody.” son of Giant’s Causeway has gradual- He missed by a head at 51-1 in the ta. Charting new territory (shipping After Whittingham died of leuke- Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf to Horse ly worked his way into graded stakes across the world and not running), mia in April, 1999, Mandella received of the Year and since joining Mandella for his 4-year- Mandella waited and observed from a call from Santa Anita’s stall superin- missed by a neck at even money in the old campaign. Whittingham’s old barn at Santa Ani- tendent, asking if he wanted to move Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup. In his ta. to Whittingham’s Barn 4. 2020 debut, United won the Grade “We played it by ear, we had never “I didn’t ask any questions, I just 2 San Marcos. In a year’s time, Unit- got there quick,” Mandella said. “Ev- ed has transformed from a first-level had it happen before, we watched him for a week, he seemed fine, we put erybody watched what he did and allowance horse (7-1, 15-1 in two tried to learn from him, so I think we starts) to an established graded stakes him back into training and he looked like he never lost a step,” Mandella all learned lessons from him. Charlie performer (6-5 on the morning line). was probably more uniform and sys- Perhaps, transformed is too strong, said. “He returned in great shape and he’s doing real well. I think he’s ready tematic about the way he went about it’s been a steady, methodical climb. things, than a guy like (Allen) to run as good as he can.” Mandella doesn’t know any other Jerkens, you could learn some very And that’s all a trainer can ask, way. good procedures from him.” whether it’s Mandella with United or “It’s worked for me,” he said Shortly after moving to the covet- Whittingham with Fiddle Isle, Cougar Thursday afternoon. ed spot, Mandella received a gift from As Mandella melted out that sen- II, , , Exploded, Erins Whittingham’s son, Mike. A green timent, the likes of Gentlemen, Pleas- Isle or Rivlia. If you’re keeping score, brush box with white “CW” still antly Perfect, The Tin Man, Sandpit, the latter seven won the Whittingham hangs next to the stall once homed by Siphon and so many others danced for Whittingham before it was called Whittingham’s first Kentucky Derby across the memory. the Whittingham. winner . As perfect as the Whittingham “He was a person we all admired, “Oh yeah, we keep it up on the looks on paper for United, it was he was our hero out here. I never wall,” Mandella said. “In memory of anything but the spring goal for the worked for him, we trained as col- him.” Benoit Photo four-time winning millionaire. The leagues and were friends,” Mandella Trainer Richard Mandella. Continued On Page 23 San Marcos served as a prep for the said. “I can’t say enough about him, 22 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 United – Continued from page 22 Mandella won the Whittingham back in 1996 with Sandpit. Well, it Fair Hill Equine Therapy Center horses wasn’t the Whittingham. And Man- della knows it. include 67 individual Grade 1 winners “I haven’t done it yet. It was called the Hollywood Invitational or some- and the winners of 105 Grade 1 races. thing,” Mandella said. “I’ve been sec- ond in it a couple of times since it was Some of the races they’ve won. the Whittingham. It’s just frustrating, I’d like to win it.” Pin the win photo to the brush box. A.G. VANDERBILT (2) FRIZETTE METROPOLITAN MILE • • • Chad Brown shipped second ALCIBIADES GARDEN CITY STAKES choice Rockemperor to Santa Anita GRAND NATIONAL HURDLE PRIORESS for the Whittingham. The 4-year-old Irish-bred won twice in France before AWESOME AGAIN HASKELL INVITATIONAL QUEEN ELIZABETH II joining Brown in New York last sum- BELMONT DERBY HOLLYWOOD TURF CUP SHADWELL TURF MILE mer. The son of Holy Roman Emper- or finished third in the Grade 1 Bel- BREEDERS’ CUP CLASSIC HURDLE (2) SPINAWAY (2) mont Derby and sixth in the Saratoga Derby, both long on the turf. Fresh- BREEDERS’ CUP TURF (2) JOE HIRSCH TURF CLASSIC (2) SPINSTER ened, Rockemperor returned to finish BREEDERS’ CUP FILLY & MARE TURF KENTUCKY DERBY (2) (4) third in the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz at Fair Grounds March 21. Irad Ortiz Jr. DELAWARE HANDICAP KING’S BISHOP TEST flies in for the ride. Jeff Mullins sends out third choice DONN HANDICAP (2) LONESOME GLORY HURDLE UNITED NATIONS (2) Originaire, an impressive allowance DUBAI WORLD CUP MAKER’S 46 MILE (3) VANITY HANDICAP winner over the Santa Anita turf Feb. 29. The Irish-bred son of Zoffany MANHATTAN (2) WHITNEY HANDICAP (2) owns two wins and two Grade 2 plac- ings since joining Mullins last spring. FRANK KILROE MILE MAN O’ WAR (4) WOOD MEMORIAL Umberto Rispoli takes the call. MATRIARCH (2) Desert Stone, Multiplier, Bold En- deavor and Synthesis complete the field. The eighth race on the nine-race card, the Whittingham gets underway at 7:18 p.m. Eastern. “ Mulligan saves me hours of work and days of worry. [email protected] • (859) 233-4146 Troy H. Mulligan Now, I can watch the again.” horses Lexington, KY Lexington, – Sean Clancy,Sean Riverdee Stable Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy | AquaPacer | Cold Saltwater Spa | Dry Salt Room | Vibration Therapy | Training Center

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Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 23 Triple Play O’Neill barn sends out three in Grade 3 stakes at Santa Anita BY SEAN CLANCY PREVIEW “I feel strong in the turf male sprint category.” on Dubai World Cup night. When Tony Atlas strong. that got canceled, he came home,” Doug O’Neill unleashes three of O’Neill said. “He’s fresh, he’s ready, his turf male sprint arsenal in Satur- he’s doing super. I love his post, he’s day’s Grade 3 Daytona Stakes at San- outside everybody. He’s got Mike ta Anita. Smith on him for the first time, Hall They run the gamut. of Fame Mike. He’ll be on the lead or A world-traveling 4-year-old geld- just off the lead in a great spot.” ing, a 4-year-old colt making his first Wildman Jack drew post six in the start since the Breeders’ Cup and a seven-horse field. working-class 7-year-old French- Four stalls to his inside stands Stub- bred. bins. Owned by McShane Racing, the Benoit Photography Wildman Jack returns from a win- 4-year-old son of Morning Line en- Wildman Jack (winning at Del Mar last year) runs in the Daytona. ter spent in Dubai where he won the joyed a lucrative season last year win- first start for new connections in an for all the help, the horses. It’s like Grade 3 Nad Al Sheba Turf Sprint ning four of nine starts, including the optional claimer at Santa Anita be- horse heaven over there, the facilities March 7. That set up W C Racing’s Grade 2 Woodford at Keeneland and fore finishing third to Daytona starter are huge, you can train on the syn- homebred for Dubai World Cup the Pasadena over a sloppy track at Cistron in the Grade 3 San Simeon thetic one day, turf one day, dirt one night, but that was scrapped when Santa Anita. The dark bay colt makes March 21. day. It’s like a 20-minute walk from the blockbuster card canceled due to his 2020 debut, his first start since “Then we’ve got the seasoned vet- the beautiful air-conditioned barn to the coronavirus pandemic. He’s back, rallying to finish fourth in the Grade eran, the 7-year-old Murad Khan, he’s whatever track you want. It was mind he’s 2-1 and the favorite in the sev- 1 Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa won before with Cedillo,” O’Neill freshening for all the horses and the en-horse field. Anita in November. said. “He’s just a hard knocker who’s people. It was great experience. Up “Wildman Jack got the track re- “Stubbins ran huge in the Breed- facing these up and comers, he’ll put until the last little bit, it was perfect.” cord in Dubai, he was going to be one ers’ Cup, if he got a cleaner trip and in a big stretch run and definitely Cistron rides a two-race win streak of the favorites for the big turf sprint maybe if it was 5 1/2 (furlongs) could get it done as well.” into the Daytona. Trained by John instead of 5, he would have In today’s world of pandemic and Sadler for Hronis Racing, the 6-year- been right there,” O’Neill said. postponement, perhaps a horse’s form old son of The Factor owns six wins, “Credit to his owners, they should include where this race was seven seconds and six thirds in his freshened him up and he’s com- on the horse’s plan. For O’Neill, the 28-race career. Last season, Cistron ing back, working really, really Daytona was always a target but the captured the Grade 2 and well. I’m looking forward to interrupted racing schedule played a the Grade 1 Bing Crosby in July be- him running big and him having part of how two of the three got here. fore missing the rest of the season. He a huge second half of the year. “There’s not a lot of turf sprint returned with a flourish, rallying to He’s doing great.” stakes options, it was on the calendar win the San Simeon. Part of O’Neill’s string at for all three,” O’Neill said. “Stub- takes the call. San Luis Rey Downs, Stubbins bins is spot on right now, it’s working Texas Wedge makes his first start has posted eight breezes for his out for him perfectly. The other two since taking the World of Trouble return, including two bullets, a would probably have run before this, Turf Sprint at Guflstream for trainer 5-furlong move April 28 and a they’ve been ready for a few weeks.” Peter Miller. The 5-year-old son of 3-furlong ripper in 34 seconds Wildman Jack was one of a dozen Colonel John has won three of his Monday. Umberto Rispoli rides horses O’Neill sent to Dubai this win- last four, including the Grade 2 Joe for the first time. ter. After his first extended stay there, Hernandez at the Daytona distance. Murad Khan rounds out O’Neill will certainly keep the winter Flavien Prat rides. O’Neill’s trio. Breaking to the carnival on the travel itinerary. Grade 2 stakes winner Sparky Ville right of Stubbins, the 7-year- “We threw some horses at the and four-time winner Blameiton- old son of Raven’s Pass attracts Dubai Racing people and they gave us thelaw complete the field. One of two Abel Cedillo for his fourth start a list of 12 or 14 that they invited,” stakes on the Santa Anita card Satur- Benoit Photo of 2020. Claimed for $50,000 in O’Neill said. “It was great, it was a day, the Daytona runs at 5:39 East- Stubbins was fourth in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. January, Murad Khan won his really good experience, just first class ern.

