Exceller, Seattle Slew Gold Cup Battle Among the Greatest Ever
I recently wrote about my favorite jaw-dropping performances, confining it to Eastern tracks. Now it’s time to start thinking about my most memorable stretch runs. This will be presented in three parts over the next couple of months. In this first column I have chosen one race to highlight, based on its dramatic content, quality of competition, and its historic impact on the sport. That race is the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup. In the second column I will rank my top 12 favorite races with comments about each race. Finally, I will have a column listing the balance of my top 25 stretch runs, all the while enjoying the picks of any additional favorite races submitted by the readers. ~ Steve Haskin
Exceller, Seattle Slew Gold Cup Battle Among the Greatest Ever
By Steve Haskin
I have chosen to begin with the epic stretch duel between Seattle Slew and Exceller in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup that included Affirmed. This race, which pitted the 1977 and ’78 Triple Crown winners against each other had more drama and was more eventful than any race I can remember. And it was the first time in memory a horse the caliber of Seattle Slew, with all his victories, gained more accolades and respect in defeat. Many still regard it as the greatest losing effort ever.
October, 14, 1978 was a great time to be in New York if you were a sports fan. At Yankee Stadium the Yanks were defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3 in the fourth game of the World Series to tie the Series up at two games apiece. At Belmont Park that afternoon racing fans got to witness the rematch between Triple Crown winners Seattle Slew and Affirmed in The Jockey Club Gold Cup.
For most of the year everyone was looking forward to Affirmed and Alydar continuing their epic rivalry through the fall, but when Alydar beat Affirmed by disqualification in a controversial Travers Stakes before sustaining an injury that sidelined him for the year all thoughts turned to Affirmed facing the previous year’s Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew, who was still on the comeback trail after suffering a life-threatening illness at Hialeah that January.
Backing up a bit, following the 1977 Triple Crown Slew had suffered a bad defeat in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park only three weeks after the Belmont Stakes despite trainer Billy Turner vehemently protesting his running back that soon and traveling cross country. He had already removed Slew’s shoes and planned on giving him some time off.
Slew did not run again that year after the Swaps debacle. The Slew team of Karen and Mickey Taylor and Jim and Sally Hill started to come apart at the seams, following a lawsuit and the dissolving of the partnership, and the subsequent firing of Billy Turner. The Hills and Taylors considered retiring Slew after his illness, especially having syndicated him for $12 million, double the then record syndication price of Secretariat. But they decided to give him another year of racing to confirm the greatness he showed at 2 and through the Triple Crown.
Seattle Slew finally returned to the races in ’78 and following two easy allowance sprint victories for new trainer Doug Peterson Slew was entered in the 1 1/8-mile Paterson Handicap at the Meadowlands and was beaten a neck by Dr. Patches, the eventual Vosburgh and Meadowlands Cup winner who would be named 1978 Sprint champion. When jockey Jean Cruguet criticized his owners and trainer for running Slew in that spot, carrying 128 pounds, giving 14 pounds to Dr. Patches, and having to break from the far outside 10 post, he like Turner was fired by the Taylors and Hills. It was three years earlier that the “Slew Crew” pulled off the steal of the century when they bought Seattle Slew as a yearling for a mere $17,500 and became the darlings of the sport during the colt’s historic Triple Crown run. But now their feel-good story was starting to unravel.
With Angel Cordero named to replace Cruguet it was time for the Marlboro Cup and the first ever meeting between Triple Crown winners. No one was quite sure what to expect from Slew against Affirmed and the always tough 3-year-old Nasty and Bold. Was this the same brilliant horse who had become the first undefeated Triple Crown winner in history?
Here was Seattle Slew, eight months after almost dying, going into his historic meeting with Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, which was run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn back then. Affirmed, despite a narrow score and desperate finish in the Jim Dandy and being disqualified in the Travers, was made the 1-2 favorite with Seattle Slew at 2-1. It was the only time Slew was not the favorite and the first time in 10 starts he was not odds-on. Steve Cauthen, who nearly got Affirmed beat in the Jim Dandy Stakes and then had to miss the Travers with a leg injury, allowed Seattle Slew to open a three-length lead early through a leisurely :47 half. In all essence the race was over at that point if Seattle Slew was even close to the same horse he was the previous year when was running :44 and :45 and change half-miles. Slew just kept going, coming home his final five-eighths in a torrid 58 4/5, and although Affirmed closed just as fast he was unable to overcome that three-length advantage. Seattle Slew stopped the teletimer in 1:45 4/5, which equaled the second fastest nine furlongs ever run at Belmont. Only Secretariat ran faster and only Forego ran as fast. It looked like Slew was not only back but better than ever.
Unlike Affirmed, who waited for the mile and a half Jockey Club Gold Cup, Seattle Slew came right back two weeks later (bounce you say?) in the mile and a quarter Woodward Stakes. Here he had to face the international sensation Exceller, winner of Grade/Group I races in France, England, Canada, and the United States. In the U.S. Exceller showed his versatility that year by winning three consecutive Grade 1 stakes, two on the grass and the Hollywood Gold Cup on dirt, in which he rallied from 16 lengths back to win in a sprightly 1:59 1/5 for the mile and a quarter, defeating the top-class multiple stakes winner Text and Vigors, winner of that year’s Santa Anita and San Antonio Handicaps.
In the Woodward, once again, Seattle Slew controlled the pace right from the start and kept pouring it on, defeating Exceller by four lengths in 2:00 flat, one-fifth off Forego’s track record.
That set the stage for the big rematch between Slew and Affirmed, with Exceller back for another try, as his trainer Charlie Whittingham realized circumstances would be much more in his favor this time than in the Woodward.
There was no way trainer Laz Barrera was going to let a repeat of the Marlboro Cup happen again. As fast as Affirmed was out of the gate he did not have Seattle Slew’s speed. On his own his only chance of beating Slew was to look him in the eye early and try to outgame him as he had done so many times against Alydar. But a battle of that magnitude could set it up for the late-running Exceller or even the distance-loving Great Contractor, an inconsistent horse who on his two best days was able to defeat Forego by 11 lengths while getting 25 pounds in the mile and a half Brooklyn Handicap and was beaten two necks in the Belmont Stakes behind Bold Forbes.
So the cagey Barrera summoned help from his barn, entering a speedball sprinter named Americanized, who had never been farther than six furlongs, wanted to be on or just off the lead, and could rattle off opening half-miles in :45 and change consistently. He seemed like the perfect “rabbit” who could possibly soften Slew up before making his retreat. A week before the race, Barrera worked him a half in :45 4/5 over the deeper Belmont training track and with the dogs up.
As a security blanket, Barrera also entered Life’s Hope, who had shown some early lick on occasion, but was mostly a horse who wanted to come from off the pace. He did, however, win the mile and a quarter Amory Haskell Handicap three races back coming from just a length off the lead and earlier had won an overnight handicap going head and head the entire race. Barrera had put a lot of speed into the 5-year-old gelding, breezing him a half in :47 1/5 and then giving him a bullet five-furlong work in :58 4/5 four days before the race.
Affirmed hadn’t run in a month, so Barrera worked him a bullet five furlongs over the training track in :59 2/5 and followed that up with two strong mile works, the last one a week out in 1:39 3/5 over the training track.
Seattle Slew, meanwhile, was coming back once again in only two weeks, which actually was fairly normal back then, so Peterson only gave him one half-mile blowout two days before the race and Slew showed he was as sharp as ever working in a bullet :46 3/5. Exceller worked his half that same morning in :47 flat, which followed a mile work over the training track in 1:43 2/5 five days earlier and only a week after his second to Slew in the Woodward.
So everyone was razor sharp going into the Gold Cup. Seven were entered, but Barrera wound up scratching Americanized, leaving a lot of the dirty work to Life’s Hope. The strategy was that Affirmed, breaking from post 2 just outside Seattle Slew, would come out running as usual, putting enough pressure on Slew. Affirmed was the kind of push-button horse who was fast out of the gate, but would allow the jockey to take a hold of him and ease him back. Once Affirmed put enough early pressure on Slew, he would back off and let Life’s Hope take over.
Sounds simple enough, but that’s where the drama began. With the track coming up sloppy, Seattle Slew broke through the gate and fortunately was grabbed right away by the assistant starter. But breaking through the gate is never a good thing and not a lot of horses win after doing so.
When the gates opened, Slew broke sharply, as did Affirmed, who went right with him eyeball to eyeball. But Barrera’s plans went awry immediately after. When Life’s Hope came charging out of post 4 and joined in the fray from the outside, Affirmed found himself the proverbial meat in the sandwich. We all knew how competitive Affirmed was from his battles with Alydar. Cauthen tried to grab hold of Affirmed, but with little success. With the three horses locked together going into the first turn, Affirmed found himself battling not only Slew on his inside, but his own stablemate just outside him, which got his competitive juices flowing. He was in the battle to stay, which obviously was not what Barrera wanted.
As they went into the first turn, they were so close together, Affirmed and Slew bumped each other, which knocked Cordero’s left foot out of the stirrups. Slew was now basically running on his own as Cordero tried to get his foot back in the irons. There was no stopping him now. So hot was the early pace they went the opening quarter in :22 3/5. Cauthen, meanwhile, was pulling back so hard on Affirmed trying to get him away from Slew and his own stablemate his saddle slipped and he found himself bouncing up and down. The saddle had slipped so far forward he was now way up on the colt’s withers at the base of his neck and had lost all control of the horse.
