Prioress and the Triumph of American Racing

Only in America would they name a sprint race after a horse best known for winning what is universally recognized as “a severe stamina test.”

From Porter's Spirit of the Times, October 31, 1857

On Saturday at Saratoga, the Grade 1 Prioress will be run for 3-year-old fillies and if ever a race was misnamed it is this one. Contested at six furlongs since its inaugural offering in 1948, the Prioress Stakes was first run at Jamaica Race Course, then Aqueduct, followed by Belmont and now Saratoga. However, the 19th century mare for whom this race is named, royally-bred and part of a tremendously influential family of siblings out of the Glencoe mare Reel, will forever be remembered as the first American-bred and American-owned horse to win a race in England, the prestigious 2-1/4 mile Cesarewitch Handicap in 1857.

In 2008, Teresa Genaro over at Brooklyn Backstretch delved into the New York Times coverage of Prioress’ European campaign, particularly two letters written by a Newmarket correspondent reacting to her Cesarewitch win by concluding she “is only a very second-rate animal.” At Thoroughbred Heritage, Patricia Erigero elaborates more upon Prioress’ career, including the interesting fact that the year following her Cesarewitch win Prioress dead-heated for second in the same race, this time carrying 126 lbs., the second highest weight in the field. During her racing career, she won carrying as much as 140 lbs., although she also failed to win at that weight too, attempted at age 7—and over a distance of three miles. Yes, three miles!

During my recent stint at the National Sporting Library, I uncovered a fascinating account of Prioress’ Cesarewitch victory in Porter’s Spirit of the Times (vol. III, no. 9, October 31, 1857), the hard-to-find publication edited by William Porter after he left his position as editor (and co-founder) at the older Spirit of the Times paper; after Porter’s death in 1858, it became known as Wilkes’ Spirit of the Times. The issue in question featured the race as its cover story, with an illustration of Prioress defeating El Hakim and Queen Bess in the run-off race contested on the same day as the Cesarewitch after the big event ended in a triple dead heat.

The paper reprinted the October 14 London Times race results with a list of all 34 competitors, carrying weights ranging 129 lbs. (carried by Fisherman and Warlock, the later only because his jockey was six pounds overweight) to a mere 66 lbs (carried by the 3-year-old fillies Wild Honey and Queen Bess). Can you imagine a 66-pound jockey?!? The 3-year-old colt El Hakim carried 93 lbs, as did 4-year-old Prioress. The betting public favored 3-year-old colt M. Dobler at 4-1, with El Hakim second choice at 8-1; Queen Bess was 30-1, while the American invader Prioress went to post at 100-1.

Porter’s reporter, coyly known only as “Don John,” sets the scene thusly:

Imagine the wide expanse of that noblest race track in the world (or rather series of tracks), embracing many miles of mossy turf, with thousands of spectators from all parts of the United Kingdom, and Continental Europe, assembled to witness the great and all-engrossing struggle for the Cesarewitch; and then conceive, if you can, the feverish anxiety manifested, when no less than thirty-four thorough-bred horses appeared, saddled for the fray, their several jockeys attired in all the glory of silk and satin of the rainbow’s hues, whilst the animals they bestrode represented the flower of English racing chivalry—the large majority of them having previously won honor and renown in many a well-contested field, whilst of the small minority of candidates for Turf honors, high hopes were entertained by their friends and owners. It was an array to make the eye brighten, the pulse quicken, and the whole frame to quiver with excitement, as the gallant squadron passed in review, prior to wheeling into line for that grand charge, the result of which was awaited with so much anxiety, and which would bring joy to some, and the confusion of defeat to others; whilst, causing, perhaps, a couple of millions of dollars to change owners in a few short moments. Can you wonder that, although hastily scanning with eager eye the form and condition of each other candidate, I gave a long and lingering gaze to the gallant mare who was the sole representative of America; or that, as she passed down the track, I wished her “God speed” on the journey homewards, and then resigned myself to fate.

I love his description of the start:

The starter, flag in hand, gathered his noble field of horses together, and after one or two attempts, brought them to a stand still line. In a moment the red signal fell, and away they went, helter-skelter, like a cluster of bees, close together, for the dash of two and a quarter miles, the start being a beautiful and most effective one.

After the start, Prioress settled mid-pack with El Hakim, while Queen Bess battled for the early lead. As the correspondent notes, “at the Bushes the pace began to tell” and Queen Bess took the clear lead with Prioress and El Hakim joining her as they descended the hill and approached the cords. El Hakim was at Queen Bess’ neck, while Prioress is described as “running by herself on the far side.” As the correspondent notes:

One of the most exciting Cesarewitch finishes ever seen then ensured. Prioress, half way up the cords, seemed to be about coming in alone, but the tiny jockeys of El Hakim and Queen Bess made a determined set to, and the judge, unable to separate the first three, pronounced a dead heat.

They finished the 18-furlong event in a time of 4:09.

What happened next is an extraordinary thing—a deciding heat of another 2-1/4 miles “run after the last race in a deepening twilight, which rendered it impossible to distinguish the colors of the riders at a distance.” Our intrepid correspondent reports:

El Hakim was first off, but after going about fifty yards, Prioress, overpowering [her jockey] Fordham, rushed to the front, and carried on the running to the ditch gap, where she was pulled back, and lay about three lengths in the rear, Queen Bess going on with the lead, closely attended by El Hakim. On coming down the Bushes hill, Prioress hung to the left, and a shout was raised of “the American’s beaten!” But Fordham roused the mare with his whip, and before reaching the foot of the hill she bore her colors in advance, and quitting her opponents half-way up the cords, won cleverly by a length and a half; El Hakim beating Queen Bess by a head only for second place. A loud and prolonged cheer hailed the triumph of the American colors, and [owner] Mr. Ten Broeck was warmly congratulated upon the first victory achieved by him in England.

The “second” Cesarewitch of 1857 was concluded in 4:15, and, interestingly, the very next day Mr. Richard Ten Broeck won his second race on English soil, the Bedford Stakes with his 2-year-old filly Belle, also ridden by Fordham.

However, it was Prioress’ victory that had all of America gloating. Porter’s Spirit of the Times declared it a “Victory of America Over All England” and within its historical context, this race marked a key moment in American racing. Think of it, sending a horse—via pre-Civil War means of transportation—abroad to race in the country where the sport of thoroughbred racing first began, not to mention the country from which the United States had but relatively recently acquired its independence. Even today, other than the outstandingly-sporting Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey, it’s rare for American horses to ship abroad (other than for the lucrative Dubai World Cup races). So, Richard Ten Broeck’s English invasion marked a significant event.

As John Dizikes notes in his book Sportsmen and Gamesmen, American racing of the 1850s occurred on dirt tracks that were oval in shape and run in a counterclockwise manner, much different from the grassy, irregular meandering courses found in England where contestants ran to “the Right.” Also, as Dizikes rightly contends, “English horsemen took the traditional view that the race was against the competition and not the clock.” (p. 129). So, fundamentally, American racing had diverged from whence it first emerged, and its proponents sought to promote its legitimacy by taking on the staid English traditionalists on their own turf. For that reason alone, the Americans had reason to celebrate, and Porter’s correspondent led the cheer:

Victory! Victory! Victory! a plain, straightforward, honest victory at last; not the victory of a match race between horse and horse, but the victory of America over all England, in the greatest handicap race of the English racing year. The legitimate triumph of “Young America” over “Old England,” the defeat of the flower of English racing stock by the American mare Prioress, is the feat I have to record—a feat which obliterates the memory of previous disasters, and compensates for all the disappointments to which American sporting men—proud of their native land, and firmly convinced of the equality at least of the American with the English horse—have been subjected.

We have been accused of being a nation of boasters; our vaunted equality as breeders and trainers of race-horses has been laughed at; our debut at Goodwood, with animals out of all form and condition, enabled our victors to sneer at our puny efforts, as they described them, whilst our subsequent appearances elsewhere have been synonymous with defeat. It is now our turn to smile. We have beaten the English at their own game; and they are now content to admit that we had reasons and cogent ones, for the ground we took at starting, and that, with health and condition on our side, we were at least their equals. They expressed a desire that we should win one race, at least, in reward of the “pluck” and spirit we had displayed in sending horses across the wide Atlantic to compete with them. We have gratified that desire, and carried off the richest prize that was open to our competition; a prize far superior, in both intrinsic value and as a racing test, to the much-coveted Goodwood Cup, and a prize of which we may justly feel proud. As we bore defeat after defeat with meekness, confident in our strength, and that the time would inevitably come, when a victory worthy of us would be ours, so let us bear ourselves in the hour of legitimate triumph.

That’s why Prioress meant so much historically, regardless of her overall career, failure as a broodmare and early death—and why a mere sprint race 155 years later fittingly celebrates our racing history for a change.

Note:

John Dizikes’s chapter on “Richard Ten Broeck and the American Invasion” pp. 124-157, in his Sportsmen and Gamesmen: From the Years that Shaped American Ideas about Winning and Losing and How to Play the Game (Houghton Mifflin, 1981; reprinted University of Missouri Press, 2002) is well worth reading as an informative study of mid-19th century American horse racing—the societal context of the sport as well as the subculture formed within it. It’s available free via Google Books here.

Two Hundred Mile Mare

An article from the July 23, 1873 Washington (PA) Reporter recently caught my attention, as it is particularly demonstrative of the once-love of true staying contests Americans appreciated both in flat racing and in harness:

On Wednesday and Thursday, the 14th and 15th of June, the Driving Park at St. Paul, Minnesota, was the scene of an extraordinary trot, Mr. Martin Delaney matching his sorrel mare (a small, full blooded Morgan) to trot two hundred miles in forty-eight hours, for the small take of two hundred dollars. The St. Paul Press says of the first day: The trot was commenced yesterday at twenty minutes past four o’clock a.m., Mr. J. Cummings holding the ribbons. The mare started out at the rate of more than ten miles an hour, for the first two hours, and was gradually slowed to about an average of about ten miles an hour. At five minutes past ten she had completed the fifty miles, making it in some five hours and forty-five minutes. She was then given a rest of three hours and a half, and was started at a little past one on the second fifty miles. At half past seven she had completed it, having made the first hundred miles in fifteen hours, which leaves thirty-three hours for the completion of the other hundred. She made the last mile of her first hundred yesterday, the fastest of any—five and one-half minutes. Those who witnessed the feat say that the mare showed no sign of fatigue, never sweated a hair, and trotted off to the stable to feed at the end of her day’s labor as briskly as though she had just come from the barn.

Detail of St. Paul MN Driving Park location, Rice's Map of St. Paul, 1874

Just as a point of reference, the record for trotting 100 miles in harness (8 hours, 55 minutes, 53 seconds) was set by a bay gelding named Conqueror, on November 12, 1853, at Centerville, Long Island. Inbred to the imported Bellfounder (damsire of the great Hambletonian), Conqueror was by Latourette’s Bellfounder (by imp. Bellfounder’s son Tremper’s Bellfounder) and the imp. Bellfounder’s daughter Lady McClaire.

The article continues:

Wednesday the first one hundred miles was completed, and at half-past seven o’clock the mare was driven to the stable apparently in as good condition as if she had only traveled one quarter of the distance. [On Thursday] morning, when taken out of the barn at five o’clock to complete the trot, she seemed a little sore at first, but soon warmed up and commenced her day’s work with wonderful ease. At ten o’clock she had completed thirty-one miles and was withdrawn until four minutes past twelve p.m. After this rest, in which she manifested no sign of weariness, she made her next seven miles in one hour and two minutes. No pains were taken to keep an account of her rate of speed, but in general terms it averaged during the day about six minutes and five and one-half seconds per mile for the first fifty miles, and seven minutes and two and one-half seconds for the second fifty miles. After the rest given the mare—from seven until nine o’clock in the evening—all parties on the ground saw that she would make her 200 miles easily. She pursued her even gait, and a few minutes past one o’clock this morning completed the race, making her last mile in nine minutes and thirty-one seconds. Thus she won the wager, and in three hours less than the time given her. She trotted off the track seemingly unconscious of the marvel she had performed.

Bred in Vermont and brought to St. Paul via Chicago in 1873, this unnamed 15.2