24 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Santa Anita Park – Saturday

the Power grid Race # John Tom Charles Rob Jon Shapazian Law Bedard Whitlock White Much More Halo Much More Halo Much More Halo Big Cheddar Duplicity Restoring Dreams Tripoli Big Cheddar Much More Halo Silardi 1 Tripoli Silardi Highly Distorted Tripoli Much More Halo Muralist Divine Armor Divine Armor Believe Now Divine Armor Divine Armor Believe Now Muralist Divine Armor Muralist 2 Still In The Game Muralist Believe Now Muralist Believe Now Liar Liar Liar Liar Liar Liar Margot’s Boy Liar Liar Margot’s Boy Distant Vista Indian Peak Best Chance Margot’s Boy 3 Distant Vista Indian Peak Margot’s Boy Liar Liar Distant Vista Tiz Wonderfully Tiz Wonderfully Scarlet Heat Perfect Ice Storm Scarlet Heat 4 Perfect Ice Storm Scarlet Heat Tiz Wonderfully Scarlet Heat Tiz A Master Scarlet Heat Perfect Ice Storm Tiz A Master Shanghai Barbie Charmingslew Wildman Jack Cistron Wildman Jack Cistron Wildman Jack Cistron Texas Wedge Stubbins Texas Wedge Stubbins 5 Stubbins Stubbins Texas Wedge Wildman Jack Texas Wedge Sybil’s Kitty Real Good Deal Sybil’s Kitty Sybil’s Kitty Real Good Deal 6 Diamond Of Value Sybil’s Kitty Midnight Garden Midnight Garden Way Too Sweet Midnight Garden Way Too Sweet Diamond Of Value Real Good Deal Sybil’s Kitty Lovely Lilia Too Much Heaven Lovely Lilia Lovely Lilia Lovely Lilia Too Much Heaven Lovely Lilia Samurai Charm Rstars and Stripes Too Much Heaven 7 Biddy Duke Vegan Rstars And Stripes Too Much Heaven Biddy Duke United United United United Originaire Originaire Rockemperor Originaire Rockemperor United 8 Rockemperor Desert Stone Rockemperor Multiplier Rockemperor Salah My Journey Salah Dr. Hoffman Salah Posty Vodka Twist My Journey My Journey Dr. Hoffman 9 Mongolian Wind Salah Posty Salah My Journey 2020 Records 42/120 37/120 36/120 32/120

Guest Handicapper: Jon White, a longtime California racing analyst, is in his 12th year as the morning-line maker at Santa Anita Park.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 25 Travels with Charlie Whittingham legacy touches many eras, people BY SEAN CLANCY Sirlad, trained by Whittingham, had just run as hard and as fast as he could, shadowing Triple Saturday’s feature at Santa Anita Park, the 51st Crown winner for every stride, every fur- edition of the Charles Whittingham Handicap hon- long of the 1979 Hollywood Gold Cup. No horse ors the late Hall of Fame trainer who won the race had ever finished in front of Affirmed at 1 1/4 miles, seven times in his legendary career. no horse had ever pushed him that fast, that far. A Whittingham won the stakes run under a few Group 1 winner in France and a Grade 2 winner names – the Hollywood Invitational and Holly- here, the 5-year-old forced Affirmed from his out- wood Turf Handicap – since its inception at Holly- wood Park in 1969 with Fiddle Isle (1970), Cougar side while being forced by a mid-race, three-wide II (1971), Dahlia (1976), Exceller (1978), Exploded attack from Text. Sirlad shook off Text and clung (1982), Erins Isle (1983) and Rivlia (1987). to Affirmed all the way to the eighth pole, finally, Born in California in 1913, Whittingham worked fittingly, falling sway by three-quarters of a length for Horatio Luro, served in the U.S. Marine Corps in Affirmed’s 19th career victory. during World War II and set up his own stable in “Sirlad was a big elongated horse and we broke 1950. He won 252 stakes races and became the out of the gate and I went head and head with Af- all-time leader at Hollywood and Santa Anita. He firmed the whole way,” McHargue said. “There joined racing’s Hall of Fame in 1974, won the Ken- wasn’t a separation of a head or anything. Sirlad tucky Derby with Ferdinand and runs the whole way, he just gets outrun by a better and won three Eclipse Awards as outstanding train- horse.” er. Whittingham died in 1999, and is remembered McHargue walked off the track with Whitting- every year with the turf stakes held Saturday. ham, beginning the Pavlovian exchange between Some of his peers, proteges and others in racing jockey and trainer. talked about him this week. “He ran a great race, Charlie, he never gave Thoroughbred Times /Keeneland Library up…” Hall of Fame trainer Charlie Whittingham. • Darrel McHargue cantered Sirlad back to be Whittingham listened and looked at those bullet “Charlie knew how to get a horse ready for a unsaddled, checked the toteboard for what he al- holes on the Hollywood Park toteboard. specific day,” McCarron said. “He could really un- ready knew, shaking his head at the fractions. “You know we probably should have made him derstand what it takes to get a horse fit enough to 45 3/5. 1:09 3/5. 1:34 1/5. 1:58 2/5. go faster in the beginning…” Whittingham said. run a distance of ground even if they hadn’t run in McHargue, who didn’t ride often for Whitting- a while. They might need a race to build up their ham, began to counter. lung capacity but, leg-wise, that man never ran a “Charlie, we were running down there, it was short horse.” fast, for three quarters of a mile, it was fast…” And, of course, you ask the obvious question to Astute on horseback and on foot, McHargue an observant Hall of Famer about an incomparable kept the rest to himself. Hall of Famer. How did he know? “God, what kind of horses has this guy been “His dedication and his observation to the around when he can say that and think that…we sport,” McCarron said. “He thought like a horse. should have made him go faster,” McHargue said He put himself in the horse’s position, ‘What would to himself. “Man, how much faster can your horses I want? What would I like?’ He got so much out of go? I want to ride for you.” his horses because he treated them so kindly.” As for pressure, nonexistent. • Chris McCarron knew one thing when he rode “He was easy to ride for, as far as someone with for Whittingham. the amount of pressure he had on him all the time “He never ran a short horse,” McCarron said. because of the all the nice horses he had. He never “By that I mean a horse that would get so tired that seemed to show it,” McCarron said. “He was very he wouldn’t advance the next time he ran because it loyal and very understanding, if things didn’t go was a harrowing experience.” right during the running of the race and you could Knowing they would never be short, McCarron explain it in a way that was completely understand- won the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Sunday Silence, able then you would ride the horse back.” partnered Flawlessy to 13 wins, includ- ing nine Grade 1 stakes wins, and steered so many • Shug McGaughey walked back to his barn in others for Whittingham. They included Rivlia, a son the cold night air after the 1988 Breeders’ Cup at of Riverman and Dahlia. Rivlia notched Whitting- Churchill Downs. McGaughey had won the Breed- ham’s seventh and final victory in the Hollywood ers’ Cup Distaff with Personal Ensign but was Thoroughbred Times Collection/Keeneland Library Invitational Handicap, the stakes now known as Whittingham and a lead pony friend. Continued On Page 27 the Charles Whittingham (Dahlia won his third).

