“What They Were Meant to Be”
The 2025 Triple Crown is over, leaving us with indelible memories and countless storylines. Attempting to summarize it and capture the true meaning of what we witnessed was a daunting task, until a short seemingly innocuous quote hit a nerve and put everything in proper perspective, leading to one final journey through the years. ~ Steve Haskin
“What They Were Meant to Be”
By Steve Haskin
Is it all that simple? When Bridlewood Farm trainer Meda Murphy, who seems to have taken up residence in this column lately, said of her role in Sovereignty and Journalism combining to sweep all three Triple Crown races this year, “All I did was let them grow into what they were meant to be,” was she saying that the remarkable feats they accomplished were merely a product of destiny more than her teaching, developing, and nurturing? Click here to view earlier column introducing Bridlewood Farm.
Of course humility is always the correct approach, but we are all aware that the path to greatness is never that smooth and far more complex than simply attributing it to providence.
Or is it? Murphy’s words struck a chord. I had heard them before. Then the images from the past began to form, first taking me back to Belmont Stakes morning 15 years ago. Trainer Bill Mott is sitting on his pony outside his barn on the Belmont backstretch. Mott, despite his lucrative career, had never won a classic. That afternoon he was sending out a WinStar Farm-owned colt named Drosselmeyer, whose claim to fame was a third-place finish in the 2010 Louisiana Derby, which wasn’t good enough to get him in the Kentucky Derby.
Mott appeared relaxed and unconcerned about his shut out in the classics. “If it’s meant to be it’s meant to be,” he said. “All I can do is keep trying. If it’s not this year I’ll try again next year. That’s the beauty of this game.”
About 12 hours later, what was meant to be happened, as Mott won his first classic when Drosselmeyer rallied to a score by three-quarters of a length at odds of 13-1.
Perhaps there is something to “meant to be” after all, especially when you are too humble to accept all the skills, hard work, and total dedication needed for the ethereal to become reality.
Mott, despite his success with Cigar in 1995 and ’96, had always kept that philosophy and went about his job with only one thing in mind, and that was doing what he felt was best for his horses.
Ironically, the story you are about to read, with its seemingly unconnected, unexplainable, but pre-ordained, series of events that led Mott to a magnificent and classically bred colt named Sovereignty, actually began on Belmont Stakes morning of 1999, with Mott sitting on his pony in the exact same spot he would 11 years later. On this occasion he was sending out a longshot named Vision and Verse in the Belmont. But his thoughts were the same.
“When it’s ready to happen it’ll happen,” he said. “It’s only a problem if I let it bother me. Naturally, I’d love to win one of these.”
Vision and Verse nearly pulled off the upset, losing by a head to Lemon Drop Kid at odds of 54-1.
But something else happened that year that would eventually have a far more profound effect on Mott’s career. A month after the Belmont, Guy and Diane Snowden purchased a Seeking the Gold filly, out of the top-class Lakeway at the Keeneland July yearling sale for $1.5 million. Named Sluice, they turned her over to Mott, who had only moderate success with her, winning a listed stakes on grass.
After being retired, Sluice’s first of 12 foals was an Empire Maker filly later to be named Mushka, who was purchased at the 2006 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale by Zayat Stables for $1.6 million. Although Mott didn’t have much success with her dam, the Zayats sent him Mushka, who won the Demoiselle Stakes at 2, but could only manage an allowance victory and a well-beaten fourth, beaten 27 lengths, in the Alabama at 3.
A month after her allowance win, she was sold at the Keeneland November mixed sale to Betty Moran’s Brushwood Stable for $2.4 million. Shortly after, Mott and Zayat Stables split on amicable terms. But their brief time together, especially giving Mott Mushka to train and winning a Grade 2 stakes, kept this unlikely, but perhaps destined, chain of events moving forward.
As the Snowdens did with Sluice, and the Zayats did with Mushka, Moran decided to keep Mushka with Mott, and at 4 she won the Spinster Stakes by disqualification and was second in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (then called the Ladies Classic).
After two unsuccessful starts at 5, Mushka was retired. Her second foal, a filly by the Darley stallion Bernardini was sold to Godolphin for $1.2 million at the Keeneland September yearling sale. Named Crowned, she was sent to Johnny Burke, who managed Godolphin’s operation on Rice Road behind Keeneland where Burke handled their layups and horses in rehab there for pre-training.
He remembered Crowned as being a big gorgeous filly, but was a bit backward and had a few minor physical issues, but did manage a couple of three-furlong breezes for Burke at Keeneland.