By now the three had opened some 25 lengths on Exceller and had scorched a half-mile in an excruciating :45 1/5, which was insane for a mile and a half race. Life’s Hope was done soon after they hit the backstretch, his mission a complete failure. Soon after, it was obvious that Affirmed was a rudderless ship going nowhere but backwards. It was all Seattle Slew, who began to draw away. His only threat, Exceller was still in another zip code. But Slew had run his six furlongs in a suicidal 1:09 2/5. Cordero finally was able to give him a breather and slow down the pace heading into the far turn. But everyone at once saw the green silks of Exceller getting closer and closer and it looked as if the damage had been done. Slew’s gas tank had to be close to empty after those mind-boggling fractions and Exceller was cutting into his lead with every stride.
1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup official finish photo – Purchase photo to benefit the Exceller Fund, the non-profit equine organization assisting in Thoroughbred horse rescue and re-training.
Cordero had given Slew enough of a breather to at least have a little something left for the onslaught that was to come. As they neared the head of the stretch with Slew racing several paths out, Exceller came flying through the vacated rail and in a flash was alongside Slew, having all the momentum. It was only a question now of how many lengths he would win by. Bill Shoemaker, riding Exceller, said “I thought we’d win it easily.”
Cordero knew Exceller was coming fast and when he saw him on his inside he immediately starting pushing on Slew, trying to keep Exceller pinned down close to the rail. Slew, despite the unheard of early fractions, fought back and wouldn’t let Exceller get away. They battled eyeball to eyeball for an eighth of a mile, but leaving the eighth pole Exceller finally began to assert himself, getting a good half-length advantage. It looked over. Slew had given it all he had. But unbelievably, he wasn’t finished. He dug in again and started coming back at Exceller. With every stride. a relentless Slew was inching closer to Exceller, but his gallant effort fell a nose short. Andrew Beyer, reporting in the Washington Post, bluntly described this amazing performance in his opening line: “Exceller was the winner of yesterday’s Jockey Club Gold Cup, Seattle Slew was its hero.”
It was 14 lengths back to Great Contractor, who was pretty much handed the show spot with Cauthen being unable to ride Affirmed and Life’s Hope backing out of it early in the race. The only other starter, former claimer One Cut Above, was totally overmatched and was never in the race.
The brief Seattle Slew – Affirmed rivalry ended as disappointingly as the Affirmed – Alydar rivalry. But after the 1978 Gold Cup Seattle Slew in defeat became recognized as one of the all-time greats. He ended the year with a 3 ¼-length victory in the Stuyvesant Handicap at Aqueduct carrying 134 pounds, putting the finishing touches on a turbulent, but sensational career. But that was just the beginning, as he went on to create a dynasty at stud.
Affirmed would return the following year, and after Laffit Pincay took over from a badly slumping Steve Cauthen he closed out his career with seven straight victories, six of them in Grade 1 stakes, earning his second straight Horse of the Year title by defeating Spectacular Bid in The Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Exceller followed up his Gold Cup victory by winning the Oak Tree Invitational on grass, but went winless in four starts the following year. In 1991, his syndicate was bought out by a Swedish breeder who brought him to stand in Sweden. After being diagnosed with a mysterious infection he was removed from stud service for several years. When Exceller’s owner went bankrupt, the horse was moved to a small farm where he remained for a year before he was sent to a slaughterhouse and killed for meat. That created an outrage across the world, especially in the United States, where the Exceller Fund was started, which, along with other organizations, campaigned for the protection of horses following their racing career.
All three horses now reside in the Hall of Fame, but they will also be remembered for the drama they created in one of the greatest races of all time and arguably the greatest losing effort of all time.
Please note the Askin Haskin blog will post next on November 3 with Steve’s 2022 Breeders’ Cup Analysis.
Racing historian, author, and award-winning retired journalist for the Daily Racing Form and The Blood-Horse, Steve Haskin was inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame’s Media Roll of Honor in 2016. Known for his racing knowledge and insightful prose, he has been an exclusive contributor to Secretariat.com since 2020.
Thanks for this very well-written article! I got here in a roundabout way after discussing the horse who beat both Slew and Affirmed. Your writing puts one right there, as if on a horse running with the field. Disgusting what happened to Exceller, I hadn’t heard the story, but my sister knew it. Strange coincidence that Shoemaker rode both Exceller and Ferdinand, who suffered a similar fate in Japan.
This is exactly what I have been talking about regarding Flightline.
Flightline’s connections were cowardly with his campaign. They could have ventured to Saratoga, the Graveyard of Champions, and taken on a stronger field than was in the Pacific Classic. He could have faced Life is Good at a distance he excelled at rather than one which compromised his abilities, but Flightline’s connections chickened out.
Seattle Slew took on Affirmed and Exceller in one of the most incredible races ever. In losing, but showing his heart, Seattle Slew demonstrated his greatness. In ducking competition, Flightline retires undefeated, but untested.
Many horses lose races, but that is where their true character is shown. Zenyatta was greater in defeat than had she won the 2010 Breeders Cup Classic like Seattle Slew losing the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Thank you! Never knew the full story of that iconic race. Always feel love in my heart for Slew & Exceller~beautiful portraits! First learned of Exceller years ago through a Fred Stone painting (in one of his calendars) ~ thanks too for noting The Exceller Fund, one of TB rescues/sanctuaries that testify to his enduring legacy.
I saw a cordero interview. He said he got slew beat by trying to take him closer to exceller in the stretch. Once he moved away from exceller slew came on again.
FL wins…..period!
Flightline finishes 4th behind three real champions.
How you can suggest otherwise shows a total lack of understanding of the challenges faced and overcome by actual all-time greats.
5 of them from the 1970s, all superior to Flightline
Affirmed
Forego
Seattle Slew
Secretariat
Spectacular Bid
Flightline at 4 never came close to doing what any of these horses did at their best. Read about it and learn.
BTW, RE:the Kentucky Derby Future Wager Pool#1. It supposedly ends today and TVG is not offering the bet. When I contacted their Support Center, they told me that it would be later in the week. I contacted them again last night and they said that it’s only in New Jersey. I don’t know what the truth is. No big deal. I was only going to put in a few exactas anyway. I really don’t like the timing of this pool. But, I have to say that I’m very unimpressed with the TVG “Support Center” now that FanDuel has taken over. I’ll be looking for a new ADW company after the Breeders Cup or after the first of the year. I’ll wait until one of them offers a great sign-up bonus.
Just took a peek at twin spires ADW site and there’s 40 entries in pool 1. Win pool sits at about 60k with exacta pool around 13k. All other 3yo’s is the chalk at 1-1.
Thanks. I’ll give that ADW a look when I change.
Great writing as usual. It’s sad to think that those days of racing seemed to have passed away. Today we have horses promptly retired at 3 champions, TC winners as it’s unheard of to race them another year today. I am looking forward to the BC races to see some of the best leave it out there on the track. Older horses and some young ones just getting going. What I don’t like is Flightline. Not knocking the horse at all as he is brilliant. Treating him like a rare baseball card wrapped up to sit on a collector’s shelf is what I don’t like. Not doing the sport or the horse any favors in my opinion.
Rain has entered the forecast for Breeders Cup Saturday. Friday looks great.
Cody’s Wish and Tyler’s Tribe.
If you can read the back stories on these two horses and how they got their names and not get tears in you eyes…
Wishing the very best of luck to both to win!
As long as FL shows up…….he prevails!
I am in love again.
Hurricane J, running in Juvenile
Gorgeous, gorgeous!
Juvenile Turf Sprint –
No Never Hudson
Sharp Aza Tac
The Platinum Queen – jockey is Hollie Doyle, we girls have to stick together.
Mischief Magic
Going by pedigree, trainer, jockey
Feel winner will be one of these 4 and a couple will being the money
Lynda, your first three selections have very difficult posts and may end up with wide trips throughout. I was hoping for a The Platinum Queen win but my enthusism has been somewhat diminished by her drawing Post 12.
Nonetheless, we will hope that Hollie can ‘do the business’ for us. Allez, ‘Platinum Queen’!!
Watching Breakfast at the Breeders’ Cup an interview with Roger Attfield was fascinating hearing how he uses large soft toys to help relax, kill boredom of his runners while they’re stuck in stalls. Lateral thinking.
Steve, really looking forward to your picks and analysis of the Breeders’ Cup races. Hope there’s some outside bombs as well.
Dam sire Indian Charlue represented by Flightline and Hot Rod Charlie….I saw Indian Charlie run his last race, he only ran five times, but what a big and fast horse! 1:47 flat in SA Derby, Flightline’s special speed…comes from Indian Charlie…
Matthew, In Excess, Indian Charlie’s sire, had brilliant speed that he could carry. In Excess won the Metropolitan Handicap, the Suburban Handicap in track-record time, the Whitney Handicap, and the Woodward Stakes all in 1991 and all were in very fast time. Very underrated horse then and somewhat forgotten now.
In Excess was campaigned by former Quarter Horse connections of trainer, Bruce Jackson and owner Jack Munari.
Liam, I actually watched In Excess win at Lingfield Park in England in 1989.
…and stood at yhe late Scoop Vessels ranch, another Quarter Horse connection….that 4-gr1 streak was one terrific stretch, by In Excess….
Indian Charlie was another sire that was lost way too early. I always pay attention to horses that have him as their dam sire. A lot of stamina in those lines.
Happy Saver has been plagued by hoof problems throughout his career and another problem has surfaced putting his start in Saturday’s Breeders Cup Classic in doubt. Todd Pletcher says that he is still trying to make the race. I doubt that he can win, but I think he had a great chance to hit the board.
Say what you will about BB. Love him or hate him. But he really supports these cards on the big days. He has a few interesting horses entered in undercard races on Friday and Saturday. Messier returns in Saturday’s 2nd race with a strong workout pattern. In Saturday’s 1st race, BB debuts a $2.3million Colt for Zedan Racing Stables. Mr. Zedan was another guy that stayed loyal to Mr. B during his “troubles”. In Friday’s 4th race, BB has entered a $600,000 Justify Colt for Zedan that will be looking to go 2 for 2. I doubt that Bob would ship these horses half way across the country if they weren’t well meant. We’ll see.
