When Napoleon Went Solo
The second leg of what has so far been a fascinating Triple Crown is in the books, and we have a Kentucky Derby winner and a Preakness winner who are as opposite as two horses can be. The same can be said about their trainers. Every so often, racing needs one of those straight from the gut New Yorkers, from Hirsch Jacobs to John Campo to Nick Zito. Now say hello to Chad Summers. ~ Steve Haskin
When Napoleon Went Solo
By Steve Haskin
Behind the old Belmont Park grandstand, with its beautiful red brick walls draped with ivy and those large distinctive arch-shaped windows, there were white benches where you could find a diverse collection of “New Yawk” racetrackers who usually had a lot to say.
I remember those racetrack “characters” and often found myself among them mostly just listening to them and occasionally joining in the bantering and grumbling. But, boy did they know their racing and all the gossip that accompanied it.
Two of the regulars who knew everything about everybody and were a constant source of enlightenment were Anthony Stabile, whose father Tony was a lifelong racetracker who trained and did bloodstock work among other things, and Chad Summers, who rivaled Anthony in who was the most outspoken.
While Anthony did writing and handicapping for the New York Post and would be a back-up racecaller at NYRA among other things, Summers did just about everything in the sport.
To say racing has always been in Summers’ blood would be an understatement, as there is little he hasn’t done – hotwalker, groom, stable foreman, clocker’s assistant, radio analyst and host of Breakfast at Saratoga, pressbox gofer at Keeneland, racing manager, and writer for the Thoroughbred Times. He no longer had to sneak into the Belmont backstretch to be near the horses, as he had when he was a kid. Growing up in Bellmore Long Island, he would go to the races and to Breakfast at Belmont with his dad and brother, and while other kids were cutting out baseball box scores, he would cut out entries and results from Newsday and keep records of jockeys and who was riding who. He gained additional knowledge attending the University of Kentucky, and from there he continued to follow his dream to be part of racing and would learn under the tutelage of trainers Bernie Flint and Chuck Simon, who also mentored Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Cherie DeVaux
To those who felt Summers was one of those racetrack hustlers who just talked the talk with not enough expertise in any one field to make a name for himself, they didn’t know the 20-year-old who went to work for Ernie Paragallo’s Paraneck Stables and trainer Jennifer Pedersen in 2004. Summers learned a great deal from Pedersen, and observed how she trained the babies and gave them a foundation. And he learned a lot about the sales and not being afraid to ship out of town.
He also gained a good deal of experience in learning what horses wanted and needed. While working for Pedersen he had a soft spot in his heart for a 3-year-old New York-bred daughter of Artax named Say Hey Willie, who had the neurological disease EPM and everyone had given up on her. But he would walk her an hour every afternoon at Aqueduct and graze her in what little grass there was. He spent his own money to get her massages and then took her to Saratoga for her career debut and she won at odds of 11-1. Summers has always remembered that incredible feeling of seeing her move into contention at the head of the stretch, and has retained that feeling ever since.
But who would have ever thought that outspoken, opinionated, and often brash young guy with the racetrack in his blood, who bought his first horse in 2005 for $1, would experience that same feeling over two decades later as trainer of a Preakness winner, who he had picked out at the Keeneland September yearling sale for a mere $40,000. But Napoleon Solo, owned by Al Gold of Gold Square Stable, was not Summers’ first big victory. Back in those Belmont Park days, the thought of Summers winning a $2 million race in Dubai in back-to-back years was incomprehensible.
But then came Mind Your Biscuits, who had been purchased as a yearling at the 2014 Keeneland January mixed sale by Carrie Brogden and was being pinhooked. The colt went into the sale without being vetted by anyone, and Brogden knew the chances of him selling would be slim. As expected, he failed to meet reserve and was bought back for the same $47,000 she paid for him.
Immediately after the sale, Summers and Susan Montayne wound up buying out two of the partners, with Brogden retaining one-third of the colt.