When determining where to send their horses, Godolphin believes in using trainers who had previous connections with their horses. Because Mott had trained Crowned’s dam and granddam he was going to get Crowned, but because of her issues she never made it to the track and was retired.
In 2018, Crowned produced a big beautiful Into Mischief filly to be named Jane Grey. Just as her dam would have been, she was given to Bill Mott. Although Mott was not known for sending out brilliant maiden winners in their career debut, Jane Grey lived up to her looks by winning impressively right off the bat in a sharp 1:22 4/5 for the seven furlongs at Saratoga. Little could Mott have known that this would be the most important maiden victory of his career.
However, because of recurring physical problems, Jane Grey would not race again for 612 days, from September 6, 2020 to June 10, 2022. Mott and Godolphin then kept giving her every chance to return to that debut victory but she was never was able to, finishing second three times and third twice in six starts before finally being retired,
With Jane Grey having the looks and the potential, Godolphin bred Crowned back to Into Mischief, but the resulting filly named Misintention wasn’t nearly as talented as her sister and was winless in eight starts. She showed ability in the morning, but couldn’t reproduce it in the afternoon and finally joined Jane Grey as a broodmare at Gainsborough Farm in Lexington.
But Godolphin still couldn’t get Jane Grey’s maiden win out of their minds and were persistent in trying to get another Into Mischief to duplicate that victory. So it was back to the Spendthrift Farm super stud for the third time. This time they got a big spectacular-looking colt they gave the regal name of Sovereignty, which brings us back to “meant to be.”
If Bill Mott hadn’t hadn’t been given Sluice by the Snowdens and Mushka by Zayat Stables before they split up, and if Brushwood Stables hadn’t let him keep Mushka after purchasing her, Godolphin would have had no reason without all those connections to the family to give him Crowned to train. And if Crowned had gotten to the races it obviously would have delayed her career as a broodmare several years. And if Jane Grey’s career debut hadn’t been so impressive that Godolphin kept breeding Crowned to Into Mischief trying to duplicate it, Sovereignty “wouldn’t be with us,” as chief operating officer Dan Pride put it.
Mott’s odd journey with Sluice, Mushka, and Crowned resulted in 42 total starts by the first two, 24 of them in the money and 18 out of the money, with three graded stakes victories and one listed stakes victory. Although moderate by Bill Mott’s standards, it was a journey that led him to Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes glory and no doubt the second greatest horse he has ever trained.
There is no use trying to figure out what is or isn’t meant to be. You just sit on your pony outside your barn, as Mott did on two Belmont mornings, and let whatever is destined to happen happen. And according to Meda Murphy that apparently applies to horses as well. Just try to explain Rich Strike, Mine That Bird, Medina Spirit and all the other equine rags to riches stories that ended in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle.
As if to add a sad twist of fate to the story, as Sovereignty was preparing to make his career debut, Crowned died at the age of 11. She only produced four foals, but leaves the Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner and his two full-sisters and a brother by Nyquist. That is an amazing legacy for any horse.
So once again, racing has woven a vast tapestry of “what ifs” and “meant to be’s” to bring us to a moment in history that seems so well planned out with all the cast of characters playing their parts to perfection. But in reality it’s been an improvisation with unscripted lines that somehow has brought us a show for the ages and two horses we will remember for many years to come.
For now, however, racing fans have an equine Adonis to worship who has become machine-like in his races and more explosive, more athletic, and more polished with every start. Just standing on the racetrack taking in all the activity, he doesn’t just see, he observes with a keen eye. And the two most challenging visions he has observed are Journalism at Churchill Downs and Journalism at Saratoga charging to the lead directly in front of him. If that doesn’t bring out the best in a competitive young horse nothing will.
And boy did the Belmont bring out the best in Sovereignty, as evidenced by his outrageous final quarter in 23.69 and final half in an equally outstanding 47.99. His final time of 2:00.69 was the second fastest mile and a quarter at Saratoga in the past 46 years. The only horse to run faster was Arrogate, who shattered the track record. And his final quarter and final half were not as fast as Sovereignty’s closing fractions.
For Godolphin and Meda Murphy, the glory did not end with Sovereignty’s Belmont win. The following day, Godolphin’s Grade 1-winning East Avenue, scored a gutsy victory in the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, holding off two Grade 2 winners and a Grade 3 winner from the Kentucky Derby. The son of Medaglia d’Oro was ranked right up there on Murphy’s “A” list at Bridlewood Farm along with Sovereignty and Journalism. I think it is safe to say that tuition for Bridlewood University has greatly increased this year.