Correct. The million dollar plus baby (Arabian Knight) has been called a freak by some and has been installed as the morning line favorite and the other Zedan horse (Arabian Lion) received a 92 Beyer winning first time out in 1:09.3 and simply amazed people with his race.
The two Uncle Mo and Justify colts could be ‘stars’ of the future.
Bob brings some good horses, in Breeders Cup races as well as undercarriage races, I think it’s his first Kentucky racetrack appearance in quite some time..
Under card…..my phone spell check has a mind of its own!..
Love Reigns appears to be a standout going against the boys in the BC Juvenile Turf Sprint. Speed Boat Beach didn’t draw well, but with his speed, could give Love Reigns all she can handle.
With no turf starts, and stepping up in class, Tyler’s Tribe is the mystery horse here.
The BC Juvenile Turf Sprint is one of the most competitive fields on Friday’s card, IMO.
I liked The Platinum Queen until I saw that she is the morning line favorite at 7-2 and that she is marooned way out in the 12-post. She is fast, but there are plenty of fast horses in the race. I will now go shopping for a price.
It’s always frustrating that US turf races are compromised by wide posts because the inside turf tracks are ‘self-defeating’ because they’re too small. I was hoping for a The Platinum Queen blitz.
That’s one thing that I love about watching European sprint races. All the runners have a fair chance.
I was very surprised to see that BB replaced Juan Hernandez on Laurel River with Irad Ortiz. I thought that Hernandez gave Laurel River the perfect ride in his last race, the Pat O’Brien at Del Mar. Hernandez is 2 for 2 on the horse and Ortiz has never been on him. I would think that experience, and especially positive experience on the horse, would negate any perceived talent advantage that they are getting.
Bob is using Irad on other horses…when Laurel River made his (winning ) comeback, he sat chilly inside early….almost got caught in a pocket and when they came back I noticed Bob jawing at JJ…and JJ jawing back, looking unhappy…..then like you said he put up a nice ride, in the Pat O’Brien….JJ is a top rider but face it, Irad is #1….
I just glanced at the 8 undercard races on Friday and Saturday at Keenland. I was pretty surprised to see that only 2 of them are Stakes races. No big deal. I think all but one were big fields.
$175,000 AOC…$150,000 maiden..
Yes, nice purses. Stakes race type purses in some places.
Gold Trip wins ‘the Cup’!! Yes!!
Realm of Flowers 5th.
Read her backstory. She had a serious knee infection. They were not sure she would survive, much less race again.
Looked up Gold Trip’s pedigree. Impressive list of American horses in his pedigree.
Congratulations.
Lynda, the rain came so Gold Trip would have benefited, Emissary ran second which was pleasing as well.
And in an o ring snaffle. Imagine that!
Good looking horse!
Really like Major Dude in the Juvenile Turf and his pedigree is a study in cross breeding. And here is the tie-in, he’s got Seattle Slew on both sides (via API). His grand dame is Personal Ensign, maybe the best feature. What sold me was the enthusiastic workout followed by the slow finish the little guy had outside of Annapolis, whom I also favor in the Mile, as seen on the BC website. And, No. 13 assigned on Hallowe’en, is good luck. 10/1, higher odds than two he beat in the Pilgrim, which is one of the strongest preps for this race.
It’s a little eerie this Halloween that Jack Christopher can’t seem to make it into his Breeders Cup races and Jackie’s Warrior can’t seem to win his Breeders Cup races. For the second straight year, Jack Christopher misses the BC with some sort of poorly explained problem. Maybe I’m being too hard on him. After all, didn’t he have to get screws put into his shin last year? Jackie’s Warrior is likely to start at odds-on for the 3rd straight year in the Breeders Cup. He’s 4-5 on the Morning Line and that number could go South. JW was off at 4-5 in 2020 at Keenland and 1-2 last year at Del Mar. He looks like lone speed on paper this year. He has yet to finish in the top-3 at any of his Breeders Cup appearances. Maybe the third time will be the charm. Maybe, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Nashwa, Jackie’s Warrior, Modern Games, Nest, and Flightline are all likely favorites at low odds in Saturday’s pick-6.
I think Malathaat will go off at least the same price as Nest….
Losing Jack Christopher took a lot of early juice out of the race, I still like the big gray American Theorem, thought his recent works were noticeably good!
I was thinking that Domestic Spending’s #14 draw in the Breeders Cup Mile was an omen of doom, but then I remembered that Oder of Australia won from the #14 post just 2 years ago at Keenland in his $148 shocker.
Interesting jockey changes: Luis Saez gets the ride on Simplification at 15-1 in the Dirt Mile and lands in one of the coveted inside post positions; Javier Castellano takes over on Ivar at 15-1 in the BC Mile. Ivar’s numbers are a little bit light, but I want to try to beat Modern Games which could be an exercise in futility. But, Castellano has been having a bit of a resurgence in New York and he’s still a wizard on the turf. I liked Ivar’s prep race. My alternative there could be Dreamloper.
I thought that I had uncovered a longshot in the BC Dirt Mile with Gunite, but now I notice that he is the 7-2 second choice. This could land me on Simplification(15-1). I’m not a fan of Gulfstream horses as a rule and Simplification has never won anywhere else. But, he picks up Luis Saez, the leading rider at the just concluded Keenland meet, and I think the BC Dirt Mile will be perfect for him. He might be rounding back into form again and I like the way that he has been working. Pipeline could be my alternative. He drew well.
Pipeline is 8-1 on the ML and picks up Flavien Prat. He’s inside speed at a distance that favors post positions 1-5 at Keenland.
Life Is Good will go to the front from the convenient 2 hole, while a speed duel develops behind him, amongst Taiba, Flightline, Epicenter and Olympiad. The dueling lasts in some semblance the whole way and Life Is Good makes it to the finish line in front. Happy Saver passes the tiring duelers and makes second.
Not ready to list my favorites in each race yet. Need to ponder post positions and dynamics as the result of the withdrawals.
Will say this much, good draw for Flightline and Hot Rod Charlie.
I think Flightline will win and HRC will continue to be my heart horse snd that he will finish in top 4.
And please, no one try to talk me out of Charlie! (LOL).
Lynda, it’ll be interesting to see how Flightline is ridden in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. If Flightline is held to say a half dozen length win by Flavien Prat then perhaps the Pegasus World Cup might be on the table. On the other hand, if Prat goes for it in the straight then retirement is probably imminent.
The battle for the placings should be fascinating, good luck with Hot Rod Charlie he never gives up.
Davids, my opinion is that Flightline HAS to break good. LIG shoots like a cannon ball out of the gate. Flavien just needs to stay cool and get Flightline in a good position and keep an eye on Ortiz and Leon as does Tyler as well. Sorry, not sorry but I would not trust Ortiz or Leon to walk my dog(s).
Been reading some comments that have been posted in FB group I belong to. This group has somecreal hard core handicappers as and say exactly what they think…they can be brutal. Surprisingly many are betting Charlie finishes 3rd behind Flightline and either LIG or Epicenter. Supposedly Tiaba hates the rail.
Flavien just simply cannot take his eyes off what is behind him. If he gets a really comfortable lead, somebody could sneak up behind him like what happened in Chrome ‘s second Classic.
As to his retirement, according to an expert in these matters, if he loses it is not going to hurt is stallion career.
The 2.5% that is being auctioned off belongs West Point Thoroughbreds. That 2.5% will be breeding rights and racing rights.
Just do not think WPT would be selling if there was a chance FL will run in the Pegasus. Will be very curious to see who buys in. Supposedly this has never been done before and might end up in a bidding war like Coolmore is famous for.
Flightline has never broke good….but if he’s in the clear down the backstretch there will be a looking in the eye meeting, at the far turn….
Tiaba on the rail is the wild card. We all know Baffert horses like to go straight to the lead, and with Tiaba, who has the speed and doesn’t like the rail, will surprise some by being on the lead initially. LIG will take over the lead around the first turn, Flighline stalking, and Tiaba easing back to third.
Flightline in post 4, Life is Good in post 2. Flightline has his pacemaker in perfect position. Ha ha
With Jack Christopher offically out of the BC Sprint, Cody’s Wish could give Jackie’s Warrior all he can handle.
He (CW) ran down Jackie’s Warrior in the 7 furlong G1 Forego Stakes, in a good time of 1:20.95 last out.
I’ll key Jackie’s Warrior and Cody’s Wish on top in the first two slots, with Gunite, Laurel River, Aloha West and American Theorm in the 3rd and 4th slots, in my superfecta p/w wager.
Cody’s Wish was pre-entered in BC Sprint and the BC Dirt Mile, evidently the connections have opted for the Dirt Mile.
Bottom line, without question, Jackie’s Warrior is the horse to beat in the BC Sprint.
With Jack Christopher out, Matthew may have talked me into American Theorem. Jackie’s Warrior just clicked down to Odds-on.
The scratch of Jack Christopher just totally bums me out as I think he was coming into the sprint just perfect. His last work was very good. Better safe than sorry in this case though !!! I hope he comes back next year as I think he could be one of best miler / sprinter next year. He has so much to give and prove.
Couldn’t agree more, Jack Christopher’s scratch ruined, arguably, the most interesting race.
Well…American Theorem wanted Jack in there, needs pace up front!
Jack Christopher out of the Breeders Cup.
It looks like Letruska will not be running in the Breeders Cup F & M Sprint which is not surprising since she hadn’t been working out. I WAS surprised to see her in the pre-entries.
Glad she is out as she just has not looked good in her last few races. She was just going thru the motions
I agree.
