MEET THE
TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS
MEET THE
TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS
JUSTIFY 2018 3 AMERICAN PHAROAH 2015 5 AFFIRMED 1978 7 SEATTLE SLEW 1977 9 SECRETARIAT 1973 11 CITATION 1948 13 ASSAULT 1946 15 COUNT FLEET 1943 17 WHIRLAWAY 1941 19 WAR ADMIRAL 1937 21 OMAHA 1935 23 GALLANT FOX 1930 25 SIR BARTON 1919 27
Key Facts and Pedigree Fun Facts written by Kellie Reilly
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 2
TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS
Justify
American Pharoah
AFFIRMEd
Seattle Slew
Secretariat
Citation
Assault
Count Fleet
Whirlaway
War Admiral
Omaha
Gallant Fox
2018
1973
1941
2015
1948
1937
1978
1946
1935
1977
1943
1930
Sir Barton 1919
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 3
2018 CHAMPION
JUSTIFY The latest Triple Crown winner defied precedent twice over: Justify did not race at two and finished his meteoric career unbeaten.
KEY FACTS
Bred by the father-daughter team of John and Tanya Gunther at Glennwood Farm, Justify commanded $500,000 as a Keeneland September yearling. He hailed from the penultimate crop of international sire Scat Daddy.
Trained like American Pharoah by Bob Baffert, the $500,000 Keeneland September yearling set an entirely different historical marker by becoming the first unraced 2-year-old to win the Triple Crown.
Justify’s ownership consortium was led by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, with SF Racing also involved. Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing came aboard after his debut. That premiere didn’t come until February 18, 2018 – by historical standards, too late to sweep the Triple Crown. No unraced juvenile had even won the Kentucky Derby since Apollo in 1882, long before the Triple Crown era. But Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, whose American Pharoah ended the Triple Crown drought in 2015, got the maximum from Justify in the minimum time. After a 7-furlong maiden romp at Santa Anita, Justify took a mile allowance. He had one shot to make the Kentucky Derby – the Santa Anita Derby – and punched his ticket in front-running style. Churchill Downs came up sloppy on Derby Day, and the pace was frenetic, but Justify handled both to scoff at the “Apollo curse.” Encountering slop again in the Preakness, he withstood a barrage and held on under a measured ride by Hall of Famer Mike Smith. The Belmont was a comparative stroll as the controlling speed.
Justify pressed a fast pace in the slop at Churchill Downs (becoming the first Derby winner to start his career at three since Apollo in 1882), survived intense pressure in similar conditions in the Preakness, and held sway comfortably with no early challenge in a fast-track Belmont. Retired due to an ankle problem, Justify is the only Triple Crown winner to remain unbeaten, albeit with the fewest races (six).
An ankle issue prompted his retirement, and Justify joined American Pharoah at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud. – Kellie Reilly
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 4
Hennessy
Johannesburg
Myth
Scat Daddy (2007)
Mr. Prospector
Love Style
Likeable Style
Justify
Chestnut Colt Foaled March 28, 2015
Awesome Again Ghostzapper
Baby Zip
Stage Magic (2007)
Pulpit Magical Illusion
Voodoo Lily
Pedigree Fun FACTS Nearco’s grandson Northern Dancer, the 1964 Derby hero, has conquered the globe as a breed-shaping patriarch, but not until two years ago did his male line finally yield a Triple Crown winner. The breakthrough came via the branch of his European champion son Storm Bird, sire of Storm Cat, whose son Hennessy got transatlantic champion juvenile Johannesburg, sire of Scat Daddy who bequeathed Justify. Both Johannesburg, winner of the 2001 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and Scat Daddy, the Champagne and Florida Derby victor, had disappointed in their respective Derby tilts (2002 and 2007, respectively). Justify is out of the Grade 3-placed Stage Magic, by Hall of Famer Ghostzapper. Himself a Northern Dancer-line stallion descended via the Vice Regent/Deputy Minister branch, Ghostzapper emulated his sire Awesome Again by winning the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic. Stage Magic’s dam is by Pulpit, in turn a son of A.P. Indy who boasts Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Secretariat as his sire and broodmare sire. One of Justify’s intriguing pedigree patterns is inbreeding to Northern Dancer’s legendary son Nijinsky II, the last horse to complete the English Triple Crown in 1970. Thus the American Triple Crown pedigrees come full circle, underscoring the significance of the original British classics for our own.
DATE TRK 09Jun18Bel11 19May18Pim13 05May18CD12 07Apr18SA9 11Mar18SA5 18Feb18SA2
DIST 1 ft 1 sy 1 sy 1 ft 1m my 7f ft
TIMES 1:131 2:024 2:28 1:112 1:36 1:554 1:11 1:371 2:041 1:123 1:37 1:493 :45 1:093 1:353 :441 1:09 1:214
RACETYPE Belmnt-G1 Prknss-G1 KyDby-G1 SADerby-G1 OC75k/n1x-N Md Sp Wt
PP 1 7 7 6 5 3
FRACTIONS 11 12 12 12 11 1hd 1hd 1hd 1 1 2 2 11 12 12 11 1 11 11 13 32 21 12 15 16 5 1 1 15 19
JOCKEY SMITH M E SMITH M E SMITH M E SMITH M E SMITH M E VANDYKEDRAYDEN
ODDS *0.80 *0.40 *2.90 *0.90 *0.05 *0.90
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Justify1 Gronkowski1 Hofburg 10 Justify Bravazo Tenfold 8 Justify2 Goodmagichd Audible1 20 Justify3 Boltd’oro Corebeliefs1 7 Justify6 Shivermetimbers1 Pepertono 5 9 3 Justify Camby Paddockpick 7
Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 5
2015 CHAMPION
AMERICAN PHAROAH
Before a wildly jubilant crowd at Belmont Park, American Pharoah snapped a 37-year Triple Crown drought with a stylish 5 1/2-length, wire-to-wire victory in the 2015 Belmont Stakes. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert marveled at the efficiency and length of the bay colt’s stride, and American Pharoah won 9-of-11 career starts with earnings of more than $8.6 million. A Zayat Stables homebred son of Pioneerof the Nile, American Pharoah lost his first start. He broke his maiden with a 4 3/4-length score in the Del Mar Futurity (G1), and earned champion 2-year-old male honors after another convincing win in the FrontRunner (G1). American Pharoah missed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) due to a foot issue, and the front-running dynamo returned from a near six-month layoff with a pair of smashing victories in Oaklawn prep races. The Kentucky Derby proved to be most difficult challenge in the Triple Crown, with American Pharoah recording a hard-fought one-length decision at Churchill Downs, and he romped by seven lengths when adding the Preakness over a sloppy Pimlico track two weeks later. Ridden by Victor Espinoza, American Pharoah easily captured the Haskell (G1) after the Belmont, but his eight-race win streak came to an end in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga. American Pharoah rebounded spectacularly in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland, strolling home to a 6 1/2-length decision, and completed an unprecedented “Grand Slam.”
KEY FACTS The champion 2-year-old male of 2014, American Pharoah posted a workmanlike effort in the Derby, but stellar front-running displays in the Preakness and Belmont to end the 37-year Triple Crown drought. “Pharoah” brought an eight-race winning streak into the Travers, only to suffer a shock defeat at the hands of Keen Ice. Thus Saratoga added to its legacy as the graveyard of favorites. Rebounding in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) in his career finale, American Pharoah completed an unprecedented “Grand Slam.”
Known for his kind demeanor, American Pharoah remains a fan favorite at Coolmore’s Ashford Stud in Kentucky. – James Scully
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 6
Unbridled
Empire Maker
Toussaud
Pioneerof the Nile (2006)
Lord at War (ARG)
Star Goshen
Castle Eight
American Pharoah
Bay Colt Foaled February 2, 2012
Storm Cat Yankee Gentleman Littleprincessemma (2006)
Key Phrase Ecliptical
Exclusive Rosette
Zetta Jet
Pedigree Fun FACTS The second Triple Crown winner for the Raise a Native line, American Pharoah descends via his most prolific son, Mr. Prospector, sire of Fappiano, the sire of Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic champion Unbridled (1990). Unbridled joined the exclusive club of Derby winners siring Derby winners, thanks to Grindstone (1996). But Unbridled’s principal avenue is through his son who was runner-up in the 2003 Derby, Empire Maker, in turn responsible for Pioneerof the Nile. Second in the 2009 Derby to Mine That Bird (ironically a paternal grandson of Grindstone), Pioneerof the Nile raised his historical stature by siring a Triple Crown winner. American Pharoah’s dam, Littleprincessemma, is by the Storm Cat stallion Yankee Gentleman. (Since Storm Cat is out of a Secretariat mare, “Pharoah� can count him as an ancestor.) Littleprincessemma has since produced Grade 1-placed American Cleopatra, a full sister to Pharoah, and 2018 Starlet vixen Chasing Yesterday (by Tapit). This family was cultivated by Fred W. Hooper, an institution in Florida breeding, and American Pharoah’s sixth dam was by Hooper’s 1945 Derby hero, Hoop, Jr.