And so, the 2025 Triple Crown comes to a memorable conclusion, with its formful and powerful performances, a budding rivalry from childhood, a miraculous finish in the Preakness, its share of controversies centered around two winning jockeys, who gained new fans by giving each other’s horse an affectionate pat after the Belmont, and the battle between the Triple Crown traditions of the past (Journalism) and the more conservative methods of the present (Sovereignty).
We saw a leading trainer, Mike McCarthy, attempting to escape the horrific images of his neighborhood ravaged by wildfires through the heroic performances of his horse in all three Triple Crown races, and we saw the amazing story of the mare Puca continue to unfold, as she had her third consecutive colt to compete in the Kentucky Derby, completing her own personal trifecta by having her sons win or place in five of the nine Triple Crown races over the past three years.
And, yes, we did have another “meant to be” moment. With Sovereignty defeating Journalism fair and square in the Derby and passing the Preakness, historic Pimlico desperately needed one final hurrah before facing the wrecking ball. To say that Journalism gave them that hurrah would be a gross understatement, as he provided a moment that will remain frozen in time, briefly turning Pimlico and the Preakness into the center of the racing universe.
Where did that performance, unlike anything seen before, come from? It came from the same place as Bill Mott’s undefinable 20-year journey to hook up with Sovereignty, and Meda Murphy’s explanation how two colts can come off the same farm and totally dominate the Triple Crown. It simply was meant to be.
Photo courtesy of Coglianese Photos/NYRA
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.
Royal Ascot is about to start in a few hours so here we go at guessing the winners.
Queen Ann Stakes – Dancing Gemini
Coventry Stakes – Postmodern
King Charles’s III Stakes – Mgherra
St James’s Palace Stakes and race of the day – Henri Matisse
Ascot Stakes – Manxman
Wolferton Stakes – Ambiente Friendly
Copper Horse Stakes – French Master
It’s all about the enjoying of the racing rather than picking winners so have fun!!
In consider of Brad Cox’s first Florida Derby winner Tappan Street this year (in my backyard — almost literally!), I’ve added his 2-year-olds to my Must Watch list. It’s probably too early in the year to expect a future Derby winner’s debut, but on Thursday at Horseshoe Indiana, Cox sends out Mischief Mania. MM was a $300k yearling and is by Into Mischief (!) out of a Tapit mare. I’ll be keeping an eye on this one’s progress.
Oops! In consideration of…
Hi Roberta
Believe it or not, I was just about to post a comment on Mischief Mania’s upcoming debut race. Being a big fan of Into Mischief colts, I’ve been monitoring the progress of his 2yr. olds. Hopefully, MM makes a good showing in his first out performance.
That’s great, Bill. I believe it! You’re always introducing nice 2yos to our group. I’m not sure if MM has had enough of a workout plan to win at first asking. The tote board might tell the story. May he be healthy and happy!
David, I wish I could post photos here! I know, the weather is going to be glorious – 99.8% of my stay in the UK, the weather has been perfect
I’m excited to see how APK does on turf and dirt -he got a 117 US Timeform rating, which is excellent. We’ll see where they go from here – probably turf for now, but nothings been decided
Yep, Euro shippers are always tough, but I think APK is really good
It sounds like Heart of Honor was fatigued by Belmont time. He’s getting a much deserved break – can’t wait to see him later in the year!
Yes Betsy, the weather has been wonderful for your holiday. You’ll have to put Chantilly on your bucket list for next time.
I really wasn’t over enthusiastic about Heart of Honor running in the US Triple Crown races he did look like a horse ready for a rest
I hope you have the ITVX App ready so you won’t miss Royal Ascot.
I had Steve’s “Bridlewood Farm Feature” on April 20 as the best Turf story of the year. But, “What They Were Meant to Be” piece got the vibe as being right there at the same level of brilliance.
Both articles are not only exclusive but also very captivating and relevant.
Steve’s readers here are indulged with unique “behind the scenes” stories. There is no better feeling that getting behind the headlines… Steve’s vivid metaphores are meant to stay alive in our minds and hearts.
Imagine learning about two primary school buddies becoming eventually President and Vice-President… that is the impact of the Bridlewood tales of Sovereignty and Journalism… And another buddy graduate of Bridlewood Farm could become a kind of “Secreatry of State” if also East Avenue is able to handle Classic distances…
Thanks Steve for sharing your treasures of turf writing for the enjoyment of the true fans…
Hope this finds you well Nelson. Flying in morning to Maine. Always good to get away. Admiral Dennis was impressive.