Only one Breeders Cup Juvenile winner has ever won at less than even-money. That was Chief’s Crown way back in the first Breeders Cup race ever run. He was 3-5 that day at Hollywood Park. Cave Rock has won each of his last 2 races at 2-5 odds. I think he goes off at less than even-money on Friday. Does he win? Of all the races that I’ve watched of the Juveniles, his have been the most impressive IMO. All he needs is a decent post-position when they hold the draw tomorrow afternoon at the
Rupp Arena of all places.
Like Flightline in Saturday’s Classic, the challenge would be trying to find a way to make money on Cave Rock if you want to bet on him.
Tyler Gaffalione is riding Charlie in the Classic.
Gaffalione is riding a purple patch at present, it’s been fun watching him progress over the years.
Tyler is so genuine and his smile is infectious and he so nice.
Watched a recent interview snd he was answering questions, “yes ma’am, no ma’am”. He certainly has good manners!
I remember when he won his Eclipse.
He seems to be very happy to be on Charlie in the Classic. Says he is so strong and training very well.
Referred to Charlie as a “fan horse”, which he is of course. And we fans love Charlie to the moon and back. We realize that for Charlieto win the Classic will take a miracle but he will throw it down, giving his all. Going to be tears watching Lava Man pony him for the last time.
Flower Bowl is my selection for the Cup.
Lynda, do you mean Realm of Flowers? It’s going to be 57 F with certain rain for ‘the Cup’ with an expected crowd of between 80,000 to 90,000. There is a special feeling around Melbourne during this week. Love is in the air.
Yes, Realm of Flowers. No idea where Basket of Flowers came from, LOL
Lynda, all the money is going for Realm Of Flowers, late. Seconds to go…
Just learned that four days before she passed, Queen Elizabeth spoke with Will Farish about Flightline. She eas so impressed by his PC win that she wanted to know everything about him.
Her Majesty was not only passionate about racing, she was also very knowledgeable.
No doubt she will be watching Flightline from Heaven.
Here are my thoughts on the works for the horses I have seen for next week’s BC races
Rich Strike. nice finish on the last quarter of his work but Reed needs to get one more work (heard he is thinking about it) into him before the BCC. Would like to see 4 furlongs blowout in about 47 on Tuesday. If he doesn’t work him this coming week I feel everything he gained in his last work will be diminshed. Would be looking for a flat BCC race from him.
Cyberknife… think he is sitting on a big one… nice last work in 5 fulongs in 59. Worry is jockey F Geroux. At times he has ridden this horse brilliantly and at times looks like he couldn’t ride a carousel horse. i’m expecting a big race from him )yberknife in the mile
Taiba… Nothing special…Baffert said he can be lazy in the morning…. Maybe he should be working him in the afternoon between races?! Baffert says he shows up for the race though… Will see.. Hope Mike Smith doesn’t do anything stupid and doesn’t get him into trouble.
Cave Rock …. WOW this horse is just a 2 year old !!!… Baffert has a potential monster here !!! His work looked effortlessly and did it impressively !!!
Epicenter .. Are you kidding me ?!!? Horse is getting prepared to be run the biggest race of his life and given a mediocre 4 furlongs in 50 4/5’s. Not impressed.
Flightline … just an OK work.. Some people were going gaga about it… but I saw nothing special about it. I wonder if he likes this track? JMO. We will know next week !!!
Life is Good… His work this past weekend was by far to me the most impressive !!! He looks AWESOME !!! Though not very fast 5 furlongs 1:00+ it is just the way he looked … just gliding over the track (Was he actually touching the dirt?). I would say he liked it. Still don’t think he can win on the front end going 1 1/4 mile unless he can totally control the front end but I don’t think that can happen. Still think he will be coming off the pace. If anybody can beat Flightline it could be him.
Hot Rod Charlie…. Good strong work … should be contending at the end of BCC. Just not sure where he will be in the race but he looks ready !!! Expecting a big race from him !!!
Have to disagree about Flightline, thought his last work was great and he seems to relish Keeneland.
His lead changes were flawless and barely visible.
Ears up, something else I like to see.
LIG seemed a little choppy to me and was giving his rider a bit of a hard time.
Thought Epicenter looked good, but not as good as Flightline but then Epi is still growing, still learning. If he comes back next year he will be one to watch.
Do not think I have seen Charlie look as he good as he does now. Doug has him in tip top shape.
Did not see the rest on your list.
I have heard Taiba is lack luster in the morning.
Would love to see Cave Rock win. Lost Arrogate way too young, think he was an up and coming sire.
Excitement for the race Breeders Cup is building for sure.
Think people are really excited for this year’s renewal.
Lynda, DRF’s Mike Welsch’s Clocker Reports are always worth listening (reading) too.
I’m from the ‘Gaga Group.’ Lol!! Flightline’s work looked perfect to me. Guess it depends on what you’re looking for in a work. I like seeing the horse doing everything within himself.
David’s, true enough, people do look for different things when the horses work.
I have my little checklist of things I look for and Flightline’s latest checks off all the boxes.
Thanks Lynda and Davids for your comments here and so I went back and again looked at the works of both Flightline and Life is Good and still stay with what I said but with one little change. Flightline gallop out looked really good. Were I think he looked like he was grinding was when he was coming around the turn coming into the stretch (and about half way thru the stretch ) it was not as smooth as LIG and Jack Christoper ( I am super bummed JC he was just scratched from the BC ) but his gallop out was impressive, it could have been it was new surrounding it was dark his ears going in different directions but about halfway thru the stretch he pinned his ears back and then all way thru to the turn. Now on LIG what you perceived as fighting her jockey is what I see as a jockey controlling him. He wanted to run and when she let him go he took off and I like his ears pinned back and again I liked his stride ( just gliding along )throughout the stretch and galloping out… Very lively and spirited I did not see choppy. HRC again a very smooth stride coming into the stretch and throughout the stretch and gallop out. Looking for a big race from Charlie. I am glad O’Neil gave him this type of work.
Lynda your comment on Arrogate are well taken… who knows what we might have lost by his early death. Similar to Scat Daddy. Just curious what is it you don’t like about Justify?
Downthestretch, first let me say that I have been impressed by Justify’s first racing crop.
In hindsight, maybe a better way to put it is that I have never been able to warm up to Justify.
He is not my favorite TC winner. Secretariat will always have that place in my heart, followed by Citation.
I really came to appreciate American Pharoah after his Preskness and had tears when he won the Belmont.
At stud AP has not shown much so far but like him much better than Justify.
From a personal viewpoint Justify has some conformation flaws, especially being over the knee, he could have a better croup, his neck is a bit short. The only one if these that are of great concern is how far over he is on the left fore. I have seen a few photos of him since he arrived at Coolmore and he sometimes has a support wrap on the right hind and he a slight limp.in some videos I have seen of him since he retired as well. Hopefully neither “issue” is genetic. Also he has a larger than average head. Now that is just my personal opinion about his head. His shoulder is not as angled as I would like to see.
I respect Justify’s accomplishments
Downthestretch, I too went back and watched a replay of Flightline. He changes leads flawlessly on the turn but he Isa bit further off the rail than I like to see.
As I stated I have my little checklist that I go by and certain little body language clues that I am looking for.
Life is Good might be too tight and that is what I saw from his body language.
Just hoping for a good, clean race and no stunts like saw in the Lukas and the 2014 BC.
Thanks Lynda, I will give Flightline a pass on the beginning of his workout. Like I said different surroundings, it was dark, maybe sightseeing but to me just did not look focused and look like he was working too hard. But from mid stretch looked like a different horse (maybe he saw something down the stretch ) but he pinned his ears back and took off and finished strong. LIG in his work to me just looked more fluid. Also thanks for clariifying your position on Justify. Too me he was a BEAST and loved him (conformation flaws and all ) Steve’s article (very well done ) about him before the Kentucky Derby was icing on the cake !!!
I thought American Theorem came home like a serious horse!
I’d be shocked if LIG is not in front….
Would not be shocked either but still think off the pace (unless the track comes up “sloppy”) would be the best place for him if he has a chance to win the race
Watch that final work of American Theorem, and notice how he finishes…he looks like he’s peaking..
He comes into the race with bullet workouts on 10-15(59.2) and 10-22(1:11.4) and seems to be the best he has ever been. Still, beating both “Jack” and “Jackie’s” looks like a tall task. American Theorem could pick up some pieces late.
He will need to close a huge margin, to win ….but his work looked like he is going to be motoring in the stretch!..
I always thought that the owners of SEATTLE SLEW were awfully ungrateful to their original trainer and to the original jockey. There was no need to replace either Tuner or Cruguet, as neither one did anything “wrong.” I also firmly believe that it’s awfully unfortunate that J.O. TOBIN didn’t run his race in the Preakness, and that if he had turned in his Swaps Stakes effort in the Preakness, we might not be talking about SEATTLE SLEW as a Triple Crown winner. Yes, I know that’s speculative. However, when a dedicated speedball like J.O. TOBIN finds himself 8th by 12 lengths at the first point of call in a race you can throw out that effort. J.O. TOBIN’s savage run in the Swaps Stakes found SEATTLE SLEW unable to keep up, even if he chased hard through torrid early fractions.
SEATTLE SLEW ran a great race in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, and so did EXCELLER. That was one for the ages! And thank you to Steve Haskin for this extremely well written and entertaining look at that great race.
Owners of Slew were a disgrace! Running him 3 weeks laer in Marlboro. No clue!
I was at Hollywood Park, for the 1977 Swaps…..68,000 fans, close to 100 degrees….they saddled Seattle Slew in the tunnel, and took him off around the backstretch, avoiding the post parade…..the Belmont took away his edge, his speed, and J O Tobin won by eight, a horse who was stamina challenged…..when Slew came back the grandstand shook, with a standing ovation, for our first undefeated Triple Crown winner, winning the Derby after breaking near the rear, and weaving his way to the early lead….
Wow! Saw Slew’s final foal, Maggie Slew in 2010. Slew’s owners were miserable.