Mind Your Biscuits would show the racing world that there was a lot more to Chad Summers than one might have thought. This was the turning point in Summers’ career. Rudy Rodriguez trained Mind Your Biscuits initially, and then after four races he was turned over to Robert Falcone Jr., who had excellent success with him, winning the 2016 Amsterdam and Malibu and placing in the Gallant Bob Stakes and Breeders’ Cup Sprint. Following the Gallant Bob, just weeks before the Breeders’ Cup, Summers sold minor interests in the horse to Sol Kumin and Michael Kisber, as well as J. Stables, his main client in Ecuador, and eventually to Japan’s Shadai Farm. Following the 2016 Malibu, Summers got his trainer’s license and took over the training of Mind Your Biscuits.
“I wasn’t looking to train,” he said. “I was happy buying and managing, having bought stakes horses Tommy Macho and Off the Tracks. But some of the owners twisted my arm and asked me to do it. When owners ask you to do that it’s difficult to say no. We grew from five horses to 50 in a month and a half. It’s not easy, but you just try and learn things every single day and look ahead. Once he crossed the finish line in the Malibu, I started thinking about the Golden Shaheen.” That would be a big step for anyone but Summers.
He always had plenty of street savvy, and has never been afraid to step out of the box and take chances. He had learned every aspect of the sport and is old school. Like other New York trainers such as Allen Jerkens and Hirsch Jacobs, there is no horse or race he is afraid to take on if he feels his horse is up to the task.
Mind Your Biscuits would earn over $4.2 million, winning or placing in 15 stakes. Not many horses go from a New York-bred stakes at Finger Lakes to back-to-back victories in a $2 million sprint at Meydan. Not many can place twice in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita and Del Mar and stretch out to finish a fast-closing second in the two most prestigious flat mile races in the country, the Met Mile and Cigar Mile.
It was Mind Your Biscuits who helped instill that confidence in Summers. “He allowed us to travel the world and took us to places we’ve never been,” he said. “We were a part of him for so long, he just gives us confidence.”
In 2021, Summers became the trainer and racing manager for longtime owner Al Gold of Gold Square Stable, who had a reputation for going through a number of trainers over the years. Summers not only trained the majority of Gold’s horses, he managed his other divisions.
In 2024, Summers was attending the Keeneland September yearling sale and took a liking to a Liam’s Map colt, out of the Scat Daddy mare Atomic Blonde, who was bred by John and Tanya Gunther. the breeders of Scat Daddy’s Triple Crown-winning son Justify.
“He was a cheeky foal,” Tanya said. “He was playful, but wanted to use your arm as a toothpick at every opportunity. Some do it with a meanness and others do it with a smile on their face. That was him. Weaning helped him a lot, and by the time he was a yearling he was more of a gentleman. He was a solid colt, well balanced with good bone, and was very athletic. At the sale, I could see he was slipping through the cracks and couldn’t figure it out, other than perhaps Liam’s Map was not a super sexy sire at the time, and the grass family on the dam’s side might have scared some of the Classic-dreaming buyers off. But not Chad Summers.
“We put a $39,000 reserve on him, mainly because we had already RNA’d a few yearlings by then, so our reserves in that book were modest. After Chad bought him for $40,000 I told him we really liked the colt and he got a really good buy and he agreed. The rest as they say is history.”
Named Napoleon Solo after the fictitious spy in the 1960’s TV series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” he showed what he was made of in his first start on August 8, 2025 at Saratoga going six furlongs when he laid just off the pace and then drew off to win by 5 1/4 lerngths. What may have gone unnoticed was the foundation Summers had put in him. He was turning in huge works on a regular basis two months before he even started. He worked a half in :47 3/5 from the gate over the deep Belmont training track, second-fastest of 100 works at the distance. A week later he worked a bullet half at Saratoga in :48 flat, fastest of 31 works, and then followed that a week later with a :47 4/5 work from the gate. So it shouldn’t have been a surprise when he won his debut in such brilliant fashion.