Have a good time Mike.
Dennis was finally able to win albeit against an average field but looked good anyway… also Bracket Buster did very well at Monmouth yesterday … he earned an enry to the Haskell to face Baeza, East Avenue, Burham Square, and Gosger again.
This is a very nice group of 3-year-old runners this year indeed…
Agree and thanks!
Yes Nelson, akin to Vino Rosso and Justify both coming from the Gunther’s Glennwood Farm.
That is a very good info David … I wanted to search for similar happenings and you saved me the time … Two contemporaneous champions for the Gunthers…
Thanks for sharing…!
Enjoy the races, Nelson, and success with your website. They have good weather at Royal Ascot, should be fabulous.
Well said, Nelson. I think you speak for all of us who visit this site to enjoy the stimulating back stories that Steve so graciously shares with us. He is a treasure to be savored.
Good luck with your website.
Thanks Dewey. I appreciate it….
That is so kind of you Nelson. I can’t tell you how I appreciate it. I was very proud of both those columns. I just wish more people would have read them. But I’m thankful for those who did.
I am sure many more people will be reading those magnificent works … i.e. whenever anyone looks up for Sovereignty and Journalism I am sure your Bridlewood articles would pop up among the displayed pages… As browsing the Internet is infinite your work has no expiration date …
Happy Fathers Day to all the dads among our Secretariat bloggers and, of course, our leader of the pack, Steve Haskin.
I’ll be focused on the U.S. Open Golf Championship today. I have a live contender in Viktor Hovland who is 3 shots off the lead at the start of the 4th round. I placed a $10 win bet on Hovland which will give me a return of $560 if he wins. That’s like betting $10 on a 55-1 longshot winner at the track….. chills and thrills. Go get ’em, Viktor.
Alas, although he attended the pace throughout the day, Viktor Hovland was outkicked for the win and finished third in what proved to be an exciting finish to the U.S. Open.
Aside from the steadfast resilience of the winner, J. J. Spaun, the real winner was the Oakmont CC which brought the pro golfers to their knees. J. J. Spaun was the only golfer under par.
Nelson, are you looking forward to Royal Ascot? They have glorious weather for the five days.
Hola David.
I will try to watch (live) some marquee Stakes especially the Queen Anne, the St James King George and and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Not having much time for horse racing these days as I am developing my website with the aim to have it ready for beta tests next month…
Enjoy the Royal Ascot festival featuring the biggest names in Europe …!
Hi Nelson, best of luck with your website and enjoy the races you are able to watch. I have to rely on replays as they are on in the early, early mornings here. Allez, Zarigana among others. Ha ha
Admiral Dennis, by Constitution, seems to have finally come around to the early form he showed as a promising Kentucky Derby contender by stylishly winning the inaugural running of the Delaware Derby.
Later, Fondly, by Upstart, was just as impressive winning the Delaware Oaks with Margie’s Intention running late to take second.
Fondly got away with murder – she set trotting horse fractions, absolutely glacial.
Machado should never get within 100 feet of Margie’s Intention after what he pulled today – just an outrageously awful piece of race riding. Margie had no chance…
I would add that Brad Cox needs to learn about his new charge – when she was with Brendan Walsh, Margie was never far from the pace. He needs to stop making her a dead closer
Betsy, I think you are a little unkind to Fondly and Irad Ortiz Jr is riding in imperious fashion of late.
What about Take Charge Milady in the Monomoy Girl, superb!!
How am I being unkind? That horse set glacial fractions – take a look. Of horse she had a lot left – and I’m not knocking Ortiz, I’m knocking Machado. He had the favorite, the best horse, and he strangled her back, which put her at a complete disadvantage
Correct!
Mike, it’s like these jocks don’t bother trying…Either Machado doesn’t have a clock in his head, or he just got lazy
Winner is very nice, don’t get me wrong, but that was not a truly run race
Betsy, can’t argue with that.
Mon ami, c’est la vie et la courses de chevaux. N’oubliez pas, toujours une prochaine fois.
David, I barely speak French, but I think you’re saying “my friend, that’s the life of race horses; there’s always next time”.?
Oh of course, and I’m proud of Margie – she’s never run a bad race & there’s more to come with her
Can’t wait to see where APK turns up next!
Off to Paris in the morning!
Profitez des Courses!
Betsy. I wrote in French because I knew you were heading to Paris, the City of Lights. Too beautiful, I wish I was with you.
Yes, A. P. Kid has the ability to get a Grade 1, it’s tough though with the European raiders invading on mass these days.