California trainer Jeff Mullins has what I think is a real contender for the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf on Friday. Packs a Wahlop is 3 for 3 on turf and 2 for 2 at a mile and has some turf breeding in his pedigree. I remember several years ago that
Jeff Mullins had one of the favorites for the Kentucky Derby, I Want Revenge, and had to scratch him on the morning of the race. Mullins gets another shot on the National stage. All-time leading Breeders Cup rider Big Money Mike has been riding the horse out in California and I assume he’ll make the trip to Kentucky to try to extend his record. Two Euros in the race are trained by Charlie Appleby and Aidan O’Brien. Silver Knott and Victoria Road are both Group 3 winners. I wasn’t overly impressed by either one. Of the two, I like Victoria Road a smidge better I guess. But, leave out Appleby’s Silver Knott at your own peril. We all remember what he did at last year’s Del Mar Breeders Cup and he’s hitting at 50% with his shippers to
North America in 2022. Packs a Wahlop will have to beat those two and Chad Brown’s I’m Very Busy who was bumped early and raced wide in his last start. I think that the two American horses have a real shot in the race. We’ll see on Friday.
On paper and visually, Cave Rock is a standout. But, they don’t run the races on paper and it’s not a beauty contest.
Cave Rock seems to be the typical good BB horse. Goes to the front and keeps going. But, there is other speed that could be entered in the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Verifying is kind of speedy and Paulo Lobo’s Hurricane J is fast. In fact, he’s a sprinter. Hurricane J was entered in a race at Keenland today and I notice that he scratched. I assume that means he will be running in Friday’s Juvenile. I doubt he can win, but he could give Cave Rock trouble on the lead. Can Cave Rock rate? He hasn’t so far.
Does Juan Hernandez keep the mount on Cave Rock or does BB go to one of his “old guy” riders. Big Money Mike or
Johnny V? Has Hernandez ever won a BC race? I don’t think so. I think I played him once in the BC and wasn’t too happy with the ride that I got. But, that was a couple of years ago. He’s a superstar now. At least out in California. I hope BB leaves him on the horse. I think he’ll give Cave Rock a good ride on Friday. You know he’ll be hungry for a win in a $2million race.
If not Cave Rock, then who? Chad Brown’s Blazing Sevens will be trying 2-turns for the first time. Curly Jack will have to really improve. Forte has a win at the distance and over the track. But, I’m mad at him for interfering with Loggins even though the stewards didn’t see it. Lost Ark is very interesting coming back after a brutal trip in his last race. Draw a line right through it. National Treasure has the 2nd highest speed figure in the field. But, he was just Cave Rock’s wing-man in his last race. A tactic that BB uses very often and will probably try to use again on Friday. Cave Rock isn’t the most expensive horse in the field. That would be Verifying. Brad Cox’s Verifying will also be trying 2-turns for the first time. The son of Justify looked good breaking his Maiden on debut but caught a sloppy track in his last when he finished 2nd to Blazing Sevens at Aqueduct. Bottom line: I don’t know yet. I’ll wait until November 3rd to see what
Steve Haskin has to say about the situation. Also,the opinions of other posters.
A couple of more things about Cave Rock. Cave Rock is the son of the ill-fated sire Arrogate and could be the horse that cements Arrogate’s final legacy. Cave Rock is owned by BB’s buddies Pegram, Watson, & Weitman who supported him during his “troubles” and have come back to him. I’m sure BB would love to get them a big win.
I didn’t have that great of a 2021 Breeders Cup, and that’s usual, for me…I’m way ahead, on the Kentucky Derby, and way behind, on The Breeders Cup! Last year my big hit was Ce Ce, who won well at Gulfstream, ran poorly at Saratoga then won a stakes prep…this year same thing….the nice win, at Gulfstream, the poor showing at Saratoga then she won a stakes prep, lots of early speed, Slammed can book, and there are others! Ce Ce…if she’s right she can repeat!
Matthew W, there was a song years ago by Country singer Jerry Reid with a lyric “When your hot, you ‘re hot. When your not, you’re not”. I think that describes Ce Ce perfectly.
She has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Hard to believe she is 6 years old.
Not heard but am guessing that Victor, her regular rider will be up.
I agree with you that if she’s right she can win it.
Yes, Ce Ce and Slammed are the two I like for the BC Filly & Mare Sprint as well. A dead heat would suit me just fine.
2nd favorite Loft is out of Melbourne Cup.
Tendon issue discovered during latest vet check at the trot.
Lynda, Makram was also withdrawn a bit earlier. It’s been the wettest October in Melbourne since 1975 and it’s not over yet. Dams are overflowing everywhere. Sydney has already broken it’s rainfall record for October
Wait until Monday to pick your Cup, selections. I like Duais even better now that I’ve lost Loft.
Yes I read about Makram. Failed a bone scan as I recall.
Have to respect Australia for all these pre race vet checks, scans etc.
From what I have read Japan does the same.
Something we should be doing here.
Lynda….Austrailia and Flemington are under scrutiny and much pressure, because in recent years the Melbourne Cup has had some unfortunate horse injuries..
That is what I heard (read) Matthew W. I follow several Australian horse racing pages and that is what many who live in Australia have said.
Japan has conducted a number of studies to make racing safer and have been incorporating different diagnostics to identify small problems before they become catastrophic.
Down in the comments section below I mentioned a study that has to do with sudden death in race horses, also called a heart attack. The study found s correlation between Lasix use on race day and during training and between time off between races and
sudden death.
James McDonald, New Zealand jockey, is winning everything he’s on fire at Flemington.
That’s right Matthew, for decades the Golden Slipper and the Melbourne Cup made the Kentucky Derby look like a ‘stroll in the park’ some of the worst riding, safety wise, you have ever witnessed.
There were seven deaths, in the past nine years, at the Melbourne Cup as a result of injuries sustained while competing.
Seven deaths in nine years? Wow! That’s disturbing. I had no idea. I know that the Melbourne Cup has a big purse and people are sometimes on their worst behavior when there is big money on the line.
Tommy, it should be noted that none, repeat none, of the horses that died were Australian runners. Six European runners and 1 Japanese runner. The onus should be directed as to why the owners/trainers decided to enter those runners in the tough Melbourne Cup. That’s why the vets are very stringent now prior to the race.
Lynda, the Melbourne Cup looks for certain to be on a ‘wet track’ as they say in Australia. Due to the conditions, I’m going for: Gold Trip, Duais, and Emissary.
For a good guide on the Melbourne Cup check out justhorseracing.com.au
They go through the field, even providing videos of the horses’ key race as lead-up to the Cup. Enjoy.
WITHDRAWN
NetJets Juvenile Fillies
Naughty Gal
Juvenile Fillies Turf
Never Ending Story
Juvenile Turf
Cairo
Juvenile Turf Sprint
Aesop’s Fables
Hispanic (AE)
FanDuel Juvenile
Awesome Strong
Maker’s Mark Filly & Mare Turf
Saffron Beach
Via Sistina
FanDuel Mile
Bayside Boy
Saffron Beach
Turf Sprint
Ladies Church (AE)
Qatar Racing Sprint
Long Range Toddy (AE)
Surly Furious (AE)
Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile
Surly Furious (AE)
After my first run-through of the Breeders Cup past performances, a strange question comes into my head. Can
Steve Asmussen win 3 different Breeders Cup races this year with 3 different jockeys? Strange because we don’t even know the jockey assignments yet. But can he? Well, it depends. Does Ricardo keep the mount on Echo Zulu? He rode her in her comeback race. The Dogwood at Churchill on September 24th. People might say that Echo Zulu is the horse that caused all the problems between Santana and Asmussen and temporarily broke up what had been a very productive trainer/jockey combination. Ricardo Santana is now 4 for 4 on Echo Zulu and was her regular rider before being replaced by Joel Rosario for last year’s BC Juvenile Fillies victory. I hope Asmussen and Ron Winchell let Santana ride her in this year’s BC F & M Sprint. You just know that Ricardo will give his best try.
Tyler G has been riding Gunite during his blazing hot-streak that has seen him win 4 of his last 5 races. The only loss being to Jack Christopher who is supposedly opting for the BC Sprint. Gunite and Gaffalione will face a tough task in the BC Dirt Mile against Cyberknife, Laurel River, Cody’s Wish, and even a resurgent Simplification. Cody’s Wish is 5 for 5 at a mile. But here’s his problem: all 5 of those wins were one-turn miles and the mile at Keenland is a 2-turn affair. Gunite is a “tweener”. His best distance is 7-furlongs. Six furlongs is a bit too sharp for him and a mile stretches him to the max. But Gunite is sharp as a tack and might just be sharp enough to pull it off.
Joel Rosario is likely to ride Jackie’s Warrior, Clairiere, and Epicenter. Enough said.
Can Asmussen do it? Maybe.
People really jumped off Echo Zulu’s bandwagon after her loss to Secret Oath, Nest, and Desert Dawn in the Kentucky Oaks at a distance that might have been just a little beyond her limitations. But Echo Zulu is very fast and has won 6 of 7 races and is 2 for 2 at
7-furlongs. Which just happens to be the distance of the BC F & M Sprint. There is plenty of speed in the race. Echo Zulu might be the “speed of the speed”. Maybe Asmussen has taught her how to rate while she was off for almost 6 months. We’ll see.
Hi Steve. I vividly remember reading about the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup in Sports Illustrated. The write up was accompanied by a stunning head on photograph of both Seattle Slew and Exceller as they pounded towards the finish line against the background of a darkening late afternoon sky. If my memory serves me correctly, owner Nelson Bunker Hunt complained that Seattle Slew got more credit for finishing second than Exceller got for winning. When you listed all the races Exceller won it made me so sad to think that this great horse ended up in a Swedish slaughter house. At least good came out of it because Old Friends was established as a result.