That was enough for Summers to show his daring side, putting him right into the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes at a mile. Although the track at Aqueduct was fast, Napoleon Solo put on one of greatest displays of speed ever seen by a 2-year-old, especially going a mile. He was sent right to the front by Joel Rosario and unleashed a series of mind-blowing fractions — :44 1/5 for the half and 1:07 4/5 for the three-quarters before again drawing clear to win by 6 1/2 lengths in 1:34 2/5 for the mile.
A commanding performance by Napoleon Solo winning the 2025 Champagne Stakes by 6 ½ lengths.
His time was the second fastest in the 158-year history of the Champagne, one-fifth off Devil’s Bag’s stakes record, and equaled the time of Seattle Slew. In fact, his time was faster than three of the last five runnings of the Met Mile and faster than both of Forego’s Met Mile victories and the victories of Kelso, Buckpasser, Native Dancer, Tom Fool, and Gallant Man. Not bad for a 2-year-old.
Although everyone was expecting him to try for the 2-year-old championship in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, if you knew Chad Summers you wouldn’t have been surprised when he said he was putting the horse away for the year and point for a Derby campaign at Gulfstream Park. A follower of the Sheets speed figures, he was aware there was a good chance of a “bounce” or regression after such a big move forward and extremely fast number for a 2-year-old. He had an agenda, which was making Napoleon Solo a leading Derby contender, and wasn’t going to risk that by possibly knocking him out for a while.
“He ran too fast and it’s too close back to send him cross-country,” he said at the time.
Napoleon Solo also had physical issues after the Champagne and needed time off. But during his time off it seems the colt was for the most part dismissed by the experts as a Derby horse, perhaps because they felt he was more of a one-turn horse and he was out of sight, out of mind. Also, his :26 3/5 final quarter in the Champagne left a lot of question marks. The longer he was off the less people thought about him as a Derby horse. “They don’t believe in us,” Summers said. “But I’m planning on giving him six works before his first start, just like Sovereignty last year.”
Napoleon Solo’s first two starts didn’t go as planned. Sent off at 3-1 in the Fountain of Youth, he sat just off the pace, but never really settled into a good rhythm, apprearing a bit headstrong coming off such a long layoff. He made a brief move on the far turn, but tired and faded to fifth, beaten almost 12 lengths. Having only two preps, he needed a big race in the Arkansas Derby, but was scratched when he began sufffering from foot issues. It was now the Wood Memorial a week later or no Derby.
Still dealing with foot issues, Summers worked Naploleon Solo in egg bar shoes, which protect the entire hoof, but are the most cumbersome of the bar shoes. They first gained notoriety in 1996 when the Kentucky Derby favorite Unbridled’s Song, who is Napoleon Solo’s paternal grandsire, wore them in the Derby after suffering a recurrence of a bruised foot several days before the race. “That’s where I learned it,” Summers said with a laugh.
In the Wood, Napoleon Solo went right to the front and this time was doing it easily and looked to be in total control, even while setting a testing pace. That is until Talk to Me Jimmy, the 11-length winner of the Withers Stakes, quickly moved up to take him on down the backstretch. Now they were at each other’s throat, no doubt setting it up for the closers.
After taking his shot, Talk to Me Jimmy had enough and backed out of it, but Napoleon Solo still looked strong turning for home and down the stretch, but his early battle began to take its toll and, although he was still right there at the sixteenth pole, the closers finally came and got him. He finished fifth, but was beaten only 2 3/4 lengths in a performance that was far better than it looked on paper.
With the Derby dream gone, it was time for Summers to turn his attention to the Preakness, run at Laurel Race Course for the first time, with Pimlico being renovated. On April 24, Napoleon Solo worked a sharp six furlongs in 1:11 1/5 over the Belmont training track. Then on Derby Day he sent out his official warning that the Champagne winner was back when he worked another six furlongs, this time in an insane 1:10 flat. Summers sent out his own warning: “He’s finally 100 percent ready.”