You have perfect weather, indulge!! Ha ha
Aye, matey, the Admiral was in splendid shape for his convincing win in the Delaware Derby. He could have gone around the track again and beat the bunch he faced. With the Admiral getting a boost to his confidence, I suspect Brad Cox may give him a shot at the big boys in the Jim Dandy for his next race (at a better price, no doubt).
Ahoy, me bucko, Admiral Dennis took the treasure ‘n all the glory ‘n on ‘t better things. Set sail me hearty, ‘t Saratoga.
Davids, you’re making me seasick, ha, ha! You sound like a seasoned seaman. Good stuff. Looking forward to setting port in Saratoga. Did well plundering the triple crown races, so, I’ll have a bagful of booty to bet with.
Now, where did I hide that bottle of rum? lol.
Dewey, no doubt as a young lad you would have read Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘Treasure Island’ – “Fifteen men on the Dead Man’s Chest” “Yo Ho Ho (And a Bottle of Rum”…
There are three boys in my immediate family and we used to watch the TV show “The Adventures of Long John Silver” then playact the various characters. Our unfortunate sister, however, always had to play a mere serving wench, we didn’t realise there were actual female pirates back then. Ha Ha
Glad to be attending the OH Derby June 21 at Thistledown. A field of 10 will contest the 500K 1 1/8 race. Clever Again is the 9-5 FAV. Mcafee is 3-1. I like Chunk of Gold at 7-2 for the win. I will use all 3 of these in my all stakes P5 which ends with the OH Derby.
JMac will ride Carl Spackler….
Matthew, James McDonald with 15 Group 1 wins this season has a chance to equal or beat Malcom Johnston’s record of 16 Group 1 wins in a season at Eagle Farm today. Johnston, a glamour boy jockey, set the record in the Australian 1979 – 1980 season.
McDonald is on Rothfire in the 3 million Group 1, historic, Stradbroke Handicap at 7f. Always a great race, not to be missed is run at 3:57 pm Brisbane time.
Earlier, at 2:38 pm Brisbane time, McDonald is on Hidden Achievement in the 1 million, Group 1, J. J. Atkins Stakes for 2 year olds going a mile. I have fond memories of being at Eagle Farm as a young lad.
Climb aboard and see if ‘J-Mac’ can equal or break the record. Soon after, McDonald arrives in England on the Sunday there for an assault at Royal Ascot. No time for jet lag, J-Mac. Good luck.
Bad luck for J-Mac in the J. J. Atkins, Hidden Achievement was asleep when the gates opened to be dead last. McDonald nonetheless almost got the colt up with a superb ride.
Can J-Mac equal the record with a win in the “Straddy”?
No chance, J-Mac was replaced by Craig Williams on Rothfire in the Stradbroke H.; no doubt McDonald has Royal Ascot on his mind.
As for the Australian Group 1 record in one season, J-Mac has one last chance to equal the record on June 28 in the Group 1 Tattersalls Tiara at Eagle Farm.
On to Royal Ascot…
I was looking at the history of the San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita and was reminded of how many of them that I have seen on site. The race had a $400k or $500k purse for 18 years until 2003 when the purses started creeping downward.
Some of my favorite winners of the race were Tiller, Nasr El Arab, and Bien Bien. All for financial reasons. Nasr El Arab was a big hit for me. I saw him as a sure thing. Even though I’ve learned over the years that there are no sure things in this game.
I left California in 2015. Which is why I didn’t realize that the purses were down in the $100k range.
I can remember big crowds for the race in those days. My wife was with me when Tiller won. And we watched that race in the infield. That was 1979. 46 years ago.
The San Juan Capistrano was always on closing weekend at Santa Anita before the circuit moved to Hollywood Park.
The closure of Hollywood Park left a big void on the circuit.
Trainer Charlie Whittingham won the race 14 times. His first in 1957. His last was Nasr El Arab in 1989. His son, Michael Whittingham, won the race the next year in 1990.
Wesley Ward might not be showing up at Royal Ascot this year but Patrick Biancone has thrown down the gauntlet in the Queen Mary Stakes next Wednesday.
The exciting and undefeated Leinster filly, Lennilu, is the second favourite in the Group 2 Queen Mary Stakes for 2 year old fillies at 5f. What a boost for Leinster should Lennilu win. Leinster is already turning heads with his first runners.
Best of luck to the connections.
Leinster is by the Indy sire Majestic Warrior, so I love seeing him do well …I’d love to see the filly win!