26 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 In 1988, Whittingham was rolling, Pletcher was crawling. Whittingham – “To have the opportunity to work Continued from page 26 for a legend…I didn’t know what to expect, I showed up there with no real stung with two seconds, Easy Goer expectations, I was willing to hot walk in the Juvenile and an agonizing one or whatever it took.” in the finale when On his first morning, Whittingham couldn’t run down in the handed Pletcher an electric blanket Classic. The Kentucky-born trainer and told him to put it on “that horse walked and grimaced, torturing him- there.” That horse there was blazed- self over what could have been, what faced Judge Angelucci, three-time might have been... Grade 1 stakes winner and earner of From behind him, a voice bellowed. $1.5 million. “Hey, boy, what kind of day did “I was like, ‘Man, I’ve never been you have today?” around horses like this,’ ” said Pletch- “Won one, two seconds…” er, who is now around horses like that “Man, you had a good day, huh?” all the time. “That’s part of what you McGaughey, 37, turned and saw learn, too, even the great horses you Whittingham, 75. They walked back have to in some ways treat them the to the barn together, nothing else was same as all of them, don’t be intimi- said, but a lot was learned. dated by that. If you were intimidated, “I had my head down, sometimes you couldn’t function.” you have a second and think you didn’t After a week or so, a groom’s posi- have a good day, I always think about tion opened and Pletcher was rubbing that little bit of a conversation we had four horses for the summer. on a cold, dark night,” McGaughey At the end of each morning, Whit- said. “The Classic was just over with, tingham walked around and checked we made a good run at Alysheba and on each horse. just weren’t good enough. If he had Pletcher held his pan, sieving for won…but that all goes with it.” Whittingham’s gold. A year later, McGaughey and Whit- “Pretty much his routine before he tingham would meet again, on the left every morning was to walk around sport’s biggest stage, with the sport’s and check on each horse, whenever he biggest stars. Sunday Silence and Easy did that I tried to make a point to ask Goer squared off in the Triple Crown. him a question,” Pletcher said. “He Sunday Silence won the first two, Easy was always very with his Goer the third. It was sport at its finest. time and kind to answer. That was “We went through the whole thing it for me, just to learn as much as I together, we would have a drink or could.” stop and talk, there was never any an- By June, Pletcher was in the win- imosity. There could have been some ner’s circle with Peace, a son of Nask- gas thrown on the fire with the East Thoroughbred Times Collection/Keeneland Library Whittingham with a flashy charge in 1940. ra, for the Cinema Handicap at Hol- Coast against the West Coast and the lywood Park’s first Friday night card. media was playing that up to some ex- • Everybody knows future Hall of Famer Todd Clint Eastwood presented the trophy. tent, but he would never allow anything like that,” Pletcher learned under the tutelage of Hall of Fam- By the end of the summer, Pletcher went back east, McGaughey said. “I was a young guy and he was er D. Wayne Lukas. But a summer spent at Holly- writing a letter to Whittingham when he got home, the old pro. He couldn’t have been more of a gen- wood Park in 1988 left an indelible mark on the thanking him for the opportunity. tleman or a nicer guy to me. After Easy Goer won sport’s all-time earnings leader as well. In November, Whittingham arrived at Churchill the Belmont, he stayed at the Garden City and cel- The mark came early. Early in the summer stint Downs for the Breeders’ Cup (that one where Mc- ebrated our victory when he got beat in the Triple and early in the morning. Pletcher stopped by the Gaughey had his good day). Pletcher ducked into Crown. That’s the kind of guy he was.” barn to introduce himself and find out what time he the barn, hoping to say hello. By November, the rivalry was on the skillet again was to start the next morning. “This guy won’t even remember who I am…” in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Sunday Silence did it “Early.” Pletcher said to himself as he passed Breeders’ Cup again, staving off Easy Goer again. That’s all Whittingham said. Classic starter Lively One. “I remember at the draw, we drew the inside and Pletcher knew early from his horse-training dad. Whittingham walked up to his former pupil and he drew the outside, when they called him up there The Texan arrived at Whittingham’s barn at 4:15, shook his hand. to talk, he said, ‘I think I got the best of Shug on figuring that would impress his summer boss. Whit- “Thank you for sending that letter, Todd.” the draw.’ When we broke, we ducked in a little tingham was already there, looking in every feed Pletcher still marvels over the exchange. bit. He was right again,” McGaughey said. “I was tub, feeling every leg. “Literally, the first thing he did was walk up to fortunate enough to watch, some firsthand but also “That’s what I took from him, there is no sub- me and thank me for my letter,” Pletcher said. “He from afar, how he handled horses, how he got there stitute for hard work, the commitment to the job,” was just that kind of guy.” and how he handled himself. What a guy. What a Pletcher said. trainer.”

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 27 The Saturday Special BY TOM LAW AND SEAN CLANCY Caribou Club (here winning at Laurel last year) ow this is a proper slate. Well, almost. is part of a deep fifth race at Churchill Downs Saturday. Just a few weeks removed from a feath- ery offering of racing – just three tracks Nrunning Saturday cards in the U.S. for our debut issue of The 2020 Special May 2 – we can pour over programs from seven American spots for a proper start to Memorial Day Weekend. The action starts outside our borders with rac- ing from at Sha Tin and France at Bor- deaux le Bouscat. Throw in some Australian jump racing and racing from Uruguay and you have a true melting pot. Churchill Downs returned last week and features the first stakes action of its abbreviated spring-sum- mer meeting with Stephen Foster Preview Day. The Grade 3 Matt Winn for 3-year-olds, now a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, leads a slate of five stakes. Santa Anita Park also made its comeback last week and they’ve rolled out a strong starter to the weekend. The nine-race card includes the Grade 2 Charles Whittingham and the Grade 3 Daytona, the former long and the latter short, and both on the grass. Elsewhere we welcome the returns of Charles Town and Golden Gate Fields in this space, pre- view opening weekend action from Lone Star Park and keep tabs with Saturday cards from Gulfstream Park and Tampa Bay Downs. Don’t forget, this weekly primer appears on our website thisishorseracing.com every Friday throughout the year – so long as we’re not slammed

with other projects or in the midst of the Saratoga Jimmy McCue/Maryland Jockey Club meet. We’re happy to offer it here in “print” for Sha Tin. Race 11. 5:50. One more for good measure, the Churchill Downs. Race 1. 1:00. Loaded card starts with the second edition of The 2020 Special. Be safe out $271,007 Viva Pataca Handicap. $50,000 maiden claimer at 7 furlongs. Golden Notion makes there, stay healthy and good luck. (All times East- the key drop, maiden special to claiming off five decent efforts. ern). Bordeaux Le Bouscat. Race 2. 6:15. Front-running Frohsim has only lost once in four starts, the son of Dabirsim dips into Tampa. Race 2. 1:08. Maiden races, dirt or turf, are often . Race 1. 12:30 a.m. Up late? Finish his first stakes in the Derby Du Midi Listed Stakes going 9 tough at Tampa. Here’s one at our favorite distance of 1 mile Friday night with racing from Hong Kong. The opener, the furlongs. and 40 yards with runners for Kent Sweezey, Jonathan Thom- $109,694 Pakistan Star Griffin Plate features a field of nine as, Mike Stidham and Christophe Clement. Thomas should including American-bred runners by Flatter (Sunny Star) and Bordeaux Le Bouscat. Race 4. 7:15. Joe Francais flopped in make it win No. 16 at the extended meet with Burning Bright, Carpe Diem (Chancheng Prince). the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club last summer but bounced a homebred son of Empire Maker out of champion Forever To- back with two easy wins as he vaunts his way into the GD PX gether for Augustin Stable. Sha Tin. Race 4. 2:00. Hot King Prawn, winner of three of 10 Bordeaux Listed Stakes. and more than $1.9 million, headlines $419,417 Sha Tin Vase. Santa Anita Park. Race 1. 3:30. Good to have the Great Race Thanks Forever also figures to be a main player in 6-furlong Las Piedras. Race 2. 11:35. Uruguayan maidens by Trin- Place back in the primer. Maiden turf sprint opens the card. We grass event. niberg, Posse, Ecclesiastic, A Little Warm, Essayons and other hope one day they bring back the downhill turf course for races old friends compete for a $4,307 purse. What if the next Inva- like this, with a dozen and one AE entered. Sha Tin. Race 8. 4:05. Just waking up? Still going strong? sor is in here? Let us know first! Check out the purse on the Standard Chartered Chater Cup - Churchill. Race 3. 2:00. Full field of 12 for 6 1/2-furlong maid- $1,290,513. All starters carry 126 pounds, 10 furlongs on the Tampa Bay Downs. Race 1. 12:35 p.m. Start the day in the en, including Grade 3-placed Verb. grass. Living legend Tony Cruz sends out three main players in States with 6-furlong maiden claimer for 3-year-olds and up. Exultant, Furore and Time Warp. Churchill. Race 4. 2:32. Bill Mott, who went into Friday eight Gulfstream Park. Race 1. 12:45. Tracks opening farther north wins shy of 5,000 for his career, sends out Juddmonte home- Sha Tin. Race 10. 5:15. Do you have a favorite California will eventually soften competition for races like the opener, a 1 bred Valletta in 1-mile maiden for fillies and mares. Daughter Memory? Here’s the $187,124 Cup at 7 1/16-mile maiden claimer on the grass. Not so yet with runners furlongs. for McPeek, Breen, Pletcher, Eppler, Maker and Lynch. Continued On Page 29