After drawing post 10, Summers wasn’t thrilled about a speed horse (Pretty Boy Miah) breaking from post 14, but he knew if Napoleon Solo broke well and got a good position going into the first turn he was going to be very tough. “Ultimately, he’s the most talented horse in the race,” he said.
You couldn’t have written a more perfect script. The favorite Taj Mahal, as expected, went to the front from post 1, but going into the turn, Napoleon Solo was sitting right behind him free of traffic and just waiting for jockey Paco Lopez to pull the trigger. The pace was quick, with fractions of :22 3/5 and :46 3/5. Taj Mahal had never faced those kinds of fractions, even in his lone sprint race. But for Napoleon Solo, they were a proverbial piece of cake and he had no trouble putting Taj Mahal away nearing the top of the stretch.
The question now was, could he keep going? For a brief moment the Gotham winner Iron Honor looked like a possible threat, but the only threat. Napoleon Solo held a 1 1/2-length lead at the eighth pole, and it quickly became evident that Iron Honor was not going to get any closer. Thats when the celebrating began. The margin at the finish was 1 1/4 lengths.
Napoleon Solo with jockey Paco Lopez aboard wins the 2026 Preakness Stakes held at Laurel Park.
It didn’t take long for those memories of Belmont Park and hanging out on the benches to sink in. Although I was an established writer at the time, Anthony and Chad had been going back and forth from one racetrack job to another, both looking for that one big break.
On the day after the Preakness, Anthony remembered on Facebook how Chad got him a job back in 2011 that “got me my car, which got me my Mogehan Sun gig and to my new reality show pilot. He then introduced me to the radio folks I worked with for eight years. We’ve had a million fights since and made up a million and one times. At times when no one wanted anything to do with me, he did. He won the Preakness yesterday. THE (EXPLETIVE) PREAKNESS!!!”
Summers has always said, “When they turn for home and have a chance to win, there’s no better feeling in the world.” Napoleon Solo certainly gave him that feeling turning into the Laurel stretch. And now that the racing world finally knows who Chad Summers is, it is time for him to look ahead and let his horse take him to even greater heights.
“Horses today are not around for long,” he said. “They go off to stud right away. You need the people who love the sport. In the ‘60s, the New York tracks were packed. We need to generate new fans. People gamble on other things now. We have to get the younger people out and show them how great this sport is.”
He made a pretty good start on Saturday.
Photos courtesy of Jeffrey Snyder/Maryland Jockey Club, Coglianese Photos, and Laurel Park
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.
Sorry for the repeats. I am low to no tech. I do think I am on target about Albus.; however. Of all the derby scratches in the days leading up to the Ky fiasco I didn’t consider any. Renegade was my main concern. Also I picked Funny Cide as a triple crown winner after spending the day with him as a yearling. A year before Luv the Tune won his first race I knew he would win first out going away.. (Secretariat’s Belmont pales in comparrison). Whenever I think about quitting I remember that little horse! What a heart! What a heart!
I’m not playing during these three weeks between the Preakness and the Belmont.
I’ve watched the replay of the Derby several times focusing on horses that might run back in the Belmont.
Everybody saw that Renegade had all kinds of trouble at the start. Even getting knocked sideways. He also endured some bumping in the stretch. Rought trip and he still fought on to finish second. If you liked Renegade in the Derby, no reason to jump ship now.
Emerging Market was kind of a wise-guy horse in the Derby. He had a bit of a rough trip early on. But his main problem was that he might have been a little too close to a hot pace. He actually had a clear run in the stretch but faded. He has more speed than the other 3 horses that I’m looking at. Renegade, Commandment, and “The Chief”. Which might play well at Saratoga depending on which horses enter.
I’ve read some people claiming that Commandment might have been done in by the distance. I’m not so sure about that. He also had a rough trip. Pinched out of the gate. More of an intimidation pinch actually. Then he got knocked around pretty good in the stretch. Join the club. Wide around the far turn.