Betsy, Lennilu has been very impassive at Gulfstream Park. Fingers crossed.
Davids, thanks for the reminder that Royal Ascot starts mid-week! I’ve come to love watching racing from the U.K. The announcers don’t feel the need to fill open air time and you get to watch the horses in really beautiful settings. And I finally get what a “hurdle” race is. Now to figure out what “bumpers” do.
That’s great Ms Blacktype, I always wish the US horses had the same training facilities as the Europeans and Australia/New Zealand.
I agree with you about the UK announcers, the Australian and Irish announcers are more like the US announcers. My French is not as good as it once was but I enjoy their coverage as well.
Do you have a favorite sire(s) to follow their progeny?
So funny how a single quote, comment, picture (frozen in time), piece of good writing, experience — can do that, hit a nerve and then remain embedded forever in your mind.
Thank you for this one.
Lol. So we’ll said. Thank you!
I was around, in the late 1980s….there was ralk brewing—about this chestnut horse by Alydar…owned by Phipps—who had an easy way of going—the more he raced—the more this talk got bigger—that Easy Goer just might be the best horse EVER—AMF had that tall black Sunday Silence never been born….the all-time-best talk would still be common, about Easy Goer…..Sham—were itnot for Big Red, of Meadow Stable—would have been talked about as another, of the greats—and had Sovereignty notbeen born….we’d have a 14th, Triple Crown Winner…..it’s the times we were born, that makes the difference—my dad said George Patton came around at the “right time” in history—he might have been just a military lifer, but for the time he was born….
What can Sovereignty do that only Whirlaway and Thunder Gulch have done before?
Roberta, I only have a minute but I’d say win the Travers Stakes but Whirlaway also won the Preakness Stakes so that discounts my guess – X. Ha ha
Regardless of the Preakness, you are correct, Sir! 👏
Thanks Roberta, it’s 🍀 Friday the 13th here. Good fortune.
I think that Sovereignty is another horse that should love Del Mar. I know that Fierceness ran his eyeballs out last year and has run a couple of nice numbers coming back this season. He was also compromised by a track that was playing like a conveyor belt at the time in his Metropolitan loss. Still, I’m not sure about Fierceness yet. I think they got to the bottom of him in last year’s Classic. Todd Pletcher usually puts his horses in the right spots for success. I want to see Fierceness in a good race with good horses before deciding about him. I can’t hold a loss in a Met Mile out of that goofy Wilson Chute against him. Especially, with the track bias at that time of the day.
Can I be seeing it right? The San Juan Capistrano on Sunday has a purse of just $100k? That can’t be right. It must be a misprint.
Itsbeen gr3 for years!….gr3 at SoCal is $100k….
That is a shame.
Great story and very entertaining,Thanks Steve love your work.
Thanks Rich.
I read today—1955 Derby—Swaps ran his last half in :49 2/5….Swaps was one of the fastest of all time—shading :48—in a ten furlong dirt race is something you do not see, very often…if ever—I don’t see anyone beating this colt at Del Mar….
Steve, another pleasure to read and mentioning the dazzling filly Lakeway that time has forgotten for most. A minor injury took away that brilliant spark she had but was still a good runner on return.
I thought being too far back in races would prevent Sovereignty succeeding in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. Horse racing is constantly confusing you but Sovereignty, at this stage of the year anyway, is undoubtedly the leading colt.
No doubt most are over the moon for Bill Mott and Junior Alvarado, both are exemplars for the sport and deserve every success. Bravo to both. I believe that if the Belmont Stakes was held at Belmont Park at the traditional distance Sovereignty would have separated himself even further from the rest of the field.
With the first half of the year now behind us there is much to look forward to in the future months and not just for 3 year olds. Thanks again, Steve, you always make the US Triple Crown races the best they can be. Take a rest. Ha ha
Next week, Royal Ascot from June 17 – June 21, be there!!
David, spot on about Lakeway…she’s been forgotten, but she was so good..
Betsy, Lakeway and Sardula fought a titanic battle in the 1994 Kentucky Oaks, Sardula won the muddy Kentucky Oaks by a nod but in the Hollywood Oaks a few weeks later Lakeway defeated Sardula by almost 5 lengths.
Sadly, a few months later Sardula contracted Osteomyelitis and was humanely euthanised. Lakeway after winning four Grade 1 races at three including a tour de force performance in the Mother Goose Stakes was injured in the Alabama Stakes and, alas, was never the same again.
Lakeway was the brightest star in the early months of 1994 Lakeway gets some redemption in losing the Kentucky Oaks through Sovereignty winning the Kentucky Derby.