Doug Peterson….a nice guy….ended up training 4 1/2 furlong races, at Los Al….and he passed away— before his son became a major league pitcher..
Yes he was, spent many years in NY before migrating west. It was an unfortunate end.
Flightline gives trainer John Sadler a chance to improve on his dismal Breeders Cup record. He did win the Classic with Accelerate in 2018. He was 0 for 44 going into that race. I’m not sure where his record stands now. Accelerate didn’t win at Keenland, but he did win the Classic in Kentucky at Churchill Downs. It helps that he has a good horse that will likely be a very heavy favorite.
Hi TommyMc… from Breeder’s Cup Stats you can gather his tally.
Name…….Starters….1st….2nd….3rd….4th….5th….6th Money Won
John W. Sadler…54….1……..5…….8…….4……4…….5 $6,958,750.00
Stellar Wind and Catalina Cruiser were two of his better horses in the BC.
Thanks. I remember suffering a devastating defeat with Stellar Wind at the Breeders Cup. I was a big fan of the horse. I don’t remember the year, but I remember that she was charging hard at the end and just couldn’t get by the winner. In fact, that race may have been in Kentucky. I just don’t remember if it was Churchill or Keenland. Whatever, Stellar Wind ran her heart out that day to just miss.
2015 Breeders’ Cup Distaff at Keeneland. Stopchargingmaria won.
That is the race that Stellar Wind took 2nd in. I remember it vividly, was cheering for Stellar Wind.
Back to Sadler, he is a very patient trainer. He and Hronis have a great relationship. The Hronis brothers are interested in racing their horses and if they are healthy they will race them at 4 or 5. To be honest, in my opinion, I think Sadler is the best trainer for a horse like Flightline.
Saw some photos this morning of Flightline, Epicenter, Society and Rich Strike from this mornings workouts.
Flightline was the only one with ears forward. All the others, about 8 or 9 total had their ears back.
I like to see that in a horse, ears pricked forward.
They all look great. Epicenter and Rich Strike look good as well, though Rich Strike was looking a bit obstinate in the photo.
Society is a pretty little mare. Not sure I would count her out of being out of the money.
What a build up to the Breeders’ Cup World Championships?
This Saturday (Melbourne) = Derby Day at Flemington; Golden Eagle Day at Rosehill.
Tuesday = Melbourne Cup Day + a public holiday to enjoy it. Flemington.
Thursday = Oaks Day, off to Flemington rain, hail or shine.
Early Saturday morning here (Melbourne) = Breeders’ Cup, Friday; Later Saturday = Champion Stakes Day at Flemington; Five Diamonds Ladies Day at Rosehill.
Sunday morning here = Breeders’ Cup, Saturday.
Bliss!!
PS: Keeneland, Belmont@Big A, Santa Anita have some good cards this Saturday, Sunday morning my time, as well.
I’ve been seeing reports of rain for the Breeders Cup, but the 10-day forecast that I saw a few minutes ago looks like great weather for both days. Some rain on Sunday the 30th and on Halloween should have the tracks in great shape next Friday and Saturday.
Not seeing any rain in forecast for BC. Good chance for rain on Monday, possible showers on Tuesday. Temperatures in low 70’s on 4th and 5th.
Turf will be like concrete and is most likely the reason the British and Irish horses are withdrawing.
Here’s one race where we could see a “big price”: the Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf. The horses with the best numbers in that race, Aidan O’Brien’s Mediate and Daniel Leitch’s American Apple, both earned those numbers sprinting 6-furlongs on the turf. All the other horses are rated very close together IMO. I’ll be looking for a horse at 10-1 or higher. I think that the Maiden, Towhead, could even win.
Tommy, looks like Towhead is entered at Churchill this Sunday
Mr. Haskin, you are the BEST story teller. I didn’t watch this race, but reading it, you made me feel like I was there…. I got goosebumps. What a great race. Thank you for all the history you share.
Thank you very much Kenda
Just watched an early morning video of Flightline.
This horse reminds me so much of California Chrome personality wise.
Like Chrome he does not miss a thing, ears pricked, looking all around, taking in everything with those eyes.
Before the Pacific Classic. .Bob had the #1 rated 10 fur dirt horse in the world, who had prepped nicely, in the San Diego….he said he was running for 2nd, vs a horse that had not yet run two turns..
Matthew, I’m hoping for a Flightline, tour de force, in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Something to remember forever and ever.
Seattle Slew seemed to be the best and most brilliant of the three. He was fast early, yet got the longest distances, on multiple occasions. He showed incredible speed in the Marlboro Cup, the earlier 7 furlong races were on mud so not so fast, but he won several races on mud or slop. His jockey slacked off at the end of a few races or his finishing quarters and overall times would have been better. Winning the triple crown and more as a front runner is maybe a unique accomplishment. So to sum up, he was brilliantly fast yet had stamina and power to spare.
Hot Rod Charlie has the most starts of any horse in the Classic. His 18 career starts have netted his owners over $5.5 million in earnings. Not bad for only 5 wins. And not bad for a horse that only cost $110,000.
The $1million Flightline isn’t the most expensive horse in the Classic. That distinction belongs to the $1.7million Taiba.
Olympiad is kind of the forgotten horse in the Classic. The “Rodney Dangerfield” of this year’s Classic. He don’t get no respect. Overall, Olympiad has won 8 of 12. One for one at Keenland and one for one at a mile and a quarter. He’s won 6 of 7 this year. Unfortunately, that one loss this year was to Life Is Good, Happy Saver, and Hot Rod Charlie who all line up against him again on November 5th. Olympiad got his Grade I win in his last race, the Jockey Club Gold Cup. The bad news is that he beat the New York-Bred Americanrevolution and the over-rated First Captain. I don’t think he can win, but maybe he hits the board. BTW, this year’s JCGC was nothing like that 1978 JCGC which featured Exceller, Affirmed, and Seattle Slew.
Flightline is the ‘cat among the pigeons’ in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, as you say, anyone can place behind him. There’s two races in one.
Thanks Steve, what a great great memory; thanks for the details of an incredible horse (s).
I just watched video of Flightline “gallop” this morning at Keenland. If he stays healthy until the BCC, i am 100% convinced NO ONE has any chance. This horse is a bonafide generational horse. It was a freight train rolling thru the stretch. Just a sight to see!! Never seen anything like that!! Unbelievable…
Blue Stripe….can make the exacta, in the Distaff, in my opinion…..Tyler’s Tribe going in the Juvenile, not the Juvy Turf Sprint….more reasons for Blazing Sevens to come and get them! Slow Down Andy should fetch a good number, in t he Dirt Mile, which came up a nice field….
Mike Welsch at DRF was raving about Blue Stripe’s workout at Keenland. Looking at the Form, I think she will have a tough time winning, but she can hit the board. I would like to see her trainer have a good day at the Breeders Cup.
I’d like to see Berrios get the mount on Blue Stripe.
I think he has it. .that’s a nice filly.
Steve, you always write such perfect reflections of races that the reader can visualise the race in their mind. I know everyone says that Slew’s best performance was in the Jockey Club Gold Cup but I’ll take the Marlboro Cup anytime. It was a statement in my mind.
I never understood how Affirmed was voted Horse of the Year over Seattle Slew either, Triple Crown winner and all. Two loses to the same horse says something, does it not? Not much point grumbling about it, that battle is lost.
By the way, what do you think of the Breeders’ Cup races? The turf races look very thin to me while the only real ‘battle’ appears to be in the Distaff. Search Results might upset the apple cart if things go her way for a change. Having trouble getting enthusiastic about especially with all the excitement here surrounding the Melbourne Cup. Flightline will be great to watch though.
Speaking of the Melbourne Cup, do you like anything. Loft and Duais look very strong. Thanks again, Steve, a great read.
Davids how many races did Seattle Skew win in 1978? I looked it up and saw Narlboro Cup and Woodward….that’s all if showed under “major wins”….two gr1s. Exceller win 7 gr1s in 1978…Affirmed won ghe Triple Crown over Alydar…..he also eon Jim Dandy, Santa Anita Derby, Hollywood Derby, and was disqualified winner of the Travers…you ask HOW did Slew not win HOY? I ask how did Slew win older horse Eclipse?
Matthew – pardon for jumping in. Slew ran 7 times in ‘78 / 5 wins and 2 2nd’s.
Suffolk Downs, for one of them….if memory serves. But I think only 2 gr1 wins, I remember Charlie saying “I thought the Eclipse was for best year” nobody saying Exceller was better than Slew, but I think he won 5 gr1s on turf, and the Hollywood Gold Cup and Jockey Club Gold Cup, with a 2nd in the Woodward, totalling 7 gr1s….
Meadowlands.
Matthew, Affirmed won restricted 3 year old races but when he stepped out against Seattle Slew, plus the assistance of rabbits to boot, he lost. Exceller had a lucky win over Slew by a diminishing margin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup but Exceller lost by 4 lengths to Slew in the Woodward Stakes while Slew smashed the track record for a mile and one-quarter.
With all the above, I rest my case. Who was the best horse of 1978 – Seattle Slew, that’s who.
I don’t subscribe to the theory that an inferior horse trumps a superior horse because they’ve won more races over lesser opponents.
Yes I agree…Slew best horse …Exceller best year….I don’t think Lady’s Secret was as good as Precisionist, but she had best year, also..
That’s an excellent way at looking at performances, Matthew. Sometimes/often best horse & best year will coincide but, taking Flightline as an example, has Flightline had the best year? It’s debatable.
I think if he wins the Met Mile, Pacific Classic and Breeder Cup Classic….yes….the Malibu doesn’t get “counted” for the year it is run, so there’s four gr1s….but it IS debatable, or it WOULD BE debatable, had Epicenter won the Derby and Travers AND beaten older, a case could be made for best year…Nest beat older but it was a weak field….I think 2022 HOY comes out of the Classic….be it Flightline, Olympiad, Life Is Good, Epicenter…
Thank you very much David. As I mentioned earlier I think Saturday’s turf races are very unexciting. No big names here or abroad.