DATE TRK 31Oct15Kee11 29AUG15Sar11 02Aug15Mth12 06Jun15Bel11 16May15Pim13 02May15CD11 11Apr15OP11 14Mar15OP10 27Sep14SA6 03Sep14Dmr8 09Aug14Dmr4
DIST 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 sy 1 ft 1 ft 1 sy 1 ft 7f ft 6 ft
TIMES 1:111 1:355 2:00 1:112 1:35 2:012 1:093 1:342 1:474 1:132 1:374 2:263 1:112 1:373 1:582 1:111 1:362 2:03 1:102 1:354 1:482 :493 1:151 1:453 :471 1:114 1:414 :451 1:084 1:212 :45 1:091 1:153
RACETYPE BCClsc-G1 Travrs-G1 HsklInv-G1 Belmnt-G1 Prknss-G1 KyDby-G1 ArkDby-G1 Rebel-G2 FrntRnnr-G1 DMrFut-G1 Md Sp Wt
PP 4 2 3 5 1 15 6 4 5 1 6
FRACTIONS 11 11 13 15 16 11 1 2hd 1 2 21 21 21 15 12 11 11 12 13 15 11 12 11 14 17 31 32 3 1hd 11 22 23 21 15 18 11 11 11 14 16 1 1 1 11 13 4 11 11 14 14 5 2hd 21 26 59
JOCKEY EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV EspinozaV GarciaMartin
ODDS *0.70 *0.35 *0.10 *0.75 *0.90 *2.90 *0.10 *0.40 *0.50 3.20 *1.40
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Americanpharoah6 Effinex4 Honorcode1 8 Keenice Americanpharoah Frosted 10 Americanpharoah Keenice3Upstart3 7 Americanpharoah5 Frosted2Keenice 8 Americanpharoah7Taleofverve1Diviningrod7 8 Americanpharoah1Firingline2Dortmund 18 Americanpharoah8Farright Mr.z 8 6 2 1 Americanpharoah Madefromlucky Boldconquest 7 Americanpharoah3 Calculator1 Texasred1 8 Americanpharoah4 Calculator8 Ironfist 9 Om7 Ironfist1Oneluckydaneno 9 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 7
1978 CHAMPION
AFFIRMED One of the rare horses in history to have raced three seasons or longer and earned divisional honors in each one, Affirmed’s fame grew in retirement and in the years following his death as he was the sport’s last Triple Crown winner for an unprecedented 37 years. A Florida homebred campaigned by Lou and Patrice Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm, Affirmed was sired by Exclusive Native and trained by Laz Barrera. The first two-thirds of his career is intertwined with that of his great rival, Alydar, whom he met on the racetrack 10 times at ages two and three. Affirmed faced Alydar six times as a juvenile, winning four. The rivalry resumed in the Kentucky Derby, with Affirmed scoring by 1 1/2 lengths over the favored Alydar. The margin between the two was a neck in the Preakness, and an even shorter neck in the Belmont Stakes after one of the most epic stretch duels in history. The rivalry came to an unsatisfactory end when Affirmed was disqualified and placed second behind Alydar in the Travers for interference. Affirmed was named 1978 Horse of the Year despite late-season losses in the Marlboro Cup and Jockey Club Gold Cup, where he finished behind 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew. He was voted Horse of the Year again at age four when he won six stakes, including the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Jockey Club Gold Cup, the latter at the expense of Hall of Fame legend Spectacular Bid. – Vance Hanson
KEY FACTS The Florida-bred star is forever linked with his archrival Alydar, whom he bested for champion 2-year-old honors and repelled, with increasing drama, in each jewel of the Triple Crown, climaxing in their prolonged Belmont duel. Affirmed lined up against Seattle Slew twice – the only clashes between Triple Crown winners in history – and lost both but took Horse of the Year honors. Improving as an older horse in 1979, Affirmed became the first Triple Crown winner since Whirlaway to be voted Horse of the Year again at four.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 8
Raise A Native Exclusive Native (1965)
Native Dancer Raise You Shut Out
Exclusive
Good Example
Affirmed
Chestnut Colt Foaled February 21, 1975
Fighting Fox Crafty Admiral Won’t Tell You (1962)
Admiral’s Lady Volcanic
Scarlet Ribbon
Native Valor
Pedigree Fun FACTS Native Dancer suffered his only career loss in the 1953 Derby and thus missed the Triple Crown by a brutal head. But the “Gray Ghost” has been gaining posthumous revenge through his descendants for decades. His brilliant son Raise a Native, 4-for-4 in his truncated career, has been the key link in the chain. The Raise a Native stallion Exclusive Native furnished the sire line’s first Triple Crown winner, Affirmed, who had to earn it by outdueling Raise a Native’s son Alydar. Exclusive Native came up with another Derby star when Genuine Risk (1980) made history as only the second filly to wear the roses.
1
DATE TRK 14Oct78Bel8 16Sep78Bel8 19Aug78Sar8 8Aug78Sar8 10Jun78Bel8 20May78Pim8 6May78CD8 16Apr78Hol8 2Apr78SA8 18Mar78SA8 8Mar78SA6 29Oct77Lrl8 15Oct77Bel6 10Sep77Bel8 27Aug77Sar8 17Aug77Sar8 23Jly77Hol5 6Jly77Bel8 15Jun77Bel8 24May77Bel4
DIST 1 1 1 ft 1 gd 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 1 ft 1 ft 6 f ft 1 ft 1 my 7f gd 6 6f ft 6f ft 5 f ft 5 f ft 5 f ft
TIMES 1:092 2:014 2:271 1:10 1 1:333 1:454 1:113 1:364 2:02 1:101 1:35 1:474 1:14 2:013 2:264 1:114 1:361 1:542 1:104 1:354 2:011 1:092 1:35 1:481 1:094 1:353 1:48 :482 1:12 1:423 :442 1:09 1:153 :484 1:133 1:441 :481 1:122 1:363 :463 1:094 1:213 :451 1:091 1:152 :443 1:093 :442 :562 1:091 :454 :572 1:033 :453 :582 1:05 :472 :593 1:06
RACETYPE Gold Cup-G1 Marlboro Cup H-G1 Travers-G1 Jim Dandy-G3 Belmont-G1 Preakness-G1 Ky Derby-G1 Hol Derby-G1 S Anita Derby-G1 San Felipe-G2 Alw 30000 Lrl Futurity-G1 Champagne-G1 Futurity-G1 Hopeful-G1 Sanford-G2 Juv Champ(Div1)104k Great American 36k Youthful 37k Md Sp Wt
PP 2 1 3 4 3 6 2 2 7 4 4 3 5 2 4 3 6 1 1 10
FRACTIONS 2 2hd 37 415 518 2 22 22 23 23 2 2hd 11 12 11 2 28 27 24 1 1 11 1hd 1hd 1hd 2 11 11 1 1nk 2 35 2hd 12 11 1 1hd 11 12 12 2 11 11 13 18 2 21 2hd 1hd 12 1 4 3 11 14 15 2 21 2hd 1hd 1nk 3 32 1hd 1 21 2 2 1hd 2hd 1no 1 32 2hd 1hd 1 2 3 5 43 2 1 2 3 1hd 1 14 17 1 11 2hd 21 23 1 2 2 1hd 1nk 1 1 11 12 14
JOCKEY CauthenS CauthenS PincayLJr CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS PincayLJr CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS CauthenS PincayLJr CorderoAJr CorderoAJr GonzalezB
ODDS 2.20e *.50 *.70 *.05 *.60 *.50 1.80 *.30 *.30 *.30 *.20 1.40 1.20 *1.20 2.30 *1.30 *.40 4.60 3.40 14.30
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Exceller126noSeattle Slew12614Great Contractor1264 6 3 5 SeattleSlew128 Affirmed124 NastyandBold1184 6 Affirmed126noAlydar1263 NastyandBold12615 4 Affirmed128 SensitivePrince11920Addison1146 5 Affirmed126hdAlydar12613Darby Creek Road1267 5 Affirmed126nkAlydar1267 Believe It1262 7 Affirmed1261 Alydar1261 Believe It4 11 Affirmed1222Think Snow1223Radar Ahead1222 9 8 1 2 Affirmed120 Balzac120 Think Snow120 12 Affirmed1262Chance Dancer1176Tampoy1181 6 Affirmed1245Spotted Charger114 Don F.114hd 5 Affirmed122nkAlydar12210StardeNskr12227 4 Alydar1221 Affirmed1221 Darby Creek Road1221 6 Affirmed122noAlydar12211NastyandBold122hd 5 Affirmed122 Alydar1222 RegalandRoyal122hd 5 2 hd nk Affirmed124 TltUp122 JtDplomcy124 6 Affirmed1227He's Dewan1226Esops Foibles122 8 Alydar1173 Affirmed1222Going Investor1224 7 Affirmed119nkWood Native119 Sensitive Nose1192 11 Affirmed1174 Innocuous1223 Gymnast1222 10 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 9
1977 CHAMPION
Seattle Slew The first undefeated Triple Crown winner, Seattle Slew was a popular dark bay who inspired “Slewmania” when posting convincing wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 1977. Purchased for only $17,500 at auction, Seattle Slew developed into a powerful front-runner after being an awkward-looking youngster. The son of Bold Reasoning was named champion 2-year-old following a three-race campaign that included a brilliant Champagne (G1) victory in stakes-record time. Seattle Slew overcame a slow start to capture the Kentucky Derby, rushing forward through traffic to contest a hot pace before rolling home unopposed. Billy Turner trained and Jean Cruget rode the 1977 Horse of the Year for owners Mickey and Karen Taylor, and Jim and Sally Hill. His nine-race win streak came to an end 22 days after his wire-to-wire romp in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes, shipping cross-country to Hollywood Park to finish a dull fourth in the Swaps (G1). Seattle Slew missed the rest of his 3-year-old season afterwards, and overcame a viral infection early at age 4. Doug Peterson and Angel Cordero Jr. took over training and riding duties in 1978, and Seattle Slew won three of his final four starts, beating Triple Crown winner Affirmed in both meetings. In the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1), he dueled Affirmed into submission before passed by Exceller, who charged past into a clear lead. Seattle Slew dramatically re-rallied to fall a nose short, and it’s considered to be the greatest performance in defeat in American Thoroughbred history. – James Scully
KEY FACTS The first Triple Crown winner to be sold at public auction, Seattle Slew brought $17,500 as a yearling at Fasig-Tipton Kentucky July. The champion 2-year-old colt of 1976 was also the first horse to go unbeaten through the Triple Crown, only to lose his perfect record when reappearing too quickly after the Belmont. Returning as a 4-year-old, Seattle Slew enhanced his historical reputation by reigning as champion handicap male and beating his successor to Triple Crown glory, Affirmed.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 10
Boldnesian Bold Reasoning (1968) Reason to Earn
Bold Ruler Alanesian Hail to Reason Sailing Home
Seattle Slew
Dark Bay or Brown Colt Foaled February 15, 1974
Round Table Poker
Glamour
My Charmer (1969)
Jet Action Fair Charmer
Myrtle Charm
Pedigree Fun FACTS Also from the Bold Ruler line, Seattle Slew descended via Boldnesian, the 1966 Santa Anita Derby winner who never raced again, and his son Bold Reasoning, hero of the 1971 Withers and Jersey Derby. Ironically, this onetime lesser offshoot has now become ascendant thanks to the prepotency of “Slew.� Seattle Slew is bred on a cross similar to Secretariat. He is the first foal from 1972 Fair Grounds Oaks winner My Charmer, by the Princequillo-line stallion Poker, a son of Round Table (Bold Ruler’s old rival). My Charmer achieved the distinction of producing a European classic winner as well in Lomond, successful in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket in 1983, and her multiple Irish Group 2-winning son Seattle Dancer was runner-up in the Grand Prix de Paris. My Charmer was inbred to the dynamic full sisters Striking and Hall of Famer Busher, both by War Admiral and out of a daughter of blue hen *La Troienne. While they appeared in the interior of her pedigree, My Charmer’s maternal line traced to the noted matron Frizette, by way of Hall of Famer Myrtlewood and 1948 champion 2-year-old filly Myrtle Charm.