David, actually Lakeway was sick when she ran in the Alabama. I knew it anyway, but I Googled quotes – per Gary Jones, they scoped the filly after the Alabama, sjd it turns out she was full of pus & mucous. They were allergies, and eventually turned into pneumonia
Betsy, it was an almost an entire year before Lakeway raced again after the Alabama Stakes in August 1994. Lakeway’s next race after the Alabama Stakes was the Beldame Stakes in July 1995.
Tells you how sick she was..
I’m so glad she’s immortalized now as an ancestress of Sovereignty
Exactly, Betsy. Why Lakeway was never voted Champion 3 year old filly of that year still puzzles me. Well, not really but it’s not worth worrying anymore.
As always your research and story telling is tops. No one can compare. Thankyou for continuing to entertain the racing world
Thank you very much Suzanne.
A boy leaves his job on Wall Street to follow his passion. It was just meant to be. Thank you, Steve for the past 6 months of great articles leading up to the Derby and on through the Belmont. I really enjoyed this Triple Crown season.
Lol. Brilliant Karren Thank you very much!
I think Baeza will get a signature victory….I thought the crowd noise got to him some—and he was finishing some—knowing John, and knowing the horse–I think the Pacific Classic may be on his plate….
Baeza didn’t break well. He was rank into the first turn. He wanted to make a run down the backside but Prat was fighting him. Sherriff’s needs to take the blinkers off and let him run. Get a jockey with soft hands to ride him and the tables will be turned.
…And the “46 years” led back to a rainy Travers day—and a son of Secretariat who toiled in the weeds, as Spectacular Bid and Flying Paster took all of the headlines—I watched General Assembly with jaw dropped amazement, that day!
As great a Travers performance as Arrogate’s, in my opinion….
Thanks for mentioning Flying Paster one of my all time favorites Flying Paster is honored in the walk of fame near Santa Anita
I daw Paster many times what a looker—he really wasn’t meant for ten furlongs, but he ran some fine 2nds, to Bid—I saw him as a five year old, in the San Antonio—he had a heckuve dirt kick….in Bid’s world record Strub—I thought Shoe moved Bid too soon, Paster was Flying—Bid was just too much, SPECIAL, is the word!..
A fitting ending to a great Triple Crown (sort of) season—thank you so much Steve. This three year old crop may not be as good as the 2007 season of Curlin, Hard Spun and Street Sense, but there are similarities. I hope you follow these good three year olds and regale us with their stories & efforts as only you can, Steve.
I texted a friend the same thing after the race. Sovereignty is Curling, Journalism is Street Sense and Baeza is like Hard Spun.
What I did ask him, though, was: who is Any Given Sunday in this crop?
Any Given Saturday
I always follow Curlin’s progeny—he’s ‘my horse.’ So naturally I’m a huge Journalism fan & hope he turns the tide. The mighty Curlin was 3-1-2 in the ‘real’ Triple Crown series, and look how he turned out! Journalism did a bit better at 2-1-2. So I’ve not given up on Journalism to turn the tide. Hope springs eternal…..
PS Any Given Saturday was good in that crop, but couldn’t best the top 3, imo.
And besides Curlin, Hard Spun ran all 3 races.
Hi, SoloSolo. Sovereignty has been fabulous, but Journalism would be THE star in most other years. He still has the potential to be that star. Keep in mind that Sov’s best races (KD and Belmont) were on off-tracks. Journalism’s only losses this year were on off-tracks.
I just studied Journalism’s Brisnet speed figures for this year. I don’t know if any three-year-old in recent memory has been as consistently sharp as Journalism in the preps and TC races. Starting with the San Felipe and ending with the Belmont, his numbers are 104, 108, 102, 107, 108. I estimated the 108 in the Belmont, as I just saw that Sov earned a 111. (111 – wow!) Not even TC winner American Pharoah matched J’s numbers.
Keep the faith!
Belmont the track was rated fast I believe. It wasn’t that off at race time.
Officially it was “Good.”
Thanks so much, Roberta. Good stats—-warms my heart. I’ll keep the faith!
Roberta, Journalism is very good. If remaining sound, will win many races.
I hope so, Mike.
Burnham Square?
Rags to Riches won the Belmont Stakes defeating both Curlin and Hard Spun. She was the best.
Davids, she was one of my favorites. I think she raced just once after the Belmont. Oh what might have been, if not for injury. Has she produced any good runners?