Chief Wallabee finished a credible 4th in the Derby after his own rough trip. He was still looking good in the stretch before he got knocked sideways. Stopping his momentum. Bill Mott had him ready to run a big one.
You know who didn’t have a rough trip? Yeah, you do. Golden Tempo. I am so impressed with the patience of Jose Ortiz to sit back there for as long as he did. He was still way out of it going into the far turn. Ortiz made the winning move and mowed them all down. A very impressive one run and a jockey with nerves of steel.
Bottom line: I played “The Chief” in the Derby and could try him again. Commandment could be the overlay this time. I want to see which jockey ends up on him. Saratoga and a smaller field could be his friends.
Emerging Market has more speed than any of these guys. If there aren’t a lot of speedy types in the Belmont, Emerging Market could be the one at a decent price. I would love to see Emerging Market sitting right off a horse like Chip Honcho. I would expect the Chad Brown/Klaravich runner to draw off in the stretch in that scenario.
Renegade is easy to like. The only trouble being that I think he goes favored after that horrible trip that everyone saw.
I wouldn’t be completely surprised if Golden Tempo were to win the Belmont. But I feel like an in-the-money run is more likely. I was against him in the Derby. I never expected such a fast pace. I can be dumb like that sometimes. But I missed the wedding………………………………….old-timers will know the rest.
” bumped break, jammed between, pinched back start”
Those are the ooening words in the narrative of the Ky Dby chart…they are refering to reigning Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo who had as much trouble as anybody….I would be totally surprised if GT ran a bad race…..i think he moves forward once again and wins the Belmont….the Chief, Commandment and Renegade are possible upsetters…
It can be argued Chief Wallabee and Danon Bourbon ran best …both were fairly close to the pace, Danon opened up two at the eighth pole, suffered an injury ..Chief got roughed up yet kept coming…
Yes, the Chief ran a great race in the Derby!
Loved how after getting bounced around nearing the 8th pole he reengaged and “ran on willingly” …..in the FL Dby when facing an opportunity to split horses he might have been a little shy….but after watching the Derby replay he seems to have grown out of that and came home more aggressively….he will be a legit threat, not to be overlooked…
I heard that for 99% of the young men, who jumped out of the planes, paratrooping during WWII…floating at night through fifty caliber matching gun fire…..it was their first time in an airplane…..Happy Memorial Day….
I was interested in reading the BH article on Golden Tempo standing at stud at Lane’s End where they talked about his female line being Phipps back to Blitey. However, I thought it odd that there was no mention of Blitey’s sire being Riva Ridge. RR is seldom mentioned in sire lines.
It was terrific having a full field for the Preakness. Lots of betting options.
I hope we get at least 10 for the Belmont. I’ll set the over/under at 8.
I did a little investigating. The Belmont fields have been trending downwards over the last 10 years. Which is interesting.
2025- 8
2024- 10
2023- 9
2022- 8
2021- 8
2020-10
2019- 10
2018- 10
2017- 12
2016- 13
Will this year’s pretty equal group of horses produce more or less entries?
My over/under of 8 seems about right. The more the merrier IMO.
After a couple of years with some pretty good horses..this year may be a bit more sparse, in quality—which makes for better wagering opportunities!….a 52-1 exacta payout saved my Preakness weekend…I did not cash in the Derby, although upon further reading of my Racing Form I came up with the winning exacta—I thought about asking Churchill Downs if I could repost my Derby wager, but I doubt they would’ve obliged…there has been money to be made, in the 2026 Triple Crown, with one race remaining! (it could make me sooo happy!)..
is silent tactic going to get a new jockey?Is he even going to run?Hmmm.