Thanks Steve, yes I caught your comments below. Obviously, we have very similar views. Almost plagiarism on my part. Lol.
Moira in the F&M Turf, War Like Goddess in the Turf, Annapolis in the Mile, all have upside and have had exciting victories, look like winners.
Big names in the making.
I was thinking about the same thing regarding the 1978 HoY election. It must have been a very tight one.
At that time the votes were cast by the racing secretaries of 58 tracks, members of the National Turf Writers Association and the writers and editors of The Daily Racing Form. These three groups cast only one vote each based on the majority in the final tabulation. I am curious about how divided their opinions were…
Certainly, Seattle Slew proved he was the best horse but going for Affirmed was that every Triple Crown winner had been voted horse of the year.
Perhaps Slew’s detractors argued that he did not do much until mid September but he was forced to restart then because he had to defeat death itself the first half of the year. This fact alone is, in my mind, enough to consider Seattle Slew one of the greatest horses of all time.
It was a non-written rule that any great 3-year-old was branded great only if he could show greatness as a 4-year-old. Seattle Slew and Affirmed did just that; but the chef-de-race son of Bold Reasoning is the only Triple Crown champion to defeat another Triple Crown winner. This should have been sufficient to award Slew with a second HoY title.
Anyway, being a Hall of Famer makes your horse a Horse of the Year every year…!
Nelson, how good a sire would Bold Reasoning have been? In his first crop, Seattle Slew, in his second crop, Super Concorde, the French 2 year old champion. Not bad going out of only three crops. You can only wonder.
By the way, if you’re having a bet during the Melbourne Cup carnival – Flemington will be soft going. Lots of heavy rain around and around 60F maximums. Sydney will be having sunny 74 F for Rosehill’s Golden Eagle Day and the track should be good.
Bold Reasoning had only 51 starters of which 48 were winners. His 10 black type winners represent an amazing 21% of winners.
I remember the furor generated by a son of Bold Reasoning imported in utero to Venezuela named Granados. He won a couple of listed races and never justified the hype around him but was a decent sire there…
Bold Reasoning could have been one of the best sires descendant of Bold Ruler.
The golden seventies were ruled by Bold Ruler…!
There being also—a horse that beat TWO Triple Crown winners in the same race!
American Pharoah’s fee for 2023 has dropped to $60,000 (2022 was $80,000). His fee has been dropping in past few years.
Just an FYI.
I absolutely loved the 1987 Santa Anita Big Cap stretch run between Broad Brush and Ferdinand. How Angel knew he won is remarkable.
Keep up the great work Steve!
I was there that day. I remember it being very dark and very wet. I think Snow Chief was also in that race, but disappointed that day.
That fantastic Big Cap (1987) followed a fantastic Strub Stakes, the same big three, 10 furlongs…Snow Chief broke slow, PVal didn’t panic,,and they held sway over Ferdinand by one inch! Ferdinand lost many photos, but was always right there, Broad Brush faltered that day…Eddie D rode Ferdinand, PVal rode Snow Chief, PVal helped a mount! Maybe ghe best rider ever–but for drug problems..
Snow Chief won the Jersey Derby and The Strub, both 10 furlongs and nothing defearing good horses, but Snow Chief was not all that, at 10 furlongs…but 9 furlongs, Snow Chief was one of the best!
By Reflected Glory, out of a Snow Spirting mare….Snow Chief had obscure bloodlines, and ran with that head way down action…fast and could last, Eclipse Award 1986—Best Three Year Old..
Steve, as always you have captured the essence of one of the greatest finishes of all of horse racing. As I have said you are the “Master” of doing that. I remember watching the race with my dad and after that race we looked each other in astonishment of what Slew had just did. Even though he had lost the race his tenacity to fight back and almost win it was incredible. I can’t remember who I was rooting for that day ( I think it was Affirmed ) but the end of that race was thrilling !!! I appreciated Bill Harman recollections below as I had never heard those comments from Cordero or Shoemaker he gave below.
Thanks Steve as always
Thanks so much. I really appeciate that. I’m glad you got to see that amazing race…and with your dad. All the more special.
Jackie’s Warrior and Jack Christopher will both be going in the Breeders Cup Sprint. Which one goes “favored”? “Jackie’s” or “Jack”?
Cyberknife and Gunite will both be going in the BC Dirt Mile. I kind of like Cyberknife. He’s a really good horse that is just a slight cut below the tip-top of the division.
Mostly full fields. It looks like it will be an exciting BC.
Looking for star quality in the turf races. Not seeing many big names that are major headliners. I guess the most compelling is War Like Goddess going in the Turf.
F&M Turf looks mediocre at best, as does the Turf. Im not seeing a ot of depth of talent for championship races. Distaff is the deepest field of talent I’ve seen in a long time. They can all win it.
That’s exactly right, Steve. Very ordinary fields for most of the turf fields and I agree with you on the Distaff. I want to get excited but it seems as though there is a lack of quality horses competing. Will Jackie’s Warrior and Jack Christopher dodge each other?
Kentucky Derby…Travers…Jim Dandy…Penn Derby…Met Mile…Pac Classic…Louisiana Derby……SA Derby….Whitney…Woodward…Jockey Club Gold Cup…SF Foster—–winners are in the 2022 Classic.
…and one Blue Whale among the minnows.
We get the Golden Pal vs. Highfield Princess showdown. Highfield Princess has really thrived since cutting back to 5-furlongs, earning mid 120 Timeform ratings. She’ll have to handle a turn and another 1/2 furlong, but I think she can do it. Those 2 aren’t the only ones that can win.
Warlike Goddess gets a 2nd chance at the Breeders Cup after moving too soon last year IMO. I’m excited about her. I don’t think we’ve seen her best race yet and I think Joel Rosario is the best jockey for her. Charlie Appleby has Rebel’s Romance in the race. The gelding has won 4 in a row since moving to turf. All at a mile and a half. The last two were Group I wins. But, they were in Germany. You are right , Steve. These are not the best Europeans that we’ve ever seen for the BC Turf.
Looks like Country Grammer is out of Classic.
Agree with Steve about the Distaff, any one of them can win.
Lynda, this is not the time to sit on the fence. Lol. Who is going to win the Distaff?
Well let my dust off my crystal ball, LOL
So here goes…I think this race is going to be between Nest, Society and Malathatt, with an edge going to Nest.
With Letruska out of the Distaff the pace won’t be so torrid early, Search Results will be able withhold her speed until the straight, then, zoom can those closers catch her this time, we’ll see.
For me one of the most thrilling stretch runs was the 2013 Breeders Cup Classic.
To this day I still go back from time to time and watch a replay of the race.
Mucho Macho Man, ridden by Gary Stevens who had come out of retirement won by a nose over Will Take Charge.
The photo finish was later awarded the NTRA “Moment Of The Year.
I was at a wedding that day but managed to sneak away to the bar to watch the race on tv . I had thought that Affirmed was stronger at the mile and a half distance and was surprised at how badly he faded . I found out later about the saddle slipping . You’re right Steve , the 70’s were some of the greatest days of racing . Looking forward to more of your stories.
..>> Fantastic article as always,Steve!~ Yeh remember Slew busting through the gate before it started. And.. Cordero slowing up Slew-as I noticed at the time even watching it back in ’78 smh.. There’s a Youtube video interview with Cordero on it. Where he takes full responsibility for it and taking him off the rail. Yes; he slowed him down as was proven.
Angel admitted to not seeing Exceller coming until too late. Shoe in his autobiography-and you can look it up- said he’s sure Angel never saw him coming like a freight train. He said he went by him and thought he had it clear then heard hooves behind him and thought maybe Affirmed was gathered up together–and looked over his shoulder and thought ‘holy {expletive deleted}!
> He went on to say one stride past the wire Slew has it and he’s not in the winner’s circle. Penny Chenery in an interview spoke of, besides her boy’s Belmont, that was the most impressed she’d ever been with any horse in any race. In the slop yet.
Thanks vey much, Bill. Great recollections.
Just curious, has anyone read this.
bloodhorse javma-paper-lasix-among-risk-factors-in-sudden-death
Any chance Todd double enters Life Is Good?..
Doubt it
I just watched the replay of that 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup again. If ever a horse got a complete set up, it was Exceller. It was almost as if Bill Shoemaker knew that Affirmed, Seattle Slew, and Life’s Hope were going to set those crazy fractions. Yet, after Exceller passed him, “Slew” fought back even after being involved in that 1:09.2 6-furlongs. If Laz Barrera put Life’s Hope in the race to keep Seattle Slew “honest”, why the heck was Affirmed in there between them? I guess Steve Cauthen was having his own problems after his saddle slipped. BTW, I’d never heard that before Steve Haskin told us the whole story.
I wish there was a way to clean up that video of such a great race. Restore it like they do old movies.
Moving on to the Breeders Cup, I see a fractional (2.5%) interest in Flightline will be sold at Keeneland on Nov. 7. Anybody got a spare 200k?
Have a feeling it will take twice that. LOL
I am curious to see who buys that 2.5 percent.
I’m cuious to se how much the 2.5 percent is worth after the Classic.
Same here Steve.
The real question is will this be Flightline’s final race? If he wins by another 20+ lengths and breaks the track record, will he be considered one of the all-time greats with only 6 starts?
They will be announcing the Breeders Cup Pre-entries tomorrow at 12noon Eastern time. TVG/FanDuel supposedly will show it and you can stream it at BreedersCup.com. The lists will probably be everywhere an hour or two later.