28 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Churchill. Race 9. 5:12. The $100,000 Blame could be useful 1-mile prep for the two-turn Foster. Another salty bunch with Saturday – Owendale, Mr. Money, Global Campaign, Backyard Heaven and Continued from page 28 Silver Dust in the field of 14. of Into Mischief ran well in her last two starts on the grass at Gulfstream. Race 10. 5:24. Frenchmen Street. Ever been? It’s Gulfstream and returns to the main track. a must, post pandemic of course. The jazzy place’s namesake, a 5-year-old Malibu Moon gelding looks tough from the rail in Churchill. Race 5. 3:04. Stakes-caliber $88,000 allowance-op- 5-furlong optional on the grass for Mike Maker. tional on the grass with plenty of graded competitors like A Thread Of Blue, Mr. Misunderstood, English Bee and Caribou Lone Star. Race 4. 5:35. Back to the grass for straight maid- Club entered. Good race. en for 3-year-olds and up. Stewart Elliott rides Governale for in 1-mile test Gulfstream. Race 6. 3:16. Curlingo, daughter of Curlin who cost $900,000 at 2018 Keeneland September yearling sale, Santa Anita. Race 5. 5:39. First of two stakes, the Grade 3 makes debut for Todd Pletcher and Eclipse Thoroughbred Part- Daytona at 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf. Stubbins makes first ners in 6 1/2-furlong maiden. Pletcher also sends out Chuck start since fourth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint while Fipke homebred Ima Pharoah, second in her two starts at Gulf- Cistron looks to make it two straight in graded turf sprints af- stream. ter winning the San Simeon before racing shut down in late March. Don’t count out Wildman Jack, who won $350,000 Nad Churchill. Race 6. 3:36. Breaking News finished sixth via DQ al Sheba Turf Sprint in early March at Meydan. in his comeback April 30. We wrote about him in Ron Mo- Tod Marks quett’s Fasig-Tipton Stable Tour that appeared in Issue 1 of Churchill. Race 10. 5:44. The day’s headliner, the Grade 3 Backyard Heaven (part of the Blame Stakes at Churchill) ran The 2020 Special. He’s 12-1 against field for 6 1/2-furlong al- Matt Winn offers a $150,000 purse and 85 points toward a in the 2018 Whitney at Saratoga. lowance that includes Get The Prize, Picasso and High Crime. spot in the Kentucky Derby starting gate. Big questions. Will Maxfield be ready off seven-month break? How good is Pneu- Lone Star. Race 9. 8:07. Good Judgment, second in Jim’s Or- Golden Gate Fields. Race 1. 3:45. Nice to have Northern Cal- matic? Can Ny Traffic get loose on the lead? Will Attachment bit last time at Houston, broke his maiden and finished ifornia back in the mix. Here’s the opener, a $5,000 claimer for Rate continue his consistent form? What if Major Fed breaks second in small stakes last year at Lone Star. He looks tough fillies and mares at 1 mile on the synthetic. poorly again? along with True Saint in 6-furlong Texas-bred allowance to close the card. Santa Anita. Race 2. 4:02. Divine Armor looks to end string Gulfstream. Race 11. 5:55. Stay on the grass for the finale, of seconds – three of them – in 1-mile maiden that also draws Florida-bred optional for fillies and mares. Charles Town. Race 7. 9:55. Sign of the times in 6 1/2-furlong $1.4 million yearling Believe Now and firster Future Vision allowance with out-of-towners making up seven of the 10 en- from Michael McCarthy’s barn and Muralist for Dan Blacker. Lone Star. Race 5. 6:07. Magic made two decent trants. Barnstorm, a maiden winner in his debut Jan. 25 for Jeff starts off long layoff at Fair Grounds and adds blinkers for Bret Runco, might keep the money at home. Lone Star Park. Race 1. 4:05. Two-turn turf maiden for fillies Calhoun in 6-furlong maiden. and mares with field of 12 plus two AEs opens the card. Ladbrokes Park Lakeside. Race 1. 10:05. Strong Austra- Churchill. Race 11. 6:16. The $100,000 War Chant for 3-year- lian jump card over heavy ground (English soft) will take you Churchill. Race 7. 4:08. The $100,000 Shawnee opens the olds at 1 mile on the grass closes the card. Not an easy one through the night. Two-horse race here with Michelin and Dia- stakes action as older fillies and mares prep for possible run in to end the day with Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Field Pass, stakes mond Star Halo. Our old friend, Steve Pateman, reunites with the Grade 2 Fleur de Lis next month. Grade 1 winner Dunbar winner Hieronymus, California shipper Smooth Like Strait and Michelin so we’ll side with the six-time winner. Worth a bet. Road makes her return after ending 3-year-old season with a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up Billy Batts in the field. fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. She’s A Julie likes it in Lou- Charles Town. Race 8. 10:23. Stay up late for the last North isville; she won last year’s Grade 1 La Troienne on Kentucky Golden Gate. Race 6. 6:27. Simon Callaghan (Stars In The of the day, the $50,000 Coin Collector for Jimmy McCue/Maryland Jockey Club Oaks Day. Sky) and Michael McCarthy (Olive You More) ship two lead- West Virginia-bred 3-year-olds. Named for 12-time winner, ing contenders for 1-mile maiden for 3-year-old fillies up from $328,115-earner and third-place finisher in the Grade 2 Sara- Santa Anita. Race 3. 4:35. Some of these 3-year-olds would Santa Anita. toga Special, 4 1/2-furlong stakes might be spot for Hypothe- not have been out of place in the $100,000 War Chant at Chur- sis to make it three in a row and 4-for-5. chill, but instead they’ll run for $51,000 in optional at 1 mile Charles Town Races. Race 1. 7:00. The second Saturday on the grass. card since the return starts with 6 1/2-furlong – remember Ladbrokes Park Lakeside. Race 2. 10:45. The Ladbrokes that’s two turns – maiden for West Virginia-bred 3-, 4-, 5- and Australian Hurdle, worth $101,000, attracts clear favorite Run- Churchill. Race 8. 4:40. The $100,000 Tepin, named for mul- 6-year-olds. away for Gai Waterhouse. Yes, that Gai Waterhouse. Want val- tiple champion, Breeders’ Cup Mile winner and Royal Ascot ue? Ancient King, blinkers off, course winner, loves soft, 12 victor. Loaded prep for the Grade 3 Regret on Stephen Foster Golden Gate. Race 7. 7:00. Golden Iris turned in three good career wins, 10 years old. How about Riding High, 6-year-old, Day includes Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf winner Shar- runs in her first three starts in the U.S., all on the synthetic, and winner of both jump starts, a nervous type, wears ear muffs in ing, Florida Oaks winner Outburst, Grade 1 winner Abscond moves to the grass for 1 1/16-mile allowance. the paddock, but, hey, no fans, that’s got to be a plus. Experi- and unbeaten Grade 3 winner Alms. ence or youth? Your call. Lone Star. Race 7. 7:07. How about a Luzzi exacta in 5 Tampa. Race 9. 4:47. The Connector makes drop from maid- 1/2-furlong filly and mare state-bred allowance? Mike Luzzi Charles Town. Race 9. 10:52. Almost time to turn in; it’s a en special weight ranks to maiden claimer for Tom Proctor and rides Whipum Naenae while son Lane rides Miss Yachty. long weekend after all. Close it down with state-bred claimer Glen Hill Farm in the finale. at 6 1/2 furlongs. Santa Anita. Race 8. 7:18. The Grade 2 Charles Whittingham, Golden Gate. Race 3. 4:50. The lone 2-year-old race of the named for the legend known as the . He won the Ladbrokes Park Lakeside. Race 3. 11:25. Another Pandemic day, open 4 1/2-furlong maiden for fillies attracts six Cal-breds race seven times when it was the Hollywood Turf Cup and Hol- Saturday night, hey, at least you have Aussie jump racing and led by the More Than Ready firster Miss Ever Ready and Fast lywood Invitational. Hall of Famer Richard Mandella sends out look at this, the Ladbrokes Australian Steeplechase. A classic. Anna firster I’m So Anna. the ultra consistent United in 10-furlong stakes and he’ll be Slowpoke Rodriguez attracts Lee Horner, who goes here in- tested by Originaire, Rockemperor and Desert Stone. stead of his wife’s horse, Shamal. Interesting. Shamal travels Santa Anita. Race 4. 5:07. Back to the main track for 1-mile from New Zealand, tries to shake off a respite since August Cal-bred optional. Santa Anita. Race 9. 7:50. Two-turn maiden claimer for and attracts the sure hands of Pateman. Thanks for the insight, 3-year-olds and up closes the card. Richard!

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 29 Loading Up Belmont eyes return to racing as virus toll eases in N.Y., nation BY JOE CLANCY idents and more than 800 workers. Like a handful of tracks in the coun- A starting gate gets loaded one try, NYRA at first raced without fans horse at a time, and that’s an apt and with essential personnel only for guide for the return of racing in New a few days. Once a Covid-19 case was York as the state begins to emerge identified, however, racing stopped. from the worst of the coronavirus The horses still needed to be cared for, outbreak. With the first stage of eased but the mission changed to one of dis- restrictions by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, ease containment and the providing Belmont Park plans to offer its first of health and welfare services coordi- card of live racing since March 15 on nated through NYRA, NYTHA, the June 3. Opening Day kicks off a short- Backstretch Employee Service Team, ened, 25-day spring/summer meet – the Racetrack Chaplaincy of Ameri- without spectators – through July 12 ca’s New York chapter and the Bel- and headlined by the Belmont Stakes mont Child Care Association. June 20. From that base decision, the The groups provided meals, cloth- New York Racing Association plans ing, medical supplies, face masks and to next open Saratoga’s Oklahoma gloves, transportation to doctors’ of- training track and stable area in June fices and medical clinics, quarantine Tod Marks and then move toward racing at Sara- instructions and more. Leaders con- The Belmont Park paddock will see its first action this year when racing returns June 3. toga Race Course starting as sched- ducted two calls a day (9 a.m. and Through May 21, New York state backstretch community and others uled July 16. 5 p.m.) to stay abreast of problems, counted more than 360,000 total cas- who come and go every day. But all those horses have to load solutions, needs. es and in excess of 28,000 deaths ac- “The workers were cooperative, and the race needs to be run without “At some point in mid-March we cording to New York Times statistics. trainers were cooperative, NYRA incident. Otherwise, well, nobody shifted from being a racing operation Locally, New York City led the way staff was cooperative, everyone un- knows. to, ‘How do we care for people on the backside?’ ” said Martin Panza, with 200,000 cases and more than derstood the threat to the communi- “Everybody wants the answer to ty – the immediate health threat and when the Travers is going to be,” said NYRA’s senior vice president of rac- 20,000 deaths. In Nassau County ing operations. “We pivoted away (home to Belmont and the first coun- the long-term threat to racing,” Ap- Joe Applebaum, president of the New plebaum said. “The first predictions York Thoroughbred Horsemen’s As- from daily racetrack operations to ty east of the city), 2,558 people have something much larger. That’s been a died. The staggering numbers peaked were very ominous. If we had 200 sociation, of the traditional Sarato- positives and five deaths, would we major part of my job and (vice pres- in April, and have gradually declined. ga feature in late August. “That’s 10 have been able to continue to train? ident of operations and capital proj- They affected everyone in the area. steps down the road. Literally, the Would we have been able to come ects) Glen Kozak’s job, plus NYTHA, “Any of us based here, we under- discussion has been ‘Hey, we’ve got back and race? Those would have BEST, the Chaplaincy, everyone. I’ve stood the severity of the situation,” to get Belmont open.’ Let’s race, let’s been real questions.” see how it goes, let’s get to the next learned a lot about testing and the vi- Donk said. “Nassau County was one of the worst in the country. Long Is- Aqueduct’s winter meet ended ear- stage.” rus, antibody testing, isolation, quar- ly. The spring meet there didn’t begin. land, New York City, Connecticut, All while working to keep back- antining, all of it.” Likewise, Belmont’s spring meet never , it was everywhere. We stretch personnel and other essential Trainer David Donk said his staff started. NYRA furloughed staff. The raced March 15, we were carded to employees healthy. included some positive cases, though Belmont Stakes was postponed, with run March 20, 21, 22, I had some in. At least 25 people on the Bel- no hospitalizations and few symp- no make-up date, despite the early de- mont backstretch tested positive for toms. Like many, he worried when But as soon as the first person came cision of the Kentucky Derby to move Covid-19, the disease caused by the the first cases showed up on the back- back positive, (NYRA President and to September. Saratoga’s Oklahoma virus. Many were quarantined on side. New York leads the country in CEO) Dave O’Rourke pulled the plug. training track and stable area didn’t site, several went to the hospital, one positive cases, and deaths, and the As it turned out, there’s no question it open. Though on plenty of minds, (Martin Zapata, a hotwalker with news was full of images of bodies on was the right move because of what racing again was not a priority – not trainer Tom Morley) died. refrigerated trucks, ambulances rac- happened, period. The Department of the first priority anyway. Simply sur- The New York City area in gener- ing to hospitals and emergency per- Health thought we might have hun- viving was. al was the epicenter of the pandemic sonnel trying to respond. dreds of cases and we didn’t.” “It was very tricky there early in in the United States, and everything The racetrack, just outside the city Donk and others credited cooper- the process and then when it dragged changed when the virus spilled into limits in Elmont, faced plenty of risk ation, planning and action with help- Continued On Page 31 the racetrack and its roughly 600 res- and still does. ing minimize the outbreak within the 30 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020

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the industry from a stakes standpoint, help these sales coming up too and NYRA – show that the industry isn’t collaps- Continued from page 30 ing, that we’re going to be OK. But at the same time, we needed to try to get Alternation on for a while, where there was no as much money to the everyday own- By $10,000 LF answer to when we could start rac- er and trainer as we possibly could.” ing again,” Panza said. “I understood Horsemen appreciate the efforts, Nearly 10% the horsemen’s frustrations, but for and the chance to race, even if they a while we had to keep the number recognize the decreased opportunities Stakes Horses of horses and employees in the barn without the last part of the Aqueduct including G1 SW area down. People didn’t always un- meet and the early Belmont days in derstand that. There were reasons be- April and May. SERENGETI EMPRESS hind that. They came from the state, “Everyone’s thrilled there’s a con- the gaming commission and our own dition book out and we’re racing, but ability to deal with the crisis.” as you know self-interest takes over NYRA didn’t simply wait on state and you start looking at your spots,” regulations to lift, crafting a 19-page Applebaum said. “There’s going to be protocol document for the New York an influx of guys who winter in Flor- Gaming Commission, putting many ida, but if you stuck it out and stayed of those conditions in place early, and here and trained all the way through continuing regular discussions and hopefully you have horses that are updates. Last week, in partnership with Northwell Health, NYRA se- fit and ready to go right off the bat cured antibody testing for its employ- where maybe some of the horses ees and backstretch workers. Hun- coming from Florida aren’t quite as dreds of people took part. ready.” And now, more than two months As usual, there will be plenty for since the last live Thoroughbred race racing fans including blockbuster Sat- in New York, racing comes back into urday programs. Belmont Stakes Day focus. Cuomo’s announcement tar- (June 20) includes three other Grade 1 geted June 1 for all Thoroughbred stakes – the Acorn, and Woody and Standardbred tracks in the state Stephens plus the Grade 2 Pennine to begin racing, with detailed health/ Ridge and Grade 3 Wonder Again. safety protocols in place and without On July 4, the Grade 1 Metropolitan spectators. Mile and Manhattan take center stage Panza and his rehired racing staff along with the Grade 2 Suburban and got to write a condition book, plan a Grade 3 Poker and Victory Ride. stakes schedule, figure out what to do “We tried to get creative with the with the Belmont Stakes (it’s later, it’s schedule,” said Panza. “With no fans shorter, it starts instead of finishes the for Belmont Stakes Festival and the Triple Crown; deal with it). fact that we had to cut the schedule With no casino revenue, the purse so much, we tried to make it that for account will take a hit but NYRA is in five of the six weeks there’s going to better shape than many racing juris- be some interesting racing and some Broken Vow good racing going on. You’ve got the dictions in the country. Panza estimat- By Unbridled $25,000 LF ed a “blended” 13-percent purse cut, Carter the first weekend, the Ogden with larger reductions in stakes races Phipps the second, the Belmont and #14 Among and other higher levels. He pointed those other races the third, the Just A to the purse for a $10,000 claiming Game the fourth, then the Met Mile All Active Sires and the Manhattan on the fourth of race. It used to be $28,000. Now by Blacktype Winners it’s $27,000. But the Belmont Stakes July. Because of the relationship we was cut from $1.5 million to $1 mil- have with Fox and NBC, those rac- lion. NYRA added a waiver-claiming es are going to be on TV and hope- rule for Belmont, to help owners and fully people are going to respond. As trainers and – though there is a stakes an industry, we’re seeing an uptick in every day – focused on providing op- wagering really. It’s going to be fun to portunities. see how it turns out and what the re- Pin Oak Stud “The stakes took a much larger action is.” hit, and that’s fine for this era,” Panza P.O. Box 68 • Route 60 • Versailles, KY 40383 said of the purse cuts. “It’s what we’re NOTES: Belmont races five days to Inquiries to Clifford Barry or Nancy Stephens going to have to do. People are go- start June 3-7, then switches to Thurs- (859) 873-1420 www.pinoakstud.com ing to be happy to run in those races day-Sunday June 11 through July 12. at those levels. We’re able to support . . .There are nine Grade 1 stakes.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 31 2020 Hindsight IN CELEBRATION OF THE SARATOGA SPECIAL’S 20TH SEASON Founded in 2001, The Saratoga Special has covered plenty of great horses and people and we’ll bring you some highlights during our 20th season. Here we’ve got two pieces from Sean Clancy about recent Hall of Fame inductee Wise Dan, who was a staple in The Special for three seasons. Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013. Running Man. Champ Wise Dan delivers goods at Spa. Charlie LoPresti followed this one. The trainer walked next to Horse of the Year Wise Dan around the paddock, through the chute, all the way to the track. Handed off to the pony, Wise Dan jogged a few steps, the overwhelming favorite going out to defend his title in the $500,000 . LoPresti, satisfied, turned and walked toward the big screen in the clubhouse. Asked for a television interview, LoPresti apologetically declined. “I just want to watch my horse run.” And, wow, did he run. Wise Dan, toting 129 pounds including jockey John Velazquez, secured his eighth consecutive victory, running down pacesetter King Kreesa to win by 1 ¼ lengths. Bred and owned by Morton Fink, Wise Dan won for the 17th time in his 24-race career. Last year, he won the Fourstardave by 5 lengths over yielding turf while carrying 119 pounds (actually in receipt of a pound from Get Stormy), thus be- gan his present win streak. This year, he carried another 10 pounds, over good turf and shaved 3 seconds off his time. They went the first half in :47.48 and the second half in :46.52. LoPresti parked in the middle of the mosh pit assembled to watch the reigning Horse of the Year at the big screen along with Fink and his wife Elaine, nephew Chip McGaughey, exercise rid- er Damien Rock and his wife/exercise rider Erin and the rest of the Wise Dan team. Beyond the involved, owners, trainers, kids, gamblers, writers assembled to see the magic show. Wise Dan broke deliberately from the rail as Skyring cleared him to the right and King Kreesa shot to the lead without ef- fort. Bending into the first turn, Wise Dan secured a comfort- able spot, fourth along the portable rail set 18 feet off the hedge. King Kreesa opened 2 lengths, Skyring stalked in sec- ond, Lea lapped to the outside of Wise Dan, still tucked in third, as the leading foursome opened 5 lengths on longshots Mr. Commons and Willyconker. King Kreesa loped through an easy first half as Velazquez kept Wise Dan in the pocket, making sure to keep tabs on the leader. Into the turn, Joel Rosario gunned Lea to the outside of Skyring and Wise Dan, stacking three abreast behind King Kreesa. For a moment, Velazquez tapped the brakes, more like he took his foot off the gas. Midway on the turn, Skyring back-pedaled, Lea flattened out and suddenly Hendrix had his guitar. Wise Dan eased to King Kreesa’s quarter as Irad Velazquez snuck that look, LoPresti leapt in the air, “Yeah, I love that,” LoPresti said. “Johnny’s so Ortiz urged the front-runner to finish what he start- tomahawk chopping his right arm, over and down, confident.” ed. The New York-bred accelerated and for a mo- over and down. Then the trainer hugged Chip Mc- LoPresti added one more thought, “No more ment, oh just for a moment, the champion looked Gaughey, turned to make sure the Finks could find handicaps.” vulnerable. Brewing like an argument, Wise Dan their way to the winner’s circle and then floated to- Wise Dan shouldered his highest weight assign- lengthened as Velazquez pumped, shoulders and ward the track. ment while giving 12 pounds to King Kreesa, Lea elbows steady without panic. Wise Dan gradually “I’ll tell you what, I didn’t know if he was going and Mr. Commons. reeled in King Kreesa. At the eighth pole, Velazquez to get him there for a minute,” LoPresti said. “I LoPresti was more worried than Velazquez. peeked under his right shoulder, signaling touch- was a little worried there. They went so slow the “I didn’t worry about that weight. I was going down. His whip stayed down and the champ stayed first quarter, that horse if he gets loose like that, he to ride my race and give him the best ride possible high, powering across the line. could be .” without losing too much ground,” Velazquez said. All the while, LoPresti stood like he was wait- “He never even picked up his stick, though,” ing for a light to turn green. Right about the time Rock said. “When he looked back…” Continued On Page 33

32 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Tod Marks watched Wise Dan’s three wins with LoPresti, in front of the big screen, then we’ve walked Wise Dan – back to the test barn. Continued from page 32 Five years, five graded stakes wins. LoPres- ti has gone from an unknown to a mainstay. “Obviously I had a great post position being From a guy we covered because we had never in number one and that was my number one heard of him to a guy who we cover because thing. That much weight, I wanted to save as we know we need to hear from him. much ground as I could and try to give him a “Five years, a graded stake every year. I nice run down the lane.” can’t believe it,” LoPresti said. “I was think- Wise Dan took care of the rest, winning for ing last night, ‘Man, Charlie, your luck might the 11th time in his last 12 starts, his only be running out.’ You come here to run in loss coming by a head in the Stephen Fos- good races, you come here to run with the ter last summer. Since that loss, he won the best. You know that coming up here, but this Fourstardave, , Shadwell Mile meet has been the toughest.” and Breeders’ Cup Mile to finish off his Horse LoPresti entered Saturday’s card at 0-for- of the Year season last year. This year, he re- 13. He finished it 2-for-16 after Set The Sail turned to win the Maker’s Mark 46 Mile at was put up in the third and Wise Dan won the that when they were warming up, his neck’s bowed, Keeneland. Three weeks later, he overcame Baruch. The meet was made. it’s just how he does things,” LoPresti said. “I don’t yielding turf to win the Turf Classic at Churchill In this game, each win is as much about relief as know how you bottle it up, I don’t how many mil- Downs. At the end of June, he worked for an ugly it is elation. As elated as LoPresti was about getting win in the Firecracker at Churchill. This year’s lions you would spend to try to find another one Wise Dan back to the races – back to the winner’s Fourstardave made eight in a row. like him. He’s just engineered to run, that son of a circle – he couldn’t help but think about May 16 “He’s special. It’s incredible. For him to come gun.” when the earth stopped spinning. back, race after race, with that much weight, we “To see this horse like that, in distress…” Lo- have to take our hats off to him. It’s just special to Sunday, Aug. 31, 2014. Cup Of Coffee column. Presti said of the day Wise Dan went to the clinic. be a part of the team,” Velazquez said. “Today was Last Walk. “When they took that horse away from Reeve, put a much better trip. There was more speed than the him in the stall and knocked him down for the sur- Firecracker. The horse on the lead, I knew he was “Should we walk back?” gery, Reeve had tears running down his face. Amy going to carry me. I was hoping he would carry me And so this column begins the way yesterday’s started crying, I started crying. He said, ‘I’m OK, I all the way to the eighth pole and actually he did. I ended. Charlie LoPresti asking if I wanted to walk just can’t stand to see him this weak.’ It was bad, pulled (Wise Dan) out at the three-sixteenths pole back to the barn to see Wise Dan. really bad. We try to tell Reeve, it could all end to- and the other horse had some gear going as well. The two-time Horse of the Year returned from morrow, it puts perspective to it.” But once I got him out and got him running I knew colic surgery and nearly four months on the bench Wise Dan added his own perspective, rebound- I had him. It was a really, really great effort by a to do what he does best – win. Reeve McGaughey, ing in days, back in training in weeks and winning great horse.” Kelly Wheeler, Damien Rock and LoPresti’s team again in months. Wise Dan has now strung together great efforts had walked Wise Dan back to the test barn while As I write for a living, I get further removed from for two seasons, he’s won eight in a row, 11 of his LoPresti waited to saddle Shift Colors two races the horses. I haven’t ridden a horse this meet. I’ve last 12 and 13 of his last 15. In his career, he owns later. The filly finished seventh, LoPresti talked to pet a few, not enough. I walked into a few stalls, wins on the dirt, synthetic and turf at distances of 6 jockey , declined a champagne toast not many. Tonight, I walked into Wise Dan’s stall, furlongs to 9 furlongs. He’s earned $4.464 million. and then asked the question. leaned on his wall and watched as the big, long train Last year, he won the Fourstardave by 5 definitive “Should we walk back?” decompressed from winning the Bernard Baruch. lengths. This year, the margin wasn’t necessarily de- LoPresti and I began to weave our way through At 5:24, two hours and three minutes after win- finitive, but the effort certainly was. the food trucks, past strollers, in between bettors ning, a full feed tub was placed in the corner of Wise “He cruised up pretty good, but he didn’t get by and onto the dusty horse path between Union Ave- Dan’s stall. The champ thrust his head into the tub, him, like blew by him,” LoPresti said. “The weight nue and the main track. turning his right hip across the front of his stall door. and he’s had it tough, the race on Derby Day on that “Guess I can take this thing off,” LoPresti said, It was his goodbye. soft turf, then the Firecracker, he’s good right now, loosening the knot from his red tie and rolling it LoPresti and Wheeler offered me rides back to the but as I tell Mr. Fink, he’s not made of iron, I don’t into a ball like it was a dirty tongue tie. paddock, I declined, knowing and needing a final want to run him every time there’s a race for him.” With the Prioress, the Forego and the Woodward walk before the final deadline. With four tough races already this year, LoPresti still to go, I knew my tie needed to stay on, as much Turf fillies sprinted past on the Mellon Turf, their has already thought about skipping a race in the as I wanted to take it off. hoof beats peppering into the distance, the crowd fall, to get to the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita In five years, LoPresti has gone from a stranger roared, waves up and then down as the horses passed fresh and ready to defend his crown. shipping one horse to Saratoga to a friend with a each section of the grandstand. It had to be a photo. After the winner’s circle presentation (the Finks barn full of horses at Saratoga. The first year, we The horses for the Forego rounded their way did find it), LoPresti walked through the clubhouse, introduced ourselves to LoPresti as he sat on a tack out of the holding barn and onto the horse path. I humbled and awed again by the best horse he’s ever trunk at the end of Tom Albertrani’s barn, he was walked with Capo Bastone, then slipped to Big Busi- trained. talking to his mother, put his phone down and talk- ness, then Vyjack, Zee Bros, Sensational Slam, Pal- A 6-year-old gelding by the unheralded stallion ed to us about Here Comes Ben. ace, favorite Clearly Now, Weekend Hideaway and Wiseman’s Ferry, Wise Dan is a freak of nature, he The next day, he won the Grade 1 Forego. The all the way back to Confrontation. Effortlessly, they breaks the rules. LoPresti, Rock, Velazquez, any- next year, Turallure won the Fourstardave. The strode ahead. A man walking a horse always walks body who is around him can’t make sense out it. next year, Wise Dan won the Fourstardave. A year faster than a man thinking about a horse. “I don’t know where the parts are or how you later, Wise Dan did it again. This year, he skipped We reached the paddock. The end of the walk. put them together, but they’re just there. You saw the Fourstardave and won the Bernard Baruch. I’ve The end of the meet.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 33 guestcolumn BY QUINT KESSENICH Preaktober A delayed and spectator-less Preakness could Encountering Steve Asmussen on the rental car cost $55 million in economic impact. The bus at BWI reinforced that reality. savings? Brain cells. Even if spectators are allowed, “You’re going the wrong way,” he said. there will be no running of the Porta Potties, no Ke- “I’m a salmon, swimming upstream,” I replied. gasus and no rock concerts because the infield fes- “Good luck.” tivities won’t happen Oct. 3. Asmussen had a big weekend, his Oaklawn-based Gotta admit, I’ve never been to the infield where runners fired big efforts. I’ve been told it smells like a combination of beer, The Black-Eyed Susan card on Friday prior to puke, cigars and teen spirit. Thousands will miss the Preakness extravaganza is perfect for fans who this muddy rite of spring. Not me. want quality racing with less claustrophobia. On a rainy day in the summer of 1988, while I bring my daughter to Pimlico every year, Thurs- painting houses in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., I be- day morning for the works. Pulling her out of bed came a racing fan. Months later I was captivated at 6 a.m. before elementary school, she doesn’t want by the Easy Goer and Sunday Silence rivalry. My to go. Once we’re on the rail, sipping orange juice Quint and Grace (now 10) Kessenich met at first Preakness in person was in 1990, when Sum- Pimlico during a Preakness Week. and coffee, watching the horses gallop, jog or work mer Squall got revenge on Unbridled. I was a senior . . . she’s captivated. awaiting graduation from Johns Hopkins. A year Two weeks later, on my tippy toes near the rail Walking the barns seeing the equine athletes get- later, I sat inside the clubhouse with friends to avoid amongst the revelers, I recall the moment the mam- ting bathed or fed, a look behind the curtain, the rain that never materialized. underachieved moth chestnut bounced onto the track, dappled and colors, the textures, the sounds and smells are food in Louisville only to bounce back in Baltimore. muscled to perfection. His imposing body language for the soul. Two hours later I have to drag her to Preakness weekend and Maryland Million are the spoke to me. Point taken. I shoved my way through the car, “Daddy, do we have to leave so soon?” signature racing days in Maryland. For local horse- the crowd toward the windows. Minutes later he That’s the closest I’ve come to the race during the men it’s an opportunity to run for elevated purses. put it together, cruising wide past the pack, then past decade. On these high-profile days that attract money from switching leads and winning the Woodlawn Vase. In a town known for The Wire, the Ravens and out of town, Charm City sharpies often have prof- And today that mental Polaroid is my standard of Preakness festivities give locals a reason to be proud. itable undercard knowledge. Forest Wildcat was an appearance – what a horse should look like in the In 2020 the race will morph from the middle jewel, example, setting a track record in the sprint stakes for post parade. to the crown jewel. The October classic. And this trainer Ben Perkins after a private sale. That was back Covering the Preakness for ESPN in the mid- fall if a horse like Nadal or Tiz The Law sweeps the in 1996 when a case of Natty Boh cost six bucks. 2000s put me at the stakes barn surrounded by shortened Belmont Stakes and September Derby, all The 1997 final furlong was deafening. The trio of horses such as , , Af- eyes will be on Old Hilltop. For one day, Baltimore , and Captain Bodgit, sep- leet Alex, Barbaro, , and Street would be the epicenter of the sports world. arated by noses and necks with , who Sense. The human headliners were Lukas, Zito and But right now, the Preakness feels like a blew the break, a close fourth. The only sounds Baffert with Pletcher and Asmussen on their heels. made-for-television horse race. Just a race to gen- you’ll hear this year are hooves on dirt and cracking At Pimlico the horses are stabled in one barn. erate handle to keep the business alive. Civic pride whips. It’ll be (1998). The Derby anxiety subsides. Trainers are more apt and a robust calendar of local events sold separately. I fell in love with during his 2-year- to sit down and talk. The vibe flips to a communal It’s what we got. It’s better than nothing, hon. old season (2000). Convinced after tough trips in tone. This media access and won’t easily the Champagne and Breeders’ Cup that he was the exist in the 2020 social-distancing world. A former member of the staff at The Saratoga most talented horse in his crop, a dreadful fifth in Outside of this spring, leaving town for televised Special, Quint Kessenich is a Marylander, a former the Kentucky Derby put our relationship on the college lacrosse games during Preakness Weekend All American goalkeeper at Johns Hopkins and rocks. has become my norm. sportscaster for ABC, ESPN and other platforms. Horses strive to be our champions. All donations support equine research, which helps all horses.

Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation grayson-jockeyclub.org We can always be theirs.

34 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 inthepaddock BY TOM LAW DNF Everything – except horse racing, thankfully and stops, except “Let me walk on it a bit and see. Maybe I can a shout out to our advertisers and readers – remains this day). Mile walk it off.” on hold. 2, 7:57, a lit- Five steps into that walk, she knew it and I knew Even a little personal redemption remains in neu- tle slower but it. tral. there was an “Ready to call it a day?” The Sunday of Memorial Day weekend always incline that last “I think so.” packs a punch and 2020 set up to be one to re- quarter-mile be- What followed next was pretty dark and there’s member. The Vermont City Marathon always goes fore the turn on no sense going there since there are far greater pe- down that day and this year would have been its Flynn Avenue riods of gloom amidst the coronavirus pandemic. 31st edition on the streets of beautiful Burlington. and then Foster Having to DNF from a running race really is a I’ve been around the full 26.2-mile loop twice – in Street. first-world problem. Two bright spots were turning 2010 (bombed) and 2013 (some improvement) – Still cruising and have run the two- and five-person relays every up Foster, where down a ride in an ambulance – that just seemed like year since 2014. for several years overkill, and what if somebody else really needed it? In 2018 our Saratoga Stryders team – super sis- I bunked up with – and thinking fast enough to pass the timing chip ters Cc Larner and Ginny Lupo, 50-plus speedsters friends Nick and anklet to fellow Stryder Paul Houlihan and telling Tony Lupo and Eric Kennedy and myself – took Antonia Hinge him to “give it to Cc at the end.” home the title in the co-ed masters division. We re- at their house Paul, approaching mile 12 of his first full mar- turned in 2019 with eyes on another crown, or bet- nearing the half- athon, kindly stuffed it in his pocket and contin- ter put a set of five VCM pint glasses awarded to the way point of the full marathon, all couldn’t be going ued on. He later admitted that “the end” meant the divisional relay winners. better. Foolishly that thought came to mind. finish line and couldn’t quite piece it all together. Everything went smoothly for the first two run- After one more right onto Home Avenue, which Thankfully the other two Stryders left to run, Cc ners, Tony ripping through his 3.4-mile leadoff leg bends into Austin Drive, and still managing that and Eric, and the two who started off, met him near through downtown and Ginny crushing her 5.7 out 7:45 or so pace things went south. the next relay exchange so they were able to com- and back on the city’s undulating Route 127 Belt- Pop. plete their legs. line. Ginny handed me the timing chip ankle band That’s the only way to describe what happened The next hour remains a bit of a blur. There was at the Pearl Street Exchange and off I went. Right next, to a couple other Stryders who ran past while I a painful walk, a ride on a shuttle bus and that trip on Pine, left on Cherry, right on Church. OK, it’s walked, to aid-station personnel on Austin and later to the medical tent, all the while with the albatross not exactly right on Hereford, left on Boylston but to an athletic trainer in the medical tent. of the DNF hanging around my neck. After initially it’s still pretty cool to run down the middle of spec- The pop was followed by a sharp pain in my left declining the team finisher medal – there might have tator-lined streets. foot, the same foot attached to the ankle that turned even been a threat to “throw it in Lake Champlain” A half-mile into the 6.3-mile my watch showed a hard in a 10-mile trail race in Kentucky a month pace just under 8 minutes per mile. Not great, not before but hadn’t given any trouble. Until that mo- – it found its way around my neck for post-race bad. Over the course of a 10K that would be about ment. The worst possible moment, almost halfway photos with teammates and other Stryders. 48 minutes. I’d take it. Turning another corner onto through your responsibility in a five-person relay. The knowledge of the DNF didn’t abate in the Pine Street and cruising downhill the pace usually There’s no way a DNF was in the cards, one days, weeks and months that followed and it didn’t quickens and my first mile went in 7:45. Perfect. hadn’t even come close in five years running in high subside after finishing a half dozen other races Cruising, the second mile flew by and past Citizen school and college and now into year 16 of my sec- through the end of 2019. Cider, Arts Riot, Speeder and Earls, Calahan Park, ond career. But any weight on that left foot felt like The day to rid the burden was May 24, but like Feldman’s Bagels, Zero Gravity Brewery, Great a few nails were being hammered straight through. everything these days it will just have to wait. Northern and Champlain Chocolates (all must- “What do you think?” an EMT asked. See you in 2021 Vermont City.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 35 theoutsiderail BY JOE CLANCY Photo pile of photographs sits on my desk. Caliente helmet with the chin strap unbuttoned. The pile was in a box, but I needed The horses are just about in-step, walking to or the box so I removed the photos. from an exercise session. Secor rode two horses I’ve looked through some, once or at the 1971 Colonial Cup, both for Bird, and twice, but not all. Then I moved on finished seventh with Last Tune in the first race toA something else. Then I came back to them. on the flat and 10th aboard Full Prince in the Then I left again. Then I came back. They’re fifth over hurdles. That 1971 card, the meet’s random, from all eras and sources. I’m not sure second, included a 14-horse Colonial Cup won how they wound up together in a box, but they by Inkslinger and Tommy Carberry over fel- amaze me. low 4-year-old (champion the next This is Edition 2. See website for the first. year) by a neck. The 1970 champion Top Bid was third, followed by 1971 champion Shadow Skinny kid on a horse. By Rosanne Berken- Brook in fourth and future English star Tingle stock, surely from the collection of the National Creek fifth. Gran Kan, champion steeplechaser Steeplechase Association. Future champion stee- of 1974, won a race on the undercard. In addi- plechase trainer Jack Fisher sits on Juggernaut, tion to Carberry, European jockeys Stan Mellor a timber horse owned by his parents Dolly and and Graham Thorner took part. John, after winning the 1981 Middleburg Hunt Cup. Fisher is 17, thin (gaunt even), tired and Blythe 1 and 2. Taken by Davie, these cap- wearing turtleneck-sweater jockey silks. Jugger- ture jump jockey Blythe Miller (now Davies) in naut won the timber race two years earlier with her element – silks, helmet, single set of goggles, now Maryland steward Ross Pearce aboard. fingerless knit gloves – at the Charleston Cup Bred in France, Juggernaut was imported by Steeplechase in 1997. In the first, she’s got a wry John Fisher in 1975. The horse had been injured smile like she’s about to win a race. In the sec- in a fall as a young horse, and lost his bottom ond, she’s about to sign the program of a young teeth so – pretty much all the time – his tongue fan. For Miller, she didn’t have a good day – two flopped out of his mouth. Fisher and Juggernaut fourths, a fall and an eighth in four rides – but won the Virginia Gold Cup a few weeks after closed the year by winning the Colonial Cup this photo was taken. aboard Lonesome Glory a week later.

Three Chimneys at Saratoga. One of my fa- Turning in. Captured by Douglas Lees, 13 vorite things about this photo is how crooked horses get ready to make the left-handed turn it is on the paper. Deirdre Davie didn’t really during an early loop at Middleburg’s historic care about details like that. She was too busy Glenwood Park. Somehow, almost every horse dodging and burning and doing whatever else is , or appears to be airborne. On the photographers do in the darkroom. This one is back, in black marker, Lees scrawled Theodora a masterpiece. It’s Saratoga, on Fasig-Tipton’s Randolph Cup won by Effervescent. That means sales grounds, and captures 14 people and two it’s 2001, and she’s in the center (white cap, dark horses. The people are working – showing or silks with one hoop showing). Fenella O’Flynn looking at yearlings, talking shop. Judging from rode the daughter of Citidancer for owner/train- some other variables, the photo is from 1995. er/breeder Jonathan Sheppard. Anybody know who was in the Three Chimneys consignment in 1995? Style Guide. Now this is a gem. Davie cap- tured two young steeplechase fans getting a view Generations. Taken by Bill Cain (of Co- of three horses in various stages of readiness for lumbia, S.C.) in 1971, this one captures trainer a jump race at Saratoga in 1995. Tom Voss run- Betty Bird and her nephew J.B. Secor riding out ners Lone Mountain (left) and ’s Grace together at Springdale Race Course in Camden. (right) were getting saddled as jockeys Simon Bird, trainer of Maryland Hunt Cup winner and Hobson (silks with dark stripe) and Cort Mar- future English chasing star Fort Devon among zullo waited. The Voss entry finished in the back others in a long career in racing, is properly as Roberto’s Grace checked in last of seven and turned out on a gray – hunting saddle, dou- Lone Mountain was pulled up. The photo marks ble-reined pelham bridle, tweed coat, breeches, time, even if we don’t know who the girls are. paddock boots, heels down, velvet-covered hel- Marzullo, 40, died in 2011. Voss (with back to met and eyes ahead. Secor is on a bay in an ex- camera saddling Roberto’s Grace) died in 2014 ercise saddle, foot jammed home in the stirrup, at age 63.

36 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 37 cupofcoffee BY SEAN CLANCY Pitch & Putt Darrel McHargue hit a sweet drive and was on was a very savvy rider and really knew what he was his way to the green for a three-foot birdie putt on doing. Looked beautiful on a horse. I wondered all the 16th hole at Palm Desert Golf Course in Califor- these years why his name wasn’t on the ballot,” Mc- nia when his phone rang. Carron said. “The first day I rode at Santa Anita, Brien Bouyea of the National Museum and it was late March of ’78, Darrel won six races that Racing Hall of Fame was making his once-a-year, day, he won the Big Cap on the Great White Torna- most-welcomed cold calls. This one was ice cold. do, . I was blown away, I said, ‘Look at the Thirty-two years after he rode his last race, McHar- money this guy just won today, he had a good year gue was being inducted into the Hall of Fame. in a day.’ He’s straightforward, he’ll tell you what’s “It was shocking,” the 65-year-old Oklahoma on his mind, a good guy and a good friend.” native said. “It was out of the blue, it was the fur- McCarron and McHargue were peers, rivals. thest thing from my mind. I was floored. Absolutely McHargue’s career hit its zenith quickly and flamed floored.” out while McCarron’s torched on for another 10 McHargue, a walk-up single that day, stepped years, becoming a natural first-ballot Hall of Fam- out of his cart and told the guy he was playing er in 1989. McCarron called McHargue after the with that he had been inducted into racing’s Hall Historic Review Committee righted a wrong and of Fame. announced McHargue’s induction. “He didn’t know what horse racing was, but I “I never told you this,” McCarron said. “But you told him anyway,” McHargue said. really taught me a lot about riding by just watching While based primarily in California McHargue you.” won 2,553 races. His horses earned $39 million. He McHargue was floored by that one, too. won the Award and “Here’s someone who was up there. It was quite in 1978, won six graded stakes on Hall of Famer a compliment coming from him,” McHargue said. , won stakes on Hall of Famers Ancient “That’s as high a compliment as you can get.” Title and My Juliet, partnered Vigors, , From a non-racing family, the new Hall of Fam- Run Dusty Run and . He won er hooked up with a Quarter Horse trainer who Thoroughbred Times Collection/Keeneland Library taught him the basics, “from a halter to a bridle”, the Preakness aboard in 1975 and New Hall of Famer Darrel McHargue in 1987. and took him to Ocala. From there, he found his stretched across the world to win the 1984 Irish St. way to the racetrack, winning his first race at Ar- Leger at the Curragh and the Jockey Club Cup at There is no correction like that. lington Park in 1972. He learned the game in New Ascot in 1984. After just 18 years, McHargue re- Over 20 years of covering the Hall of Fame in Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and won the Preak- tired in 1988 and became a steward in 1990. He The Special, the name that cropped up most often when talking about trainers, jockeys and horses ness aboard Master Derby in 1975. That was big. was promoted to the state’s chief steward in 2015. For the win and the opportunity. Bobby Frankel The Hall of Fame? It was more of a correction jilted from inclusion was McHargue. Hall of Fam- er Chris McCarron volunteered him, vouched for watched McHargue’s definitive, seam-slipping ride than a confliction in McHargue’s life. aboard the chestnut colt. him over the years, so did others, mostly jockeys, “I never really gave it a whole lot of thought,” McHargue introduced himself to the trainer, who the ones who shared the precious space of a race- McHargue said. “People would ask me if I was in later called with a simple question. the Hall of Fame or they would introduce me as track, the ones who know the difference between a “Why don’t you come to California?” Frankel being in the Hall of Fame and I would correct them, licensed jockey and a jockey’s jockey. asked. ‘I’m not in the Hall of Fame.’ I can now say, ‘Yeah, “In my book, he’s in the top 10 of all time. He Continued On Page 39 you’re correct, I’m in the Hall of Fame.’ ” was one hell of a race rider, he taught me a lot. He

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38 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020 moves, I got injured and the reducing part,” McHargue said. “It’s a lot of Coffee – sacrifice, if you get the good horses, Continued from page 38 then it’s worthwhile. You see the lon- gevity of all jockeys, 98 percent of “At the time,” McHargue said, the time it’s the good horses that are “jockeys were deciding if they were keeping them around, that’s the fun going to ride in New York or Califor- of the game. I see it today, when you nia. Those were the only two. Bobby see a good race, you want to go into called and that swayed my decision that career again. That’s a good feel- and I found my way to California.” ing. A great feeling.” There he stayed, riding for Fran- As seemless and effortless as he kel and working his way into the best slipped Master Derby through a hole barns in the west. With the muscle leaving the backside of the Preakness, and magic of agents Harry “The Hat” McHargue transferred from a jockey Hacek, Vince DeGregory and Scotty to a steward in two years and has en- McClellan, McHargue went on a tear. joyed a solid, satisfying second career. He’d won a career-best 405 races in “I always had an eye toward that 1974, but set a North American earn- because I knew my career wasn’t ings record of $6.1 million in 1978, going to be a long career, I was hop- the same year he led all jockeys with ing it was but knew it wouldn’t be,” 37 stakes wins. McHargue credits McHargue said. “I’ve enjoyed being McClellan for most of his success. still part of the game. It’s a totally “He had me during the days when different set of circumstances, when we couldn’t do anything wrong, we you’re a jockey, you’re trying to be went through a span of time if I point- popular, that’s what gets you on hors- ed for an opening, it opened, it was es, more winners, more winners. This unreal, whatever the force was the side of the game, if you’re doing the force was with me,” McHargue said. job, correctly, you’re not going to be “Sometimes you’re just born under popular. I would hope people who a lucky star and things go your way. have been around me as a steward Everything that was out there, if I would think of me as being fair, con- wanted it, it came my way. Reality hit sistent and firm.” later on, but at that period of my life, As for a jockey, peers called it was just one thing after another.” McHargue savvy, stylish, an assassin As quickly as it rose, it fell, but on horseback. that didn’t surprise McHargue. As for that putt, well, it wasn’t “I wasn’t able to get on the good even close. horses any longer, it dried up. I made “I ran it 100 feet past the hole,” some business decisions, probably McHargue said. agent-wise, that weren’t good career Who could blame him?

Thoroughbred Times Collection/Keeneland Library Darrel McHargue rides General Assembly (left) at Belmont Park in 1978.

Saturday, May 23, 2020 The 2020 Special 39 The Big Picture A Man and His Horse. Hall of Fame trainer and champion with the Keeneland Library Forty Niner await the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park in 1988. Archive/Keeneland Library Claiborne Farm Archive/Keeneland

more times as a 3-year-old but settled for second At stud, Forty Niner led the first-, second- and A great one goes on behind Winning Colors in the Kentucky Derby. third-crop sire lists of 1992, 1993 and 1994. Sup- A son of Mr. Prospector and the mare He rebounded from a seventh in the Preakness to posedly short on major winners, he was sold to File, Forty Niner was destined for greatness from dominate a 1-mile Monmuth Park allowance (1:33 Japan for $10 million in 1995. A year later, son the start but nobody would have predicted he’d be 4/5) and then prevailed in two battles with Clai- Editor’s Note won the Belmont Stakes. Another, included in a virtual racing newspaper 35 years af- borne-foaled Seeking The Gold in the Haskell and Gold Fever, won that year’s NYRA Mile. Yet an- ter his birth. Travers. Forty Niner won each by a nose, then fin- other, Coronado’s Quest won the 1998 Haskell and The Claiborne Farm homebred died last week af- ished a neck behind eventual Horse of the Year Al- Travers, and the influence carries on through son ter a racing and stud career with few peers. Cham- ysheba in the Woodward. The Claiborne star won and leading sire (and sire of sires) Distorted Humor. pion 2-year-old male of 1987 after winning five of the NYRA Mile and was fourth in the Breeders’ Forty Niner outlived Alysheba, Seeking The six starts including the Sanford, Futurity, Cham- Cup Classic to cap his career for Claiborne and Gold, even Coronado’s Quest – passing away at 35 pagne and Breeders’ Futurity, the chestnut won six Hall of Fame trainer Woody Stephens. at Shizunai Stallion Station May 18.

40 The 2020 Special Saturday, May 23, 2020

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