I think he already has a jockey….its the horse…the jockey is fine but its the horses feet that are the priblem….horse may need class relief too…
I find it incredulous that no one in NY
seems to like Albus the Wood Memorial winner. I called Pin Oak after the KY. fiasco to check on his condition hoping he hadn’t suffered a career ending injury. I commented that my Preakness super box would contain only four horses, Albus stablemate and the three that ran behind him. My 500 dollar super in the Ky. derby was War Emblem wheeled on top. If a super trainer like Lucas (in this case Assmussen) enters a horse, I don’t care if he is blind in both eyes, missing a foot, and loaded in the gate backwards …you’d better have him on your ticket. I didn’t. Hadn’t hit anything in over a month
when I bought a program the night before one year on Steven Foster day at CH. I had a single in every race that just happened to start in and end the pick six., except I couldn’t decide between Baffert an a nice Pleasant Colony. Some kid in a rage flung his program as I was walking in the pavillion. It landed at my feet. He made a loud statement about the off track. I felt bad for him told him I wasn’t having the best luck either., but take my program I’ m sure a couple of these will help round out an exacta. I think I am just going to look at them in the paddock today (in the pouring rain, lol) Right then was when I noticed my picks started and ended with the pick six, (Clue) I thought naa that’ll probably cost $100 , never played one before. Long story short the kid comes running out to the paddock after the pick six screaming, I mean screaming, “there she is! That’s the girl that gave me the pick six!” Of course he having never layed eyes on before that day only caught the last couple races. So he gives me the program back and I went to a teller and asked how much for that pick six, $4 dollars!
Pretty darn interesting for such a factual story.
I remember Mind Your Biscuits. He always seemed to outrun expectations. I can’t remember if I ever cashed a ticket on him.
That’s terrific reporting, Steve!
Thank you Jack!
Have we not all seen catastrophically injured horses continue to run? After what Albus indured in the Derby… and Mannie Franco mercilessly whipping him. . I was terrified he would collapse at the half! I stated that I had seen enough in the Wood that I didn’t care if he ever had another race. I would wager on his foals. Speaking of never racing again, why was Mannie Franco not set down for his callous treatment of Albus when the horse had lost all chance. A heartless jockey should never ride any horse let alone one with the heart of Albus.
Have we not all seen catastrophically injured horses continue to run? After what Albus indured in the Derby… and Mannie Franco mercilessly whipping him.. I was terrified he would collapse at the half! I stated that I had seen enough in the Wood that I didn’t care if he ever had another race. I would wager on his foals. Speaking of never racing again, why was Mannie Franco not set down for his callous treatment of Albus when the horse had lost all chance. A heartless jockey should never ride any horse let alone one with the heart of Albus. Kudos to Edgar Prado he deserves his Hall of Fame. Also after the treatmrnt Albus recieved at the hands of Franco I wouldn’t put Albus in a race that he was in for the horses mental well being. At least for awhile. Hirsch was all abiut a horses psyche. Like Baffert was known to say”keep em happy”
I love a fast horse that can get in a rhythm and carry their speed. For a while, Napoleon Solo was my Derby horse and it was a disappointment when he didn’t make it into the field and I had to consider that he didn’t mature into the promise he’d shown at 2. But then, the Preakness. Watching him press the fast pace and going on when the favorite threw in the towel made my day for sure. Yes, the final fractions were slow but he never lost his rhythm and smooth stride. I’m really looking forward to see what Napoleon Solo’s future holds.
So what happens when he runs against a favorite that won’t fold? Just saying.