I was a youngster when I watched this race with my dad. One of the truly great races. It was probably Slew’s best race, despite being narrowly beaten. The utter grit and determination he showed that day, fighting back to almost snatch victory after those suicidal fractions earned him the utmost respect of the racing community. He was one of my favourite horses then, my admiration and respect for him continues to this day. This race cemented his legacy as one of the TRUE GREATS of the sport.
Thanks, Steve, for this wonderful write-up on Slew. He’s the only TC winner who beat another TC winner and did it twice.
My favorite horse in the entire world….Slew was magnificent, a joy to watch. He was the horse that got me interested and involved with Thoroughbred racing. I recall Angel Cordero saying in an interview on HRTV some years ago when asked which horse was his favorite and without hesitation, he said the great Seattle Slew, the greatest horse he ever rode. I had the pleasure of meeting the late Billy Turner at his Belmont barn several years before he retired. What a wonderful man, very humble….his blue eyes would light up when just talking about Slew, he had some wonderful stories to tell about his horse of a lifetime. So sad he never got rewarded/recognition for having nurtured that ugly Baby Huey into one of the most consummate Thoroughbreds on and off the track. Billy was a true horseman indeed.
Glad you njoyed it Irene. Yes, Angel definitely said he was the greatest he ever rode.
What an awesome telling of not only the race, but the personalities and histories. Thank you!
I appreciate it Debbie. Thank you
Churchill Downs, which always has to get in the act and steal thunder from others has announced, which actually is exciting, that Nov. 1-3 will be the first Ky. Derby Future Wager pool, with 40 horses as individual betting interests.
I was just going to post about that. There is no way that this is in the best interest of the sport. I think Churchill is trying to tap into people’s Breeders Cup bankrolls. They’d probably get more action if they ran Pool#1 from November 4th to November 6th.
Thank you for this insightful story on these amazing horses from the past, and what that accomplished in their careers.
I’m looking forward to your Breeders’ Cup analysis coming up on November 3rd., especially the BC Juvenile. Cave Rock and Forte appear to be the top two, IMO.
The BC Juvenile Turf Sprint looks very competitve, with the likes of Speed Boat Beach, Tyler’s Tribe and the possibility of The Platinum Queen taking on the boys in this 5 1/2 furlong race.
I just read Blackbread will not ship, which is probably a major disappointment to his many fans.
Check my comment above about the new Ky. Derby Future Wager pool Nov. 1-3.
Thanks for the reply Steve
Usually, the KD Futures Pools start in late November. Last year, Pool 1 Futures betting started on Nov. 25th and ended on the 28th.
So, as you mentioned, Churchill is definitely trying to steal thunder from others, in this case, detracting from the Breeders’ Cup.
It appears Churchill is trying to extract money, from bettors, that they would normally use on Breeders’ Cup races.
One thing for sure, they’ll not get one dollar of my money. I learned the hard way that KD Futures bets are not worth the gamble.
I had Rock Your World, at good odds, in the 2021 KD, where he got pin balled between two horses and never had a chance.
In the this year’s KD, I had good odds on Simplification, who did make up a lot of ground to round out the superfecta (4th).
Bottom line, KD Futures wagers are not for me.
That 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup was an all-timer for sure. I wish that I could have been there for it. I’ve watched the race several times. Seattle Slew was all class in defeat. I was a big Exceller fan. I watched him run twice. Once at Santa Anita and another time at Hollywood Park. I hate to think of such a tragic end for such a valiant horse.
I was also a huge Dodgers fan back then and remained so right up to the time that they let Mike Piazza go. I realized then that Baseball was a business and nothing more. So, I became a “free-agent fan”, picking a new team every year to root for. I spent a few years on the Cardinals and ultimately ended up a Cleveland Indians fan. My last team. HorseRacing is the only sport that I follow closely now. But that 1978 Dodgers’ loss to the Yankees cut me to the core. A loss like that stays with you all the way until the spring. In HorseRacing, there’s always another race in about 30 minutes or so.
I’ll be looking forward to November 3rd when Steve Haskin posts his Breeders Cup analysis. I’m pretty well locked in on about 10 of the 14 Breeders Cup races. I’ve been putting in the work. Watching replays and such. But I need to be pointed in the right direction in a handful of the races.
Already? We havent even seen pre-entries yet. Glad yuou have a grasp of it this early
I was on my hiatus from horse racing after the death of Ruffian and missed this race.
You article took me to the track and the race.
Beautiful headshot of Exceller and where did you find that Marlboro ad with the race card?
I remember when ads were a big thing from cigarette brands in those days.
Marlboro for the horses and Winston for the stock car races.
Looking forward to this series of articles on memorable stretch runs.
Wow, sorry you missed the heart of the golden age of racing. Nothing has ever compared to 1976 to 1981.
I recall this race vividly, as it was one of the most memorable I have seen over the many years on the racetrack. And I’ve seen several of the greatest, especially during that golden era. Unfortunately, the JCGC has lost some of its luster in recent years.
A lot of its luster. People forget it was once 2 miles for a long time domimated by the greats like Kelso who won it 5 year in a row. And there was Buckpasser, Damascus, Arts and Letters. And Who can forget Shuvee.
Shuvee ❤️
Is this a voice from the past or a different Barb?
I was at the 1978 Hollywood Gold Cup, and bet on JO Tobin, who finished a tired, bearing out 4th… Vigors the “White Tornado” was the big favorite, and he finished 3rd….Text the tiny Elmendorf chestnut was 2nd. .and the #1 horse, the red chestnut Exceller…making his first dirt start won the race, closing up the inside for Shoemaker….I remember how he looked that day, he stood out on looks…and paid 7-1, a top class stayer!
Slew beat Exceller soundly, before that final race…Exceller was on the deep rail, which every jockey avoided except Shoe….Exceller capped a terrific year, 7 gr1s, I believe, but it wasn’t enough, because Slew’s 2nd place effort was so good…I thought Seattle Slew was benefit if a small field/lone speed in his Marlboro defeat of Affirmed, and his easy win over Exceller….but Exceller had some year, turf and dirt, Charlie did everything he could, but Exceller did not win an Eclipse, in 1978, in other years he might have won Turf…Older…and HOY….
Steve,
It was one of a very few races that will never leave me. We were at Keeneland that day and watched it on tv there. After we had dinner with Olin Gentry and his wife at the farm, and when i walked in he was in the kitchen and i asked him what he thought of the race. He just spouted out quickly, “well that might be the greatest losing race in the history of racing” and he could not think of another horse that could have done it. It is still hard to believe when you realize the pressure he was under.. however much i was already impressed by Slew after his first race with Affirmed, this race was beyond belief. Thanks so much for telling the real tale of the extraordinary horse and race!!
Are you referring to old man Gentry? He was quite a character. I knew Olin well and used to visit Darby Dan very year and even stayed on the farm. Those were glorious days with all those great stallions.
Steve, yes i was referring to Olin senior. I was there with a friend from college whose mother was a Gentry.. Mrs Gentry was a sweet delightful gracious person.. Olin was of course cantankerous, but when we got there and went by on Friday afternoon to visit, I went into Olin’s office.. was introduced to him, and believe it or not, he and i spent almost 3 hours talking racing and breeding, just the two of us. Of course i made sure i brushed up on Black Toney, you know how he was about that stallion. After the races Saturday, we spoke a bit about the Slew loss and then had a really nice home cooked meal in his home. As I sent you previously, he had Graustark brought out to visit before dinner.. and even at age 15 he was a magnificent animal. I still have that picture ..
Thanks again for this wonderful article
Marc
What an awesome recollection, Steve.
Slew’s performance in the Gold Cup remains my favorite: guts, guts, guts.
Thanks so much, Ernie. That was a race you never forget.
S. Haskin-
Thanks for the historical article on such a great and memorable horse race.
What I remember about Exceller was his racing success on grass. Not sure what the numbers indicate
with wins and losses on the two surfaces, but would think the number of wins would lean toward grass.
But C. Whittingham had to see something to ship his horse to NY to run against Affirmed and Seattle Slew
on dirt. It was too sad what happened to Exceller after his racing days ended.
7.5 Furlongs
Btw, are those Exceller silks Nelson Bunker Hunt?
Yes
Same silks as the great Dahlia.
I could of gone to the Yankee game, friends had tickets and turned them down. They thought I was crazy, crazy like a fox. What a spectacle! I know I’m getting old but after reading this I feel little of that youthful exuberance. Thanks Steve
I YouTube alot of the older races. One of my favorites is the 1968 Epsom Derby, and the way Sir Ivor closed.
Wonderful piece, Steve. I remember that I wasn’t that impressed with Seattle Slew as a three year old, but his performances at four really placed him in the pantheon of greats. I’ve got to watch that one again. Such magnificent horses. Thank you.
Steve — just watched the video on Youtube. It was so murky and blurry Exceller looked like he was sliding up on Seattle Slew on a flat rail. Thank heaven we have you to help us visualize this extraordinary race! Were you there in person?
Thank you. Yes I was. I agree the Youtube video is not very good. You cant see much.
Thank God you are a writer. I would love to live in your memories!
I didn’t see this race but have no trouble visualizing these two as I read your column.
Happy to hear that. The quality on Youtube is pretty bad.
Anytime I read a recap of this race, I tear up. As a young teenager living in Texas, getting racing news could a challenge in the 70’s. I discovered and subscribed to the Blood Horse in 1976 and read it cover to cover each week. I would watch for the races on Sports Spectacular and Wide World of Sports each Saturday. I realized later on in life how spoiled I was to the riches of racehorses from that decade. I love watching the replays of this race…never ceases to amaze me. Later on in life, I worked at the farm in Oklahoma that stood Slewacide and ended up with a classy son of his…who looked so much like his granddad Seattle Slew. I never dreamed I would end up horse such as him especially looking back on this race. Thank you, wonderful article 🙂
Thanks for sharing