Roberta, Rhett Butler by Galileo is Rags to Riches best progeny thus far. A Group 1 winner and multiple champion in Hungary and Serbia. He stands in Serbia.
She has a chestnut filly (2023) by Munnings and a bay colt (2024) by Uncle Mo still to race.
Thank you, David. I’m happy to hear that there is some success so far for her. I’ll be looking out for the youngsters.
Steve, you do such a wonderful job of showing the personal connections behind the making of a great horse. Loved this piece! This triple crown season featured some never to be forgotten races, and you rose to the occasion with some of your best writing ever. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
One note: East Avenue won the Grade 3 Matt Winn Sunday, not the Blame S.
A great wrap up for the TC Steve. We readers are all fat and happy when you give us the skinny on it all! Hope you take a week or two off at Royal Ascot!
Thanks Derek. Wouldnt I love that 🙂
David, from last post
I never implied that Justify isn’t fantastic, but IMi it’s unfair to Slew to compare them, at this stage
And despite Arabian Lion, Justify is still very much primarily a turf sire
Betsy, your point is valid regarding Slew.
Mike, and I swear I wasn’t trying to knock Justify….but Slew’s legacy is deep, and lasting. Justify is too young to have that kind of impact
Agreed Betsy.
Betsy, I actually wrote “Seattle Slew went on to become one of the most influential sires and broodmare sires of the 20th Century; Justify is heading in the same direction”.
I was not comparing the two, just speculating that Justify was “HEADING in the same direction.”
The reason for the speculation that Justify may be HEADING in the same direction was that, as also mentioned later, Justify has 2 Classic winners already in Europe one for Coolmore and one for Godolphine the two most powerful stud farms in the world who will no doubt be sending their best broodmares to Justify until he starts to flounder.
Fair, David
That’s true – they’re going to have so many Justifys that they’ll have to find another sire to breed his fillies to, lol
Betsy, Wootton Bassett is the key with Coolmore if they click or Paddington or St Mark’s Basilica not to forget Tiz the Law in the US.
Godolphine have all the Dubai broodmares among others but both are just huge conglomerates with such reach and no restraint if they want a particular horse.
I am thinking that Gun Runner will give Justify a run for his money.
Yes, William, there are half a dozen quite promising young sires ready to replace the old guard.
I agree and don’t really understand why his stud remains at $250,000 considering his failure to produce an outstanding dirt horse. City of Troy’s inability to handle the dirt in last year’s Classic was almost embarrassing and tarnished his otherwise stellar racing career. American Pharoah’s stud fee has fallen to $45,000 and I would argue he has had Better luck with dirt runners than Justify thus far. He just hasn’t started the top level European turf force like Justify has. I honestly hope that he eventually proved himself as a sir top level horses on both surfaces, but I would be surprised based on his lackluster results thus far.
Sorry for the typos and incorrect grammar. I’m not sure how to edit on this website.
Erik you can’t edit your posts on this site. You may not be aware but Northern Dancer, Danzig, Nureyev, Lyphard et al all had incredible stud fees based on their success in Europe not the US yet they all stood in North America.
Australia is also becoming another place to stand sires for maximum returns. Wootton Bassett’s stud fees in Australia is Aus$385,000 In Europe, Wootton Basset’s stud fee is €300,000. That’s around US$407,000.
Only Steve Haskin among racing writers can show us how much more there is to the thoroughbred than what happens from gate to wire. And, oh my, look how much money was invested over many years to get to Sovereignty!
Thank you, Mr. Haskin.
Thank you Roberta
Steve, what a wonderful article. I believe Crowned died fairly recently – such a shame
Bernardini is a phenomenal BMS – he nicks with so many sires
Thanks. There is a paragraph in the story on her dying
Shoot, I missed that …thanks!
Thanks Steve.
Another exciting triple crown In the. Books. Looking forward to many more.
Steve thank you so much for the incredible ride of this years triple crown ! We all appreciate you so much !🙏
Thanks Nick
Quite a chain of events to be sure.
Impressive that Steve Haskin can dig all that information up. Nice wrap-up.
Another great read. Always par for the course!
Simply lovely, Steve. I am constantly amazed at the nuggets you mine and the way you spin words into gold.
And, I knew I could count on you to point out Sovereignty’s amazing closing fractions in the Belmont. Journalism ran a winning race and got the jump on him but even exceptional horses aren’t going to beat another exceptional horse that can stay close to the pace and still run a closing 1/2 mile in a 10f race in under 48 seconds.
The Triple Crown dominance of these two colts that started their training together was truly “meant to be”.
Thank you Robin