I find it incredulous that no one in NY
seems to like Albus the Wood Memorial winner. I called Pin Oak after the KY. fiasco to check on his condition hoping he hadn’t suffered a career ending injury. I commented that my Preakness super box would contain only four horses, Albus stablemate and the three that ran behind him. My 500 dollar super in the Ky. derby was War Emblem wheeled on top. If a super trainer like Lucas (in this case Assmussen) enters a horse, I don’t care if he is blind in both eyes, missing a foot, and loaded in the gate backwards …you’d better have him on your ticket. I didn’t. Hadn’t hit anything in over a month
when I bought a program the night before one year on Steven Foster day at CH. I had a single in every race that just happened to start in and end the pick six., except I couldn’t decide between Baffert an a nice Pleasant Colony. Some kid in a rage flung his program as I was walking in the pavillion. It landed at my feet. He made a loud statement about the off track. I felt bad for him told him I wasn’t having the best luck either., but take my program I’ m sure a couple of these will help round out an exacta. I think I am just going to look at them in the paddock today (in the pouring rain, lol) Right then was when I noticed my picks started and ended with the pick six, (Clue) I thought naa that’ll probably cost $100 , never played one before. Long story short the kid comes running out to the paddock after the pick six screaming, I mean screaming, “there she is! That’s the girl that gave me the pick six!” Of course he having never layed eyes on before that day only caught the last couple races. So he gives me the program back and I went to a teller and asked how much for that pick six, $4 dollars!
Now for the 800 lb elephant in the room. The subject of the Belmont Stakes run at Saratoga at the non traditional 1 1/2 mile distance. On other discussion boards for the past 2 years the complaint is it’s not a true Triple Crown series because of the -1/4 mile. One poster did say back in the mid ’60’s Aqueduct ran the Belmont at the classic distance. Why is this an issue? When Belmont was first under construction everyone knew this was coming. What’s the complaint? I don’t have an issue with it. Its a temporary setback.
Any answers to this?
Steve, I really enjoyed your Belmont reminiscences and getting to know Chad Summers through your eyes. To me, he seems like such a likable, smart guy with good ideas to push racing forward.
These 3 year old colts just make me feel like I’m spinning wheels, but my Dad had Napoleon Solo all the way! Despite floundering and making cases for half the field, I always pull for the Liam’s Map babies (bonus points for the white snip). I remember the 2015 BC Mile as being one of the most impressive efforts of that star-studded weekend. I loved how Liam’s Map refused to be denied, and thought he was overshadowed by American Pharoah and the history that was made that season. It’s so good to see his offspring doing well, including our friend Burnham Square. I think David D was really onto something with the idea that Napoleon Solo might also like grass.
As arlingtonfan pointed out, it is uncanny how Chuck Simon’s fingerprints have been all over this Triple Crown. I’d love it if you felt like writing a little more about him. Your profiles (and tributes) are always the best!
Horses will tear your heart out. Equipose, Barbaro, Luv the Tune, Wayward ways, Funny Cide, Prarie Bayou, Phone Randy, Swale (starved to death), Phar Lap, PACO
(my absolute favorite!…the yard stick) God is a perfect creator. God’s love of animals is stated over and over in the bible. They are in heaven! God loves us much more. However we are the ones with a choice. Choose Jesus.
Hi Steve, Thanks for this one. I was feeling a bit down today. I imagine others do sometimes.
I hope it helped brighten your day.
Your opening paragraphs here are so evocative; they make me miss all the more being able to go to the track in person! And thank you for telling us Chad Summers’ story; I didn’t know much about him before this.
P.S. Think how proud and thrilled Chuck Simon must be! Two mentees winning consecutive Triple Crown races–that’s pretty good.
I wish he was alive to see it. He passed away in 2024 at age 57. A wonderful guy.
I’m so sorry to hear that! And 57 is so young. What a shame he didn’t get to see this year’s TC.
Boy does that bring back memories Steve! My dad, the school psychologist who worked in Nassau County was friends with Lou DeFichey (spelling) who covered racing for Newsday. Dad smuggled me into the back barns of Aqueduct and Belmont when I was eight or nine and through them to the track ( where 16 was the minimum for spctators) I remember seeing Buckpasser, Bold Lad and Kelso up close. I was an advanced reader early on and by then I was a Starry Eyed Walter Farley fan so I was in heaven at the track! As always, your writing moves my heart. Thank you.