DATE TRK 3Jly77Hol8 11Jun77Bel8 21May77Pim8 7May77CD8 23Apr77Aqu8 26Mar77Hia9 9Mar77Hia9 16Oct76Bel8 5Oct76Bel7 20Sep76Bel5
DIST 1 1 1 : ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 7f ft 1 ft 7f ft 6f ft
TIMES 1:091 1:333 1:583 1:14 2:034 2:293 1:094 1:344 1:542 1:103 1:36 2:021 1:121 1:363 1:493 1:09 1:34 1:472 :44 1:08 1:203 :46 1:10 1:342 :454 1:092 1:22 :452 1:101
RACETYPE Swaps-G1 Belmont-G1 Preakness-G1 Ky Derby-G1 Wood Memorial-G1 Flamingo-G1 Alw 7000 Champagne-G1 Alw 11000 Md Sp Wt
PP 2 5 8 4 6 4 2 3 1 8
FRACTIONS 2 32 36 411 416 1 1 14 13 14 2 1hd 2 13 11 2 2hd 1hd 13 11 1 1hd 11 16 13 1 11 16 16 14 6 1hd 12 14 19 1 12 12 14 19 8 11 11 13 13 10 1 12 15 15
JOCKEY CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ CruguetJ
ODDS *.20 *.40 *.40 *.50 *.10 *.20 *.10 *1.30 *.40 *2.60
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS J.O. Tobin1208Affiliate117noText1208 7 4 2 2 SeattleSlw126 RunDstyRun126 Sanhedrn126 8 1 2 1 Seattle Slew126 Iron Constitution126 Run Dusty Run126 9 SeattleSlew1261 RunDstyRn126nkSanhdrn1263 15 Seattle Slew1263 Sanhedrin1264 Catalan126hd 7 SeattleSlew1224Gboul122nkFortPrvl1224 13 SeattleSlw1179WhitRammr1223 SmashingNatv1192 8 SeattleSlw1229 FortheMoment1221 SltoRom1223 10 3 6 2 SeattleSlew122 CruiseonIn119 Lancer'sPrid117 8 Seattle Slew1225Proud Arion122 Prince Andrew1222 12 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 11
1973 CHAMPION
Secretariat Widely considered the most talented Thoroughbred ever to have raced in America, Secretariat is the most recognizable icon the sport produced in the 20th century and arguably of all time. During his Triple Crown run in 1973, he appeared on the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. The son of Bold Ruler was bred in Virginia by Chris Chenery’s Meadow Stable and, after Chenery’s death, was raced by his daughter Penny Tweedy. So brilliant was he at age two that he was the first juvenile ever to be the consensus choice for Horse of the Year. Secretariat captured his first two starts at three, but surprisingly lost his final prep in the Wood Memorial. He rebounded emphatically in the Triple Crown, winning all three in track-record time. Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby in 1:59 2/5 and the Preakness in 1:53 (a time disputed then but made official decades later). Secretariat completed the sweep in the Belmont Stakes by the other-worldly margin of 31 lengths in 2:24 for 1 1/2 miles. No other horse has come within two seconds of that time. Secretariat was not perfect, officially winning 16 of 21 starts, but the Lucien Laurin trainee was amazingly versatile. He arguably might have been better on grass judging by his phenomenal scores in the Man o’ War and Canadian International. Secretariat is the standard by which all American Thoroughbreds have since been compared, perhaps unfairly. After his death, his heart was found to have been twice the average size. – Vance Hanson
KEY FACTS An historical rarity to be voted Horse of the Year at two, Secretariat was syndicated as a future stallion for a then-record $6.08 million before his 3-year-old campaign. Secretariat swept the Triple Crown while establishing record times that still stand for each race – the Derby in 1:59 2/5, the Preakness in 1:53, and the Belmont by the largest-ever margin of 31 lengths in an astonishing world-record of 2:24. The Virginia-bred, variously dubbed “Big Red” like Man o’ War or even “Super Red,” concluded his career with two superb displays on turf to become the only Triple Crown winner hailed as champion grass horse as well.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 12
=Nearco (ITY)
*Nasrullah
=Mumtaz Begum (FR)
Bold Ruler (1954)
Discovery
Miss Disco
Outdone
Secretariat
Chestnut Colt Foaled March 30, 1970
=Prince Rose (GB) *Princequillo Somethingroyal (1952)
*Cosquilla Caruso
Imperatrice
Cinquepace
Pedigree Fun FACTS Sire Bold Ruler came out on top of his all-star crop when voted Horse of the Year and champion 3-year-old colt of 1957. Although his lone classic victory came in the Preakness, bracketed by losses in the Kentucky Derby and Belmont, Bold Ruler’s front-running coup in the Trenton H. clinched it. In 1958, he took champion sprinter honors, but again carried his speed as far as 1 1/4 miles. A grandson of the unbeaten Italian supremo Nearco, via his beautifully bred son *Nasrullah, Bold Ruler became the leading U.S. sire a remarkable eight times, begetting 11 champions.
Own: Meadow Stable
Life 21 1973 12 1972 9
Brdr: Meadow Stud Inc (Va) Trnr: L. Laurin
DATE TRK DIST TIMES 28Oct73WO8 1 fm 1:373 2:414 1 fm 1:113 2:00 2:244 8Oct73Bel7 1 sy 1:132 2:014 2:254 29Sep73Bel7 15Sep73Bel7 1 ft 1:091 1:33 1:452 4Aug73Sar7 1 ft 1:11 1:36 1:491 1 ft 1:111 1:35 1:47 30Jun73AP8 9Jun73Bel8 1 ft 1:094 1:59 2:24 1 ft 1:112 1:353 1:542 19May73Pim8 5May73CD9 1 ft 1:114 1:361 1:592 21Apr73Aqu7 1 ft 1:121 1:364 1:494 7Apr73Aqu7 1 ft :451 1:083 1:332 17Mar73Aqu7 7f sy :444 1:10 1:231 1 ft :472 1:12 1:442 18Nov72GS8 28Oct72Lrl7 1 sy :454 1:112 1:424 1 ft :451 1:094 1:35 14kOct72Bel7 Disqualified and placed second 16Sep72Bel7 6 f ft :453 1:10 1:162 6 f ft :463 1:094 1:161 26Aug72Sar7 16Aug72Sar7 6f ft :461 1:10 1:104 31Jly72Sar4 6f ft :462 4 2 6f ft :45 1:103 15Jly72Aqu 4Jly72Aqu2 5 f ft :461 :584 1:05
16 - 3 - 1
$1,306,128
9 - 2 - 1
$860,404
7 - 2 - 0
$455,724
RACETYPE Can Int'l-G2 Man o' War-G1 Woodward-G1 Marl Cup Inv'l H 250k Whitney H-G2 Invitational 125k Belmont-G1 Preakness-G1 Ky Derby-G1 Wood Memorial-G1 Gotham-G2 Bay Shore-G3 Garden State 298k Lrl Futurity 133k Champagne 146k
PP 12 3 5 7 3 4 1 3 10 6 3 4 6 5 4
FRACTIONS 2 21 15 112 16 1 13 11 13 15 2 2 1hd 21 24 5 51 3 12 13 4 31 2 2hd 21 1 13 12 16 19 1 1hd 120 128 131 4 1 12 12 12 11 69 2 1 12 7 66 55 45 34 3 1hd 12 1 13 5 56 53 1hd 14 6 46 33 11 13 6 510 53 15 18 11 98 53 1 12
JOCKEY MapleE TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR
ODDS *.20 *.50 *.30 *.40e *.10 *.05 *.10 *.30 *1.50e *.30e *.10 *.20 *.10e *.10e *.70e
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Secretariat1176 BigSpruce1261 GoldenDon117 12 Secretariat1215Tentam1267 Big Spruce126 7 4 11 ProveOut126 Secretariat119 CougarII126 5 3 2 6 Secretariat124 Riva Ridge127 Cougar II126 7 1 2 Onion119 Secretariat119 Rule by Reason119 5 Secretariat1269My Gallant120nkOur Native12017 4 Secretariat12631TwiceaPrince126 MyGllnt12613 5 Secretariat1262 Sham1268Our Native1261 6 Secretariat1262 Sham1268Our Native126 13 Angle Light126hdSham1264Secretariat126 8 3 10 2 Secretariat126 ChampagneCharl117 Flush117 6 4 2 no Secretarit126 ChmpgnChrl118 Impcunous126 6 3 Secretariat122 Angle Light122 Step Nicely122 6 Secretariat1228Stop the Music1228Angle Light1221 6 Secretariat1222StoptheMusic1222StepNicly1221 12
Futurity 144k Hopeful 86k Sanford 27k Alw 9000 Md Sp Wt Md Sp Wt
4 8 2 4 8 2
5 65 53 12 11 8 96 1hd 14 15 5 54 41 1 13 7 73 3 1hd 16 11 66 43 1 16 11 107 1010 75 41
TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR TurcotteR FelicianoP5 FelicianoP5
*.20 *.30 1.50 *.40 *1.30 *3.10
Secretariat1221 StoptheMusic1225SwiftCourr1222 7 Secretariat1215FlighttoGlory121nkStopthMusc1212 9 3 6 3 Secretariat121 Lnd'sChf121 NorthstrDncr121 5 1 7 2 Secretariat118 Russ Miron118 Joe Iz118 7 6 4 Secretariat113 Master Achiever118 Be on It118 11 Herbull118nkMaster Achiever1181Fleet 'n Royal118no 12 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 13
1948 CHAMPION
Citation One of the most respected American Thoroughbreds, Citation became the second Triple Crown winner for Calumet Farm in 1948. The mighty bay horse established a modern-day record winning 16 straight races. A homebred son of foundation sire Bull Lea, Citation was trained by Ben Jones, who won the Kentucky Derby a record six times, and his son Jimmy. Eddie Arcaro guided Citation to easy wins in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes, and Citation added an 11-length victory in the Jersey Stakes between the final two legs. A versatile performer who could win on the lead and from off the pace, Citation’s racing career can be split into two stages -- his prime in 194748, and the latter years after physical issues forced him to miss the 1949 season. He was still good after returning from injury, but Citation established himself as an all-time great winning 27-of-29 starts at ages 2 and 3. After being named champion 2-year-old, Citation easily defeated 1947 Horse of the Year Armed in the Seminole H. early in his 3-year-old season. He rolled past his front-running stablemate, and eventual Hall of Famer Coaltown when posting a 3 1/2-length decision in the Kentucky Derby. Citation was kept in training to become Thoroughbred racing’s first millionaire, and he was promptly retired after achieving the milestone in 1951, notching 24 stakes victories from a 45-32-10-2 record. Known as “Big Cy,” Citation set or equaled at least five track records, including a new world record for a mile (1:33 3/5). – James Scully
KEY FACTS “Big Cy” had the same connections as Whirlaway – as a Calumet Farm homebred trained by Ben Jones (with instrumental help from son Jimmy) and ridden by Eddie Arcaro – but was a completely different type as the ultra-professional pinnacle of their historic operation. A nearly invincible champion at two and three, winning 27 of 29 in his first two seasons of racing, Citation dusted his future Hall of Fame stablemate Coaltown in the 1948 Derby. Citation missed his entire 4-yearold season with physical issues, but returned triumphant at five to notch his 16th straight win, and at six became the first horse to surpass $1 million in earnings.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 14
*Teddy
*Bull Dog
=Plucky Liege (GB)
Bull Lea (1935)
Ballot
Rose Leaves
=Colonial (GB)
Citation
Bay Colt Foaled 1945
=Gainsborough (GB) =Hyperion (GB)
=Selene (GB)
*Hydroplane II (1938)
=Hurry One (GB) =Toboggan (GB)
=Glacier (GB)
Pedigree Fun FACTS Sire Bull Lea won the 1938 Blue Grass, finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby, and added the valuable Widener H. in 1939 in a useful racing career that was eclipsed by his prolific record at stud. Aside from several Hall of Famers, he got a total of three Derby winners rounded out by Hill Gail (1952) and Iron Liege (1957). Bull Lea’s sire, *Bull Dog, was a full brother to Gallant Fox’s sire, Sir Gallahad III. Imported from France precisely because of his sibling’s smash hit with the 1930 Triple Crown winner, Bull Dog became an even more pronounced influence on the breed. 45
Own: Calumet Farm DATE TRK 11Dec48Tan7 3Dec48Tan7 29Oct48Pim6 16Oct48Bel7 2Oct48Bel6 29Sep48Bel6 28Aug48Was7 21Aug48Was4 5Jly48AP7 12Jun48Bel6 29May48GS6 15May48Pim6 1May48CD7 27Apr48CD5 17Apr48HdG6 12Apr48HdG6 28Feb48Hia6 18Feb48Hia6 11Feb48Hia6 2Feb48Hia6 8Nov47Pim5 4Oct47Bel4 3Sep47Bel4 16Aug47Was6 30Jly47Was7 24Jly47AP5 21May47HdG5 3May47Pim4 22Apr47HdG3
DIST 1 gd 6f my 1 ft 1 ft 2 ft 1 ft 1 ft 6f ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 hy 1 sy 1 ft 1 gd 6f my 1 ft 1 ft 7f ft 6f ft 1 my 6 f ft 6f ft 6f ft 6f ft 5f ft 5f gd 5f ft 4 f sy
32 - 10 - 2
$154,755
JOCKEY ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE PiersonNL ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE ArcaroE SniderA SniderA SniderA SniderA DodsonD SniderA SniderA BrooksS DodsonD DodsonD SniderA SniderA SniderA
ODDS *.05 *.10
Brdr: Calumet Farm (Ky) Trnr: H.A. Jones TIMES 1:13 1:373 2:024 :463 1:12 1:151 1:421 1:594 1:381 2:034 2:424 2:294 2:562 3:213 :452 1:101 1:36 1:10 1:353 2:013 :45 1:104 1:104 1:354 1:491 1:123 2:023 2:281 1:113 1:36 2:03 1:16 1:43 2:022 1:112 1:38 2:052 :46 1:103 1:372 :483 1:132 1:454 :47 1:122 1:103 1:354 1:484 1:10 1:352 1:49 :46 1:101 1:23 :454 1:102 :483 1:14 1:484 :444 1:092 1:154 :453 1:11 :45 1:102 :453 1:103 :453 :58 :464 :591 :481 1:011 :482 :542
RACETYPE Tanforan H 54k Alw 5000 Pim Spl 10k Gold Cup 111k J C Gold Cup 108k Sysonby Mile 29k American Derby 88k Alw 4000 Stars & Stripes H 56k Belmont 117k Jersey 61k Preakness 134k Ky Derby 111k Derby Trial 12k Chesapeake 29k Chesapeake Trial 12k Flamingo 62k Everglades H 10k Seminole H 12k Alw 5000 Pim Futurity 48k Futurity 106k Futurity Trial 10k Was Futurity 78k Elementary 24k Alw 4000 Alw 3500 Alw 3500 Md Sp Wt
PP 2 4 1 8 7 6 1 4 6 1 4 4 1 2 4 6 4 1 8 2 4 14 2 5 10 2 1 1 2
FRACTIONS 2 1 11 13 1 5 5 21 2hd 11 11 11111 3 33 12 14 12 1 15 18 18 17 4 46 12 12 13 1 21 11 1hd 11 3 22 21 11 12 5 5 3 3 11 1 2 1 1hd 14 15 18 4 1hd 13 18 111 1 1 1 12 12 15 2 26 2 12 13 2 2 12 11 11 3 31 11 13 14 1 41 41 22 21 4 1hd 1hd 13 16 2 23 1 11 11 2 2hd 2hd 1hd 11 7 2hd 2hd 1hd 11 2 31 2hd 1 11 4 31 13 13 9 71 61 11 3 44 47 36 21 5 21 1 11 12 4 42 43 32 1 4 22 23 22 11 1 11 1hd 1 13 2 35 33 1
*.15 *.30 *.10e *.10e *.20 *.30e *.20 *.10 *.10 *.40e *.10 *.20 *.30 *.20 *.15 *.40e *.20e *.40 *.85e 2.10 *.20e *1.40 2.20 *.40 *1.00 *1.60
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Citation1235Stepfather1102 See-tee-see1172 7 Citation1261 Bold Gallant1122Barsard1095 5 Citation120 1 Citation1192Phalanx1265Carolyn A.1232 9 Citation1177Phalanx12412Beauchef124hd 7 Citation1193First Flight123nkCoaltown1194 6 1 1 2 Citation126 Free America118 Volcanic118 5 2 1 6 Citation120 King Rhymer114 Speculation117 4 Citation1192Eternal Reward116nkPellicle106hd 9 Citation1268Better Self126 Escadru1265 8 Citation12611Macbeth114 Bovard114 5 Citation1265 Vulcan's Forge1263 Bovard126nk 4 Citation1263 Coaltown1263My Request1261 6 1 20 Citation118 Escadru118 Eagle Look110 4 Citation1224 Bovard1195Dr. Almac1196 4 1 4 1 Saggy122 Citation126 Dr. Almac122 6 Citation1266Big Dial1184Saggy1221 7 Citation1261Hypnos1094Silverling112 3 Citation1121Delegate123nkArmed1282 9 Citation1131Kitchen Police1101 Say Blue1071 7 Citation1191 Better Self1198Ace Admiral1222 5 Citation1223Whirling Fox114nkBewitch1231 14 1 nk hd Citation116 Gasparilla116 Up Beat116 14 Bewitch1191Citation118hdFree America1182 10 Citation1222Salmagundi110noBillings113nk 10 Citation117 Kandy Comfort1141 Queen Hairan1142 8 Citation1191 Little Tony1138Grand Entry1163 6 Citation1193 Newsweekly1191Still Champ119nk 6 Citation120 Sunday Beau120nkBrass Band120no 11 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 15
1946 CHAMPION
Assault One of only three Triple Crown winners sired by a Kentucky Derby winner, Assault had one of the longer racing careers (42 starts) of the 13 series sweepers. Diagnosed as sterile after his initial retirement at age five, he was returned to training and raced until the age of seven. Bred and raced by Robert Kleberg’s King Ranch of Texas, Assault captured one stakes at age two. He kicked off his 3-year-old campaign with backto-back stakes wins, including the Wood Memorial, but finished an even fourth in the Derby Trial just four days before the Kentucky Derby. Although he had suffered a permanently damaged hoof in a paddock accident as a young horse, Assault rarely let that or other ailments affect him. He won the Kentucky Derby by a record-equaling eight lengths, held on to win the Preakness by a neck, and then captured the Belmont Stakes by a more comfortable margin of three lengths, all in the span of four weeks. The son of Bold Venture endured a six-race losing streak in the summer and fall of 1946, but bounced back to beat older horses twice and was voted Horse of the Year. He was a top-level 4-year-old, too, winning his first five starts, but lost a match race against the famed gelding Armed by a lopsided eight lengths in the fall of 1947. Trained by Max Hirsch, Assault won only one more stakes, the 1949 Brooklyn Handicap, before retiring for a second and final time in 1950. – Vance Hanson
KEY FACTS The “Clubfooted Comet” earned his nickname from a paddock accident as a weanling, when he impaled his right front foot on a surveyor’s stake. For the rest of his life, Assault looked unsound at his slower paces, but not in full flight. The first Triple Crown winner born outside Kentucky, the pride of Texas’ famed King Ranch sprang an 8-1 upset in the Derby, equaling the record margin of eight lengths. Assault was retired to stud after his form declined as an older horse, but after turning out to be sterile, he returned to training and won the 1949 Brooklyn Handicap.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 16
*St. Germans Bold Venture (1933)
=Swynford (GB) =Hamoaze (GB) Ultimus
Possible
Lida Flush
Assault
Chestnut Colt Foaled 1943
Pennant Equipoise
Swinging
Igual (1937)
*Chicle Incandescent
Masda
Pedigree Fun FACTS Sire Bold Venture won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 1936, but unfortunately sustained a career-ending injury. Yet another scion of the Swynford line, Bold Venture proved subfertile like several other standouts by his sire, *St Germans. He managed to get another Derby winner in Middleground (1951), who was likewise plagued by fertility woes. Assault too inherited the affliction and turned out to be sterile.
42
18 - 6 - 7
$675,470
JOCKEY ArcaroE ArcaroE MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW MehrtensW Mehrtens W MehrtensW StoutJ
ODDS 1.65 2.80 4.90 *1.40 1.90 *.70 *.70e *.70 *.40 1.40 *1.40 8.20 4.50 8.85 9.10 2.15 34.40 10.90 70.60 18.05 4.65 23.95 79.25 17.30
Brdr: King Ranch (Tex) Trnr: W.J. Hirsch
Own: King Ranch
DATE TRK 9Nov46Jam5 1Nov46Pim6 26Oct46Jam5 19Oct46Jam5 25Sep46Bel6 14Sep46GS5 7Sep46Aqu6 27Jly46AP6 15Jun46Aqu6 1Jun46Bel6 11May46Pim6 4May46CD7 30Apr46CD5 20Apr46Jam5 9Apr46Jam5 8Oct45Jam5 12Sep45Aqu6 5Sep45Aqu6 6Aug45Bel4 18Jly45Jam5 12Jly45Aqu5 23Jun45Bel2 12Jun45Bel1 4Jun45Bel4
Courtesy of the Keeneland Library Morgan Collection
DIST 1 gd 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft : 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 sy 1 md 1 ft 6f ft 6f ft 6 f ft 6f ft 5 f sy 6f ft 5 f ft 4 f ft 4 f ft 4 f sy
TIMES 1:112 1:373 1:562 1:132 1:39 1:57 1:373 2:03 2:424 1:123 1:39 1:572 1:143 2:032 2:292 1:121 1:363 1:491 1:123 1:39 1:514 1:123 1:364 2:023 1:14 1:411 2:064 1:141 2:04 2:304 1:13 1:40 2:012 1:141 1:404 2:063 :463 1:123 1:401 :47 1:113 1:463 :47 1:12 :463 1:12 4 2 :46 1:12 1:18 3 :46 1:121 :452 1:044 :461 1:121 :463 1:072 :463 :53 :471 :533 2 :46 :531
RACETYPE Westchester H 56k Pim Spl 25k Gallant Fox H 85k Roamer H 31k Manhattan H 28k Jersey H 31k Discovery H 28k Classic 94k Dwyer 58k Belmont 110k Preakness 131k Ky Derby 113k Derby Trial 13k Wood Memorial 31k Exp Free H 1 11k Alw 5000 Cowdin 31k Babylon H 14k Flash 15k East View 12k Alw 3000 Md Sp Wt Md Sp Wt Md Sp Wt
PP 4 3 10 7 2 5 4 2 6 1 5 2 5 11 6 4 8 6 11 1 2 16 12 13
FRACTIONS 5 69 510 11 12 3 314 39 11 16 6 57 11 35 34 11 96 75 2nk 2 3 54 53 44 33 6 65 31 2hd 2 8 812 67 57 33 2 33 48 610 68 4 59 33 2nk 14 7 45 33 32 13 6 65 3 14 1nk 3 54 32 12 18 5 410 47 47 44 3 35 34 2hd 12 6 31 1 13 14 5 43 31 2hd 23 9 117 88 54 44 6 31 21 21 34 1 2nk 42 1no 5 53 45 53 58 2 1hd 21 2 11 3 11 21 23 4 4 62 51 8 118 1114 1214
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Assault1222 Lucky Draw1284Lets Dance1041 6 6 3 Assault120 Stymie12 Bridal Flower117 4 Stymie1262 Rico Monte1162Assault1148 11 Bridal Flower118 Assault1261 Risolater109nk 12 Stymie126 Pavot1213Flareback1131 8 Mahout114 Assault1263Blue Yonder1131 7 Mighty Story1152 Mahout1121Assault126 9 The Dude1191 Sgt. Spence1192 Mighty Story1222 6 4 1 Assault126 Windfields116 Lord Boswell121 6 Assault1263Natchez1262Cable126hd 7 Assault126nkLord Boswell1263 Hampden1264 10 Assault1268Spy Song126hdHampden1261 17 Rippey110nkSpy Song1184With Pleasure118nk 10 Assault1262 Hampden126 Marine Victory1261 14 Assault1164 IslamPrince114 LarkmeadAndy110&nk 11 3 4 2 Lord Boswell117 Assault117 Landlord111 5 1 1 1 Knockdown114 Revokd126 SouthernPrd120 13 1 3 nk Southern Pride120 Tidy Bid113 Assault119 9 Assault113noMist o' Gold122noMush Mush117hd 12 Misto'Gold1221 SouthrnPride1183Degage1222 14 Assault1111 Happy C.116 Darby Darius1161 7 Mist o' Gold1163Assault1161Uncle Mac1161 23 Leeway109hdChallenge Play1161 The Heir116$hd 15 Grandpa Max1164The Heir1161 Skylighter1161 21 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 17
1943 CHAMPION
Count Fleet Boasting a combination of speed and stamina, Count Fleet stamped himself as one of the greats before injury prematurely ended his career.
KEY FACTS
His sire, Reigh Count, won the 1928 Kentucky Derby for John D. Hertz and his wife, Fannie, who was officially the owner of record. Hertz did not expect as much from their homebred Count Fleet, putting the youngster up for sale, and twice had to be persuaded to keep him.
A headstrong individual who wanted to run his rivals off their feet, Count Fleet posted a then world-record time for a 2-year-old in the 1942 Champagne, zipping a mile at Belmont Park in 1:34 4/5.
Aside from his ordinary appearance, Count Fleet was tough to manage. The willful colt posed a danger if not carefully handled, but through horsemanship, his high spirits were channeled into a racing machine. Although Count Fleet had already won almost half of his juvenile starts going into the 1942 Champagne, it marked a turning point. Trainer Don Cameron and Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Longden discerned the colt’s preferred running style – in front. Count Fleet romped in 1:34 4/5, the fastest dirt mile then recorded by a 2-year-old, and ultimately clinched the divisional championship. His 1943 Kentucky Derby was nearly canceled due to wartime restrictions on gasoline and transportation. Salvaged as an event for local spectators only, the “Streetcar Derby” was a cakewalk for Count Fleet. The opposition dwindled in the Preakness, where he cantered by eight, and just two rivals braved the Withers and Belmont.
“The Fleet” was unbeatable for the rest of his brief career, reeling off 10 straight and becoming the only Triple Crown winner aside from Sir Barton to win the Withers in between jewels. Count Fleet’s streak culminated in a 25-length Belmont rout in 2:28 1/5 – a record margin and time in his day – despite sustaining an injury and never racing again.
Count Fleet’s 25-length Belmont conquest in a record 2:28 1/5, his 10th straight win, was his finale. Injured in the running, he retired and sired 1951 Derby hero Count Turf. – Kellie Reilly
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 18
=Sunbridge(GB)
*Sunreigh
*Sweet Briar II
Reigh Count (1925) *Contessina
=Count Schomberg (GB) =Pitti (GB)
Count Fleet Brown Colt Foaled 1940
*Maintenant Haste
Miss Malaprop
Quickly (1930)
*Stefan the Great Stephanie
Malachite
Pedigree Fun FACTS The centerpiece of a three-generation triptych of Derby heroes, Count Fleet is by 1928 winner Reigh Count and in turn sired Count Turf (1951) to complete the sequence. Reigh Count was a grandson of the exceptional British sprinter Sundridge, twice a winner of Royal Ascot’s King’s Stand and a three-peater in the July Cup at Newmarket. Sent to England as a 4-year-old, Reigh Count won the 1929 Coronation Cup at Epsom and finished second in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot. Count Fleet was out of Quickly, by 1926 Withers winner and Belmont third Haste, from the immediate family of the world record-setting sprinter Bolero. Count Fleet’s third dam, 1916 Alabama heroine Malachite, was herself a half to 1912 Kentucky Derby victor Worth. 21
Own: Mrs J Hertz DATE TRK 5Jun43Bel6 22May43Bel6 8May43Pim6 1May43CD7 17Apr43Jam5 13Apr43Jam5 10Nov42Pim6 31Oct42Pim6 20Oct42Jam5 10Oct42Bel5 3Oct42Bel4 24Sep42Bel6 15Sep42Aqu5 15Aug42Was6 11Aug42Was6 22Jly42Emp5 15Jly42Emp5 4Jly42Emp4 19Jun42Aqu3 15Jun42Aqu5 1Jun42Bel5
DIST 11/2 ft 1 md 13/16 gd 11/4 ft 11/16 ft 1 70 sy 11/16 gd 11/16 ft 1 70 ft 1 ft 61/2f ft 6f ft 6f ft 6f ft 6f gd 53/4f ft 53/4f ft 51/2f ft 51/2f ft 51/2f ft 5f ft
Courtesy of the Keeneland Library Cook Collection 16 - 4 - 1
$250,300
Brdr: Mrs John D. Hertz (Ky) Trnr: G.D. Cameron TIMES 1:123 2:033 2:281 :462 1:103 1:36 1:114 1:381 1:572 1:123 1:373 2:04 :464 1:112 1:43 :472 1:124 1:424 :473 1:12 1:444 :462 1:11 1:433 :473 1:13 1:44 :46 1:10 1:344 :443 1:083 1:151 :461 1:103 :462 1:12 :454 1:12 3 :46 1:13 :463 1:074 :454 1:08 :462 :592 1:054 :471 1:06 :473 1:061 :572
RACETYPE Belmont 42k Withers 17k Preakness 60k Ky Derby 72k Wood Mem 28k Alw 3000 Walden 12k Pim Futurity 34k Alw 5000 Champagne 12k Futurity 69k Alw 2000 Alw 2500 Wash Park Futurity 68k Alw 1800 Wakefield 6.8k East View 7.1k Alw 2000 Md Sp Wt Md Sp Wt Md Sp Wt
PP 2 2 2 5 4 8 3 3 5 8 7 9 2 11 6 4 6 5 8 9 13
FRACTIONS 1 18 120 120 125 1 11 13 12 15 1 14 14 15 18 1 1hd 12 12 13 1 14 14 14 13 4 31 22 2hd 13 1 18 115 125 130 2 2hd 1 13 15 5 1hd 14 15 16 1 12 13 13 16 9 22 34 34 35 12 51 53 21 12 1 21 33 31 1nk 9 75 54 22 2nk 5 3 2 1 1nk 1 31 11 12 14 5 52 21 22 21 5 53 42 11 15 6 3 2 3 14 8 63 44 2 21 5 3 3 32 21
JOCKEY LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ LongdenJ
ODDS *.05 *.05 *.15 *.40 *.25 *.15 *.10 1.25 *.25 *1.05 *1.55 *1.40 *.70 4.80 *.50 *.65 *.50 *1.15 *.75 *1.35 4.10
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS CountFleet12625FairyManhurst126 Deseronto126 3 Count Fleet1265Slide Rule12612Tip-Toe126 3 Count Fleet1268Blue Swords1265Vincentive12620 4 Count Fleet1263Blue Swords1266Slide Rule1266 10 Count Fleet1263 Blue Swords1267Twoses1212 8 CountFlt1223 Bossut1135Towsr113hd 8 30 15 1 Count Fleet122 Uncle Billies113 Rough Doc113 4 Count Fleet1195Occupation1224Vincentive122 3 Count Fleet1226Towser1162 Jack S.L.1133 8 Count Fleet1166Blue Swords1197Attendant1101 8 Occupation1265Askmenow116hdCount Fleet1191 10 CountFleet1222 BullsEye111nkJackS.L.111hd 13 nk 4 1 CntFlt118 VrySnooty112 NoondySun112 10 nk 5 hd Occupation122 CntFleet117 BluSwords117 11 CountFleet119nkBlueSwords1084Hygrohour1223 9 CountFleet1164Rurales1132GoldShower1229 4 Gold Shower1161Count Fleet1167Rurales1122 6 Count Fleet1115Samhar1143Bullpen114$hd 6 CountFleet1164SewrdBound1161Crst116nk 10 Supermont1161 Count Fleet1163Quiz116nk 14 DoveShoot1161 CountFlet116noSuprmont116nk 16 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 19
1941 CHAMPION
Whirlaway Calumet Farm’s golden era began with a quirky but popular champion in Whirlaway, nicknamed “Mr. Longtail” for his streaming plume as he flew down the stretch. A homebred son of 1930 Epsom Derby hero *Blenheim II, Whirlaway was a top 2-year-old with victories in the 1940 Hopeful, Saratoga Special, and Breeders’ Futurity. But his juvenile resume would have been better if not for his costly antics. Liable to spook and difficult to control, he often veered to the outside rail. After Whirlaway beat himself in a pair of Derby preps, Hall of Fame trainer Ben Jones changed jockeys to Hall of Famer Eddie Arcaro. He also customized a one-eyed blinker. Whirlaway responded with a record-setting 1941 Kentucky Derby. Uncorking his patented whirlwind charge from off the pace, he romped by eight lengths (equaling the largest margin in Derby history) while establishing a new record time of 2:01 2/5. After dominating the Preakness in similar style, Whirlaway seized command early in the Belmont. The only Triple Crown winner to capture the Travers, Whirlaway was also the first of that club to repeat as Horse of the Year as a 4-year-old. He clashed with 3-year-old champ Alsab, just missing in their match race, gaining revenge in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but losing their third bout carrying 130 pounds. Whirlaway’s 1942 campaign was dedicated to supporting World War II efforts. His bankroll benefited too. The first horse to surpass the halfmillion mark, he retired having amassed $561,161 from 60 career starts. – Kellie Reilly
KEY FACTS “Mr. Longtail,” a fan favorite thanks to his thrilling rallies and mercurial penchant for making a beeline to the outside fence, was the first Triple Crown winner who had been a co-champion 2-yearold. Whirlaway crushed the Kentucky Derby by a record-tying margin of eight lengths, and in then-record time of 2:01 2/5, and went on to become the only Triple Crown winner to prevail in the Travers. Also the first Triple Crown champion to repeat as Horse of the Year as a 4-year-old, Whirlaway served on the home front in World War II, his 22-race 1942 campaign proving a real fundraiser for war relief efforts.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 20
=Blandford (GB) *Blenheim II (1927) =Malva (GB) Chestnut Colt Foaled 1938
Pink Domino
Dustwhirl (1926)
Superman Ormonda
60
DIST TIMES 2 ft 2:284 2:55 3:204 1 ft 1:381 2:034 2:441 1 ft 1:143 1:39 1:571 1 ft 1:13 1:382 2:04 1 md 1:132 1:393 2:054 1 ft :48 1:122 1:38 1 ft 1:132 1:372 2:024 1 ft 1:131 1:38 1:503 1 ft 1:132 1:383 2:032 1 ft 1:134 2:05 2:31 1 ft :463 1:113 1:433 1 gd 1:123 1:391 1:584 1 ft 1:113 1:372 2:012 1 ft :462 1:111 1:363 1 md 1:12 1:38 1:511 6f ft :462 1:113 5 f ft :461 1:043 6f md :473 1:114 7f ft :47 1:112 1:231 6f gd :451 1:113 1 sy :483 1:16 1:521 1 hy :48 1:142 1:494 6f ft :454 1:111 6f ft :46 1:111 6 f-WC ft 1:153 6f-WC ft 1:103 6 f md :463 1:114 1:18 6f ft :47 1:11 6f ft :46 1:111 4 6f ft :46 1:114 6f md :48 1:004 1:134 5 f ft :461 :584 1:051 5 f ft :461 :581 1:044 5 f ft :462 :59 1:052 51/2f ft :454 :583 1:052 5f ft :471 1:014
=Charles O’ Malley (GB)
Ben Brush Sweep
DATE TRK 27Sep41Bel5 20Sep41Bel5 13Sep41Nar6 23Aug41Was7 16Aug41Sar6 6Aug41Sar6 26Jly41AP6 15Jly41AP6 21Jun41Aqu5 7Jun41Bel6 20May41Bel6 10May41Pim6 3May41CD7 29Apr41CD7 24Apr41Kee6 11Apr41Kee5 28Mar41TrP5 22Mar41TrP4 18Feb41Hia5 8Feb41Hia4 14Nov40Pim6 2Nov40Pim6 19Oct40Kee6 8Oct40Kee5 28Sep40Bel7 24Sep40Bel6 31Aug40Sar5 24Aug40Sar5 10Aug40Sar5 3Aug40Sar5 27Jly40AP0 20Jly40AP5 6Jly40AP6 2Jly40AP5 25Jun40AP4 3Jun40LF3
=Blanche (GB)
=Wild Arum (GB)
Whirlaway
Own: Calumet Farm
=Swynford (GB)
32 - 15 - 9
Princess Ormonde
$198,750
Brdr: Calumet Farm (Ky) Trnr: B.A. Jones RACETYPE J C Gold Cup 10k Lawrence Realizatn 26k Nar Spl H 29k American Derby 59k Travers 21k Saranac H 4.8k Classic 57k Special Event 5k Dwyer 11k Belmont 48k Alw 2500 Preakness 66k Ky Derby 73k Derby Trial 2.9k Blue Grass 15k Handicap 1500 Alw 1200 Alw 1200 Alw 1500 Alw 1500 Walden 10k Pim Futurity 38k Breeders' Futurity 12k Alw 1000 Futurity 81k Alw 1500 Hopeful 43k Grand Union Hotel 11k Sar Spl 9.7k U S Hotel 12k Arl Futurity 44k Alw 1200 Hyde Park 7.2k Alw 1000 Alw 1000 Md Sp Wt
PP 2 4 2 4 1 4 4 2 3 3 3 1 4 6 2 1 4 1 2 5 8 8 5 2 11 8 3 1 4 7 3 1 2 10 5 10
FRACTIONS 4 21 21 1hd 2no 2 2hd 15 16 18 4 46 32 24 24 4 21 11 11 12 2 311 38 32 13 5 56 41 4 1no 6 66 2hd 2hd 21 2 12 12 11 12 4 44 11 11 11 3 31 13 11 11 4 35 42 11 12 8 89 73 15 15 6 816 42 13 18 5 55 1 21 2 2 1hd 1hd 22 26 4 47 35 31 1nk 4 53 44 31 1nk 5 46 31 2hd 31 4 46 32 31 35 5 57 57 33 1hd 7 31 21 13 14 5 53 21 33 35 5 53 41 2hd 11 6 610 66 4nk 12 5 117 41 3nk 33 1 97 3nk 53 56 4 45 44 2 11 6 65 52 32 21 8 89 89 56 11 10 109 97 54 2nk 12 115 63 41 35 7 76 56 52 44 10 1110 1116 89 47 7 44 43 21 11 5 57 311 39 33 5 31 56 44 1no
JOCKEY Robertson A Robertson A Robertson A Robertson A Robertson A Robertson A Shelhamer A Eads W Arcaro E Arcaro E Eads W Arcaro E Arcaro E Eads W Eads W 1 Eads W Vedder RL James B James B Eads W Woolf G Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Longden J Richard J Clark S Clark S Clark S Richard J
ODDS *.35 *.20 *.40 *.20 *.15 *.65 *.40 *.10 *.20 *.25 *.75 *1.15 *2.90 *.60 *.50 *1.00 2.50 *.85 *.30 *.65 *1.50 *1.60 1.50 *1.40e 2.85 *1.30 *.65 *1.20 *1.95 14.00 9.40 3.90 3.40 3.40 2.90 *1.50e
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS MarketWise114noWhirlaway1148Fenelon12512 4 Whirlaway1268Alaking1125Time Counts1126 4 War Relic1074 Whirlaway1181Equifox1121 4 Whirlaway1262 Bushwhacker1213 Delray118 5 Whirlaway1303 Fairymant1122 Lord Kitchener112 3 no 1 Whirlaway130 WarRlc117 Omsson112 5 Attention1211 Whirlaway1266Bushwhacker1213 6 Whirlaway1202 Daily Trouble1122To a Tee112 4 Whirlaway1261 Market Wise1222 Robert Morris11912 4 Whirlwy1262 RobertMorrs1265YnkChnc1265 4 Whirlaway1082 Miolnd127nkHsh1203 5 Whirlaway1265 KingCole1262OurBoots126nk 8 Whirlaway1268Staretor126nkMarket Wise1262 11 8 6 Blue Pair115 Whirlaway118 Cadmium110 6 OurBoots1236Whirlwy12315VldnPul1213 4 Whirlaway120nkBlue Pair1163My Bill1053 5 Whirlaway118nkZacatn118noBluLly1075 6 Little Beans1181Ponty118 Whirlaway1182 6 Agricole1102Cadmium1103Whirlaway1226 5 Whirlaway117hdSignator1103Blue Twink1082 5 4 2 2 Whirlaway122 Magnificent113 Stimady116 8 BoldIrshmn122noOurBts1195Whrlwy1221 8 1 no hd Whirlaway122 Blue Pair119 Our Boots122 5 Whirlaway1222Blue Pair1223Valdina Groom114hd 8 Our Boots1191 King Cole1221 Whirlaway1262 14 Our Boots1113 Springwood111hdNew World1201 10 Whirlaway1221Attention1265Hy-Cop1161 4 New World1171 Whirlaway1222 Hy-Cop1161 6 1 3 2 Whirlaway122 New World122 Good Turn122 8 nk 4 2 Attention122 Whirlaway116 Twnkppy113 10 5 no Swain117 ValdinaGroom117 Whirlaway117 2 MistyIsle1192 BayouCook1171 FlyingStrk114nk 7 MistyIsl1142 DKlb1172 Cuntos1173 13 Whirlway1111De Kalb1182 Valdina Groom1161 10 My Bill1163Swain116 Whirlaway1118 7 Whirlaway116noBeauBrannon1161VldnSr113nk 11 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 21
1937 CHAMPION
War Admiral Sweeping the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont Stakes in wire-towire fashion, War Admiral became the fourth Triple Crown winner in 1937. The smallish colt did not resemble sire Man o’ War in physical stature, but War Admiral was his best performer and captivated audiences winning 11 straight races. A homebred for Samuel D. Riddle, who also owned Man o’ War, War Admiral proved unbeatable at age 3 after winning only 3-of-6 starts as a juvenile. The front-running dark bay recorded a 1 3/4v-length victory as the 8-5 Kentucky Derby favorite, and War Admiral was bet down to oddson favoritism in his final 17 starts. He was trained by George Conway and ridden by Charles Kurtsinger for most of his career. War Admiral sustained a leg injury at the start of his Belmont Stakes victory, necessitating a five-month absence, and returned to win three straight late in his 3-year-old season. After his win streak came to an end in June 1938, War Admiral won six of his next seven outings in 1938, including the Jockey Club Gold Cup, Saratoga Cup, Saratoga H., and Whitney. However, War Admiral’s 4-year-old season is most remembered by his match race against Seabiscuit in the Pimlico Special. Seabiscuit outsprinted him to the early lead and turned back a challenge to win in track record time. War Admiral won his next two starts, but he was retired due to a wretched ankle early in 1939. A successful stallion, War Admiral was the leading sire of 1945. – James Scully
KEY FACTS Nicknamed the “The Mighty Atom,” the small, dark bay War Admiral looked nothing like his brawny chestnut sire Man o’ War, but he was his worthiest son. War Admiral wired all three jewels of the Triple Crown during a perfect 8-for-8 season, his finest hour coming in the Belmont. Despite slicing his foot badly leaving the gate, War Admiral beat his sire’s 1 1/2-mile track record when clocking 2:28 3/5. While War Admiral captured more majors as a 4-year-old, one of his rare losses proved most enduring: Seabiscuit beat him to the lead, and repelled him, in their famous match race of 1938 at Pimlico.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 22
Hastings
Fair Play
*Fairy Gold
Man o’ War (1917)
*Rock Sand
Mahubah
*Merry Token
War Admiral Brown Colt Foaled 1934
Ben Brush Sweep
Pink Domino
Brushup (1929)
=Harry of Hereford Annette K.
*Bathing Girl
Pedigree Fun FACTS Sire Man o’ War, often rated as the all-time greatest American Thoroughbred, never had his chance at the Triple Crown because owner Sam Riddle had a bias against the Kentucky Derby. Thus the legendary champion had to settle for dominating the Preakness and Belmont; the oblique glory of drubbing Sir Barton in their match race; and siring two Derby winners, Clyde Van Dusen (1929) preceding War Admiral. Man o’ War, as a son of leading sire Fair Play, traced to the first English Triple Crown winner, West Australian (1853), in his tail-male ancestry. War Admiral was produced by Brushup, a daughter of champion and influential sire Sweep. The hero of the 1910 Belmont, Sweep was bred on a potent cross being by 1896 Kentucky Derby star Ben Brush and out of a Domino mare. Brushup’s dam, Annette K., was imported in utero. Although her sire Harry of Hereford was obscure, he was a full brother to English classic winner and important sire Swynford.
26
Own: Glen Riddle Farm Stable DATE TRK 3Nov37Pim5 30Oct37Lrl5 26Oct37Lrl5 5Jun37Bel5 15May37Pim6 8May37CD6 24Apr37HdG5 14Apr37HdG4 10Oct36Lrl5 19Sept36HdG5 1Jly36Aqu5 6Jun36Bel4 21May36Bel3 25Apr36HdG1
DIST 1 ft 1 gd 1 ft 1 ft 1 gd 1 ft 1 ft 6f ft 6f md 6f ft 6f ft 5f ft 5f ft 4 f ft
21 - 3 - 1
$154,755
JOCKEY Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Westrope J Westrope J Peters M
ODDS *.05 *.65 *.40 *.90 *.35 *1.60 *.65e *.75 *.80 7.85 2.00 3.00 10.00 7.50
Trnr: G. Conway TIMES 1:112 1:38 1:584 1:13 1:384 2:044 :48 1:131 1:46 1:121 2:021 2:283 1:122 1:373 1:582 1:122 1:372 2:031 :472 1:113 1:45 :461 1:112 :473 1:123 :454 1:11 :473 1:123 :59 :584 :48æ :551
RACETYPE Pim Spl H 8.2k Washington H 19k Alw 1200 Belmont 46k Preakness 55k Ky Derby 62k Chesapeake 11k Alw 1000 Richard Johnson H 5k Eastern Shore H 14k Great American 5.4k National Stallion 16k Alw 900 Md Sp Wt
PP 1 7 8 7 1 1 3 2 2 15 6 6 6 9
FRACTIONS 2 31 21 12 11 3 1113 11 11 1 13 13 14 12 2 13 14 13 13 2 11 11 1hd 1hd 2 11 11 13 11 1 11 12 14 16 1 1hd 12 13 12 2 1hd 2 22 21 1 11 14 14 15 3 1hd 1hd 1hd 21 2 53 31 32 3 1hd 11 12 4 2hd 2 1no
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS WarAdmrl1281 MaskedGenrl1004WrMnstrl109no 4 1 2 War Admiral126 Heelfly119 Burning Star1183 7 2 4 hd War Admiral106 Aneroid113 Floradora107 8 War Admiral1263Sceneshifter12610Vamoose1262 7 War Admiral126hdPompoon1268Flying Scot1262 8 War Admiral1261 Pompoon1268Reaping Reward1263 20 WarAdmiral1196CourtScandal119 OverthTop1142 7 War Admiral1202 Clingendaal1116Airflame1173 6 BottleCap1191 WarAdmiral1248YellowTulp1141 10 5 hd hd War Admiral118 Orientalist116 Rex Flag115 15 Fairy Hill1131 War Admiral1152Maedic115 8 1 1 hd Pompoon122 Fencing122 War Admiral122 10 War Admiral1132Scintillator1135Papenie1161 8 War Admiral114noSonny Joe1141Ground Oak1142 10 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 23
1935 CHAMPION
Omaha From the first crop of Gallant Fox, Omaha has for nearly nine decades held the distinction of being the only Triple Crown winner sired by another. Like his father, he was bred in Kentucky by Jockey Club chairman William Woodward and raced in his Belair Stud silks of white and red polka dots. Although a useful 2-year-old, Omaha failed to win any of his seven stakes attempts in his first season. Indeed, he arrived at Churchill Downs still seeking his first stakes victory after placing third in the Wood Memorial in his final prep. The long-winded Omaha proved to need as much ground as he could get. Running beyond a mile and 70 yards for the first time in the Kentucky Derby, he won by 1 1/2 lengths, and then came back to win the Preakness the following week by six lengths. Second in the one-mile Withers in between the Preakness and Belmont Stakes, Omaha rebounded to sweep the Crown with a 1 1/2-length tally. A well-beaten third in his only start against older horses that season, to the great Discovery in the Brooklyn Handicap, Omaha completed his 3-year-old season with victories in the Dwyer and (Arlington) Classic. Trained by “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons at ages two and three, Omaha was shipped to England for his 4-year-old season. Omaha proved a highly capable turf horse as well, winning twice and narrowly losing the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot and the Princess of Wales’s at Newmarket when conditioned by Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. – Vance Hanson
KEY FACTS Like his sire, Omaha was also a William Woodward homebred trained by “Sunny Jim” Fitzimmons, who became the first owner/trainer tandem to celebrate a pair of crowns. Unlike his sire, Omaha didn’t bring as compelling a resume into the Derby, where the filly Nellie Flag went off as the favorite. But he was just reaching his peak as he rolled to victory from well off the pace. As a 4-year-old, Omaha continued his career in Great Britain under Capt. Cecil Boyd-Rochfort. Although he won his first two starts on the turf, he’s more often remembered for his photo-finish loss in the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, just denied by the classicwinning filly Quashed in a thriller.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 24
*Sir Gallahad II (FR) Gallant Fox (1927)
*Teddy =Plucky Liege (GB) Celt
Marguerite
*Fairy Ray
Omaha
Chestnut Colt Foaled 1932
=Robert Le Diable (FR) *Wrack
=Samphire (GB)
Flambino (1924)
*Durbar II *Flambette
*La Lambee
Pedigree Fun FACTS A son of Gallant Fox and the top-class Flambino, Omaha was a full brother to Flares, who stamped himself as a top performer in England. Victorious in the 1937 Champion S., Flares landed the 1938 Gold Cup at Royal Ascot that had eluded Omaha two years prior. Their dam, Flambino by *Wrack, scored her signature win in the 1927 Gazelle but notably finished third versus males in the Belmont. Flambino was also third in the Coaching Club American Oaks, unable to emulate her dam *Flambette’s victory in the same race in 1921. A French import, Flambette became the significant ancestress of Hall of Famers Gallorette and Johnstown (the 1939 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner).
22
Own: Belair Stud Stable DATE TRK 20Jly35AP6 29Jun35Aqu5 22Jun35Aqu5 8Jun35Bel5 25May35Bel4 11May35Pim6 4May35CD6 27Apr35Jam4 22Apr35Jam4 29Sep34Aqu4 15Sep34Bel3 6Sep34Bel4 1Sep34Sar3 22Aug34Sar3 11Aug34Sar3 4Aug34Sar3 23Jun34Aqu1 18Jun34Aqu1
DIST 1 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 sy 1 ft 1 ft 11/4 gd 1 70 ft 1 70 ft 1 ft 6 f md 6 f ft 6 f ft 6f ft 6f ft 6f ft 5f ft 5f ft
9 - 7 - 2
$154,755
Brdr: William Woodward Sr. (Ky) Trnr: Cecil Boyd-Rochfort TIMES 1:122 1:354 2:012 1:114 1:37 1:491 1:112 1:353 1:481 1:133 2:05 2:303 :464 1:11 1:363 1:122 1:38 1:582 1:132 1:383 2:05 :464 1:112 1:424 :482 1:124 1:43 :462 1:114 1:363 1:173 1:163 :472 1:123 1:184 :463 1:121 :47 1:121 :47 1:13 :583 1:01
RACETYPE Classic 35k Dwyer 11k Brooklyn H 13k Belmont 43k Withers 12k Preakness 29k Ky Derby 49k Wood Memorial 14k Alw 1000 Jr Champion 5k Futurity 92k Champagne 4.4k Hopeful 29k Sanford 3.4k Sar Spl 6.7k U S Hotel 6.9k Alw 1200 Md Sp Wt
PP 7 2 3 3 2 6 10 2 2 3 13 12 9 3 1 2 3 13
FRACTIONS 7 88 2 11 11 2 22 2 2hd 11 4 411 38 35 312 5 34 43 2nk 11 7 52 4 32 21 6 69 45 16 16 12 96 12 11 11 11 916 711 54 32 4 31 2hd 2 12 4 46 44 21 2hd 13 53 54 45 10 22 21 2no 10 73 83 74 47 9 77 68 46 22 6 77 79 55 42 9 108 109 77 45 2 41 2hd 1hd 4 53 3nk 2no
JOCKEY Wright WD Wright WD Wright WD Saunders W Saunders W Saunders W Saunders W Saunders W Saunders W Kurtsinger C Kurtsinger C Humphries L Kurtsinger C Humphries L Malley T Malley T Stout J Stout J
ODDS *.40 *.70 *1.00 *.70e *.50 *.95 4.00 3.20 *.55 *1.00 5.00 *1.00e 5.00e 4.00 6.00 8.00 *.90 20.00
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Omaha1261 St. Bernard121hdBloodroot1133 10 1 6 5 Omaha126 Good Gamble114 Cheshire116 5 8 4 6 Discovery123 King Saxon127 Omaha114 6 1 8 1 Omaha126 Firethorn126 Rosemont126 5 Rosemont1181 Omaha118 Plat Eye1185 9 Omaha1266Firethorn1266Psychic Bid1262 8 Omaha1261 Roman Soldier1264Whiskolo1261 18 Today1122Plat Eye122noOmaha1123 12 Omaha1102Black Gift105hdThorson111.58 4 Sailor Beware116hdOmaha1118Abner1111 5 4 Chance Sun122 Balladier122 Plat Eye125 14 no 3 4 Balladier124 Omaha117 Plat Eye126 12 Psychic Bid1224Rosemont1173Esposa114hd 16 Psychic Bid1132Omaha1131 Boxthorn122nk 9 Boxthorn1221Plat Eye122hdToday1221 7 Balladier1172 Today117nkPolar Flight1153 10 Omaha110hdAllen Z.1171Moisson1177 5 no 2 Sir Lamorak115 Omaha115 Nubs115 14 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 25
1930 CHAMPION
GAllant Fox The second colt to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, Gallant Fox was a galvanizing factor in the three classics becoming a “Triple Crown.” Gallant Fox was dubbed “The Fox of Belair,” alluding to the Belair Stud inherited by his patrician owner/breeder, William Woodward. Sired by French classic winner *Sir Gallahad III, Gallant Fox was bred to excel as a 3-year-old. Thus his state of physical development, and his tendencies toward curiosity and laziness, explain his 2-for-7 juvenile campaign. Yet Gallant Fox ended 1929 on a high note in the Junior Champion, his first try at a mile for Hall of Fame trainer “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons. Hall of Fame jockey Earl Sande came out of retirement to ride Gallant Fox in 1930. Warming up with a decisive score in the Wood Memorial, The Fox headed to the Preakness, then contested before the Derby. Even a tough trip couldn’t derail him. Gallant Fox had an easier time rallying from off the pace in the Kentucky Derby and wiring the Belmont. After extending his streak in the Dwyer and Arlington Classic, he was floored by 100-1 longshot Jim Dandy in the Travers. An early pace war on Saratoga’s heavy track left him vulnerable to the rail-skimming mudlark.
KEY FACTS The Preakness came before the Derby in 1930, so the aristocratic Gallant Fox justified favoritism at Pimlico on the way to flaunting his class at Churchill Downs. His seven-race winning skein was snapped in a Travers that became part of Saratoga lore. Upset by the 100-1 shot Jim Dandy on a heavy track, Gallant Fox suffered the only loss of his 3-year-old campaign. Gallant Fox achieved a feat that no other Triple Crown champion has managed: he sired a Triple Crown winner, Omaha.
Rebounding to beat elders in the Saratoga Cup and edging Questionnaire in an epic Lawrence Realization, Gallant Fox crowned his career in the Jockey Club Gold Cup over just two rivals. The Fox’s unique legacy was also siring Triple Crown winner Omaha. – Kellie Reilly
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 26
=Ajax (FR)
*Teddy
=Rondeau (GB)
*Sir Gallahad II (FR) (1920) =Plucky Liege (GB)
=Spearmint (GB) =Concertina (GB)
Gallant Fox Bay Colt Foaled 1927
Commando Celt
Maid of Erin
Marguerite (1920)
=Radium (GB) *Fairy Ray
=Seraph (GB)
Pedigree Fun FACTS Gallant Fox descended from the sire line of *Ormonde, the unbeaten English Triple Crown winner of 1886, and his paternal grandson, Flying Fox, who achieved the same sweep in 1899. Flying Fox was the paternal ancestor of *Sir Gallahad III, an émigré French classic winner who made an immediate impact by siring Gallant Fox in his first U.S. crop. He would beget two more Kentucky Derby scorers in Gallahadion (1940) and Hoop, Jr. (1945). Gallant Fox’s dam, Marguerite, was herself from the maternal family of yet another English Triple Crown winner, *Rock Sand (1903). Sired by Celt, a stallion from the brilliant but star-crossed line of Domino, Marguerite produced three other high-profile winners. Petee-Wrack counted among his major wins the 1928 Travers, the very feature that famously eluded his half-brother two years later. Gallant Fox’s full brothers included Fighting Fox and Foxbrough, England’s champion 2-year-old when capturing the 1938 Middle Park and later successful stateside.
17
Own: Belair Stud Stable DATE TRK 17Sep30Bel4 6Sep30Bel3 30Aug30Sar5 16Aug30Sar5 12Jly30AP5 28Jun30Aqu4 7Jun30Bel5 17May30CD5 9May30Pim5 26Apr30Jam4 28Sep29Aqu3 14Sep29Bel4 10Sep29Bel3 3Aug29Sar3 29Jly29Sar3 29Jly29Aqu3 24Jly29Aqu5
DIST 2 ft 1 ft 1 ft 1 hy 1 ft 1 gd 1 gd 1 gd 1 ft 1 70 ft 1 ft 7f ft 6f gd 6f ft 5 f ft 6f gd 5f ft
11 - 3 - 2
Courtesy of the Keeneland Library Cook Collection
$328,165
Brdr: Belair Stud Stable (Ky) Trnr: J. Fitzsimmons TIMES 2:34 3:242 1:374 2:024 2:411 2:052 2:30 2:56 1:133 1:42 2:08 1:122 1:372 2:034 1:142 2:063 2:322 1:16 2:07 2:313 1:14 1:404 2:073 1:133 1:39 2:003 :48 1:142 1:433 :473 1:12 1:38 1:193 1:113 :47 1:12 :47 1:06 :472 1:144 1:004
RACETYPE J C Gold Cup 13k Lawrence Realizatn 33k Sar Cup 10k Travers 33k Classic 78k Dwyer 15k Belmont 77k Ky Derby 60k Preakness 61k Wood Memorial 13k Jr Champion 9.5k Futurity 119k Alw 1200 U S Hotel 16k Flash 6.8k Tremont 15k Alw 1000
PP 3 2 5 4 3 2 1 7 1 1 3 12 6 10 3 6 6
FRACTIONS 2 21 11 11 13 2 22 22 1nk 1hd 3 35 22 11 11 4 2 21 23 28 4 21 1hd 1 1nk 1 22 11 12 11 2 12 12 11 13 8 43 12 12 12 2 87 3nk 1hd 1 3 32 3 1nk 14 3 45 35 1 12 11 23 33 33 3 4nk 21 2nk 8 21 2hd 2hd 21 8 64 66 33 11 12 1212 1111 119 86 8 88 32 31
JOCKEY Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Sande E Maiben J McAuliffe D McAuliffe D Burke JH Burke JH McAuliffe D Burke JH
ODDS *.04e *.70 *.20e *.50 *.32 *.13e 1.60 *1.19 *1.00 *1.60 *.90 20.00 12.00 *2.00 10.00 3.50 *2.40e
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Gallant Fox118.53Yarn11412Frisius125 3 hd 5 0 Gallant Fox126 Questionnaire123 Yarn116 4 1 1 5 Gallant Fox117.5 Frisius126 Gone Away116 6 Jim Dandy1208Gallant Fox1266Whichone1263 4 GallntFox126nkGllntKnght1236NdO.12110 6 Gallant Fox1261 Xenofol1107Limbus110nk 5 GallantFox1263Whichon1263Qustonnr12620 4 GallantFox1262GallantKnght1262NdO.1261 15 Gallant Fox126 Crack Brigade1266Snowflake1211 11 GallantFox1204CrackBrigad1201 DsrtLght1205 5 2 8 1 GallantFox116 DesrtLght111 SrJohrn111 4 3 no no Whichone125 Hi-Jack122 Gallant Fox122 17 Polygamous117nkGallant Fox1201 Stanton115 12 Caruso1221 GallantFox1223Hi-Jck1146 10 GllntFox1121 Cruso1254H-Jck112hd 13 SarznII1251Moktm125hdPromthus1153 13 Desert Light113 Peto118 Gallant Fox1133 10 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 27
1919 CHAMPION
Sir Barton Courtesy of the Keeneland Library Cook Collection
Sir Barton was the first to compile a winning streak comprising the Kentucky Derby, Preakness, and Belmont, but at the time of his accomplishment in 1919, the “Triple Crown” was not yet a definitive series. Only later was Sir Barton retroactively recognized as American Thoroughbred racing’s first Triple Crown winner. Bred by the “Wizard of the Turf,” John Madden of Hamburg Place, who let his British trainer friend Vivian Gooch in as co-breeder, Sir Barton sported fine bloodlines as a son of leading sire *Star Shoot. Not so fine were his tender feet and notorious ill-temper. In the midst of a winless juvenile campaign, Sir Barton was sold privately for $10,000 to Canadian J.K.L. Ross and transferred to trainer H.G. Bedwell. The colt flashed promise when runner-up in the Futurity, but he was sidelined after a near-fatal bout of blood poisoning. Still a maiden when returning in the Kentucky Derby, Sir Barton was entered in the Churchill Downs classic primarily to serve as a pacesetter for his well-fancied stablemate Billy Kelly. Sir Barton proved too fast for Billy Kelly, however, and kept on motoring to a five-length upset. Next in rapid succession came daylight scores in the Preakness and Withers, and Sir Barton made it four straight in the Belmont.
KEY FACTS Winless going into the Kentucky Derby, Sir Barton led throughout in a five-length romp over highly regarded stablemate Billy Kelly. In between his Preakness and Belmont victories, the speedy colt added the Withers to make it a four-race winning streak in total. Sir Barton developed into a leading older horse of 1920, but was no match for 3-yearold phenom Man o’ War in their famous match race at Kenilworth Park.
Although Sir Barton’s 1920 season is remembered for his drubbing by Man o’ War in their match race, he was an outstanding 4-year-old who gave the great Exterminator weight, and a beating, in his track-record Saratoga H. victory. – Kellie Reilly
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 28
=Isinglass (GB) *Star Shoot (1898) =Astrology (GB)
=Isonomy (GB) =Deadlock (GB) =Hermit (GB) =Stella (GB)
Sir Barton
Chestnut Horse Foaled January 1, 1916
Hindoo Hanover
Bourbon Belle
Lady Sterling (1920)
=Sterling (GB) *Aquila
=Eagle (GB)
Pedigree Fun FACTS Sir Barton was by leading sire *Star Shoot, the asterisk denoting an imported horse. The British-bred stallion was himself a son of the great Isinglass, who swept the English Triple Crown – the 2000 Guineas, Epsom Derby, and St Leger – in 1893. Sir Barton’s half-brother Sir Martin was a top American juvenile who shipped to England and went off as the favorite in the 1909 Epsom Derby, only to fall during the race. None the worse for the tumble, he went on to win the next year’s Coronation Cup over the same course and distance. Their dam, Lady Sterling by Hanover (a charter member of the Hall of Fame), also factored as the granddam of Hall of Famer Princess Doreen, the world’s top money-winning distaffer by the end of her career in 1927. 31
13 - 6 - 5
FRACTIONS 2 1 12 13 13 1 1nk 2hd 1 1nk 4 43 31 36 312 4 51 31 2 12 1 13 1 2 3 2 2hd 24 23 25 1 11 13 11 11 5 12 11 2nk 21 1 11 11 1 23 2 23 21 13 15 1 21 22 11 12 1 11 12 16 14 1 1 12 1 15 6 47 31 21 22 13 15 17 17 16 7 711 710 710 719 13 1111 98 108 916 11 1019 1116 118 915 8 74 76 77 56
JOCKEY Kummer C Kummer C Loftus J Loftus J Metcalf J Sande E Nolan T Troxler R Loftus J 1 Loftus J Loftus J Loftus J Loftus J Sande E Sande E Collins A Collins A Collins A Collins A
$116,857
Brdr: Madden & Gooch (Ky) Trnr: H.G. Bedwell
Own: J.K.L. Ross DATE TRK 11Nov19Pim4 7Nov19Pim4 5Nov19Pim4 4Oct19Lrl4 27Sep19HdG5 24Sep19HdG4 13Sep19HdG5 11Sep19HdG3 10Jly19Aqu4 11Jun19Belfst4 24May19Bel4 14May19Pim4 10May19CD5 14Sep18Bel3 31Aug18Sar3 14Aug18Sar4 3Aug18Sar3 1Aug18Sar3 6Jly18Aqu3
Courtesy of the Keeneland Library Cook Collection
DIST 11/8 sy 1 ft 11/4 sy 11/4 ft 11/8 ft 1 hy 1 gd 6f md 11/8 sy 13/8 ft 1 gd 11/8 ft 11/4 hy 6f hy 6f hy 6f sy 6f ft 51/2f ft 6f ft
TIMES 1:143 1:42 1:563 :482 1:142 1:40 1:154 1:424 2:091 1:12 1:373 2:022 1:122 1:373 1:50 :49 1:151 1:422 :492 1:15 1:462 :482 1:14 1:132 1:39 1:523 2:172 :48 1:13 1:384 1:13 1:391 1:53 1:14 1:414 2:094 1:124 :481 1:133 :484 1:143 :471 1:122 :464 :583 1:053 :473 1:124
RACETYPE Fall Serial #3 4k Fall Serial #2 3.1k Autumn H 5.4k Maryland H 11k Havre de Grace H 10k Alw 2708 Potomac H 10k Alw 1115 Dwyer 5.8k Belmont 14k Withers 9k Preakness 30k Ky Derby 24k Futurity 29k Hopeful 35k Sanford Mem 4.9k U S Hotel 11k Flash 5.1k Tremont 6.8k
PP 3 2 5 6 8 3 5 1 3 1 2 8 1 13 6 7 11 9 7
ODDS *.30e 2.60e *.45e *1.25 *.75e *.60 *.15e *.10e *.80 *.35 *.35 *1.40e 2.60e 15.00 12.00 25.00 25.00 8.00 8.00
TOP FINISHERS # OF RUNNERS Sir Barton1203Billy Kelly1204Lucullite126 3 SirBarton1202ThePorter1265BillyKelly120nk 4 Mad Hatter1114Bridesman1078Sir Barton13212 5 SrBrtn1332MdHttr1061 Audcous118 6 Cudgel129 Exterminator126noSirBrton1242 8 5 3 8 ThePorter114 SirBarton110 WarMask100 5 1 hd nk SirBarton132 BillyKelly125 Mlkmd117 5 1 hd 2 Billy Kelly120 Sir Barton120 Midnight Sun105 7 Purchase1183Sir Barton12715Crystal Ford109 3 Sir Barton1265Sweep On1268Natural Bridge126 3 SirBrton1182 Etrnl1188PstorlSwn118 6 Sir Barton1264Eternal1263Sweep On1262 12 SirBarton112.55BillyKelly1191UnderFire1221 12 2 2 Dunboyne127 Sir Barton117 Purchase119 15 Eternal1153Daydue1158War Marvel115hd 20 BillyKelly1308Liond'Or1155ColonelLvngston1222 8 Billy Kelly1271 Dunboyne1301 Terentia1241 14 BillyKelly1195LadyRosebud113 StarRealm1101 15 Lord Brighton1251Sweep On1153War Pennant1121 9 Past Performances are through the end of the 3-year-old season.
MEET THE TRIPLE CROWN WINNERS 29