What great memories. I remember going to the backstretch with my father. Lou Rondinello or Mike Kay usually would leave my name at the gate. The backstretch in your early days must have been magical.
Another great article that gives us so much background. I bet a $5 Trifecta keying Iron Honor to win or place; I was stunned by the payoff. Sometimes you get lucky.
Another great read!!
Someone asked me I liked in the Preakness..I didn’t know much about any of them.
Looking at them and their names,I looked up Napoleon Solo.. a great article by Patricia Mc Queen told me that he has a
Who’s Who in relatives… so he became my favorite.. and my first actual bet…( I’m 86)
Such fun to see him win!!.
He’s wonderful…🏇🩶🤍🩶
Congratulations to all associated with him too!
Hi Steve
Thank you for providing a fascinating backstory on Chad Summer’s rise to prominence and Napoleon Solo’s very impressive win in the Preakness Stakes. As Chad mentioned, “Ultimately, he’s the most talented horse in the race”, which you stated as well.
Evidently, he’ll not run in the Belmont Stakes, which begs the question, where will Chad Summers point Napoleon Solo for his next outing?
He’s aiming for the Haskell.
Thanks, arlingtonfan
I find it incredulous that no one in NY
seems to like Albus the Wood Memorial winner. I called Pin Oak after the KY. fiasco to check on his condition hoping he hadn’t suffered a career ending injury. I commented that my Preakness super box would contain only four horses, Albus stablemate and the three that ran behind him. My 500 dollar super in the Ky. derby was War Emblem wheeled on top. If a super trainer like Lucas (in this case Assmussen) enters a horse, I don’t care if he is blind in both eyes, missing a foot, and loaded in the gate backwards …you’d better have him on your ticket. I didn’t. Hadn’t hit anything in over a month
when I bought a program the night before one year on Steven Foster day at CH. I had a single in every race that just happened to start in and end the pick six., except I couldn’t decide between Baffert an a nice Pleasant Colony. Some kid in a rage flung his program as I was walking in the pavillion. It landed at my feet. He made a loud statement about the off track. I felt bad for him told him I wasn’t having the best luck either., but take my program I’ m sure a couple of these will help round out an exacta. I think I am just going to look at them in the paddock today (in the pouring rain, lol) Right then was when I noticed my picks started and ended with the pick six, (Clue) I thought naa that’ll probably cost $100 , never played one before. Long story short the kid comes running out to the paddock after the pick six screaming, I mean screaming, “there she is! That’s the girl that gave me the pick six!” Of course he having never layed eyes on before that day only caught the last couple races. So he gives me the program back and I went to a teller and asked how much for that pick six, $4 dollars!
Chad mentioned that they might need a race for Napoleon Solo before the Haskell. Finding the right spot between now and could be an interesting challenge if they want to stay at stakes level. I am
nosey, so I looked at the calendar. Maybe the Pegasus Stakes or Salvator Mile Stakes, both on 6/13 at Monmouth?
Thanks Steve, for introducing us to Chad Summers. Nice to see a real racetracker find his convoluted way to the top
You’ve written a wonderful back story on Chad Summers here, and deftly woven in Napoleon Solo’s story too. It’s great to see another young trainer making his mark with a talented, almost overlooked horse. Racing needs them both, just as it needs you! Thanks for all you do.
I just love it when a $40,000 horse wins the Preakness, especially after a homebred (albeit a fairly royal homebred) wins the Derby!
I do too. It’s fun to see the overlooked and unfashionable pedigree types shine!
I bought a mare for $600 at Keeneland,. I did some research. Keeneland then made an age old exception to run her back in January. She sold for $17,000 six weeks later. Will Farrish bred her to Captain Bodgit. Before that a friend and I bet her previous colt at Gulfstream who won in the slop by 5 at 35/1. We had $300 across. I wish I hadn’t sold her as two years later the Australians came to Saratoga looking for mares with her exact pedigree…and she was unequivacly the very best mare in that line..
Agreed! So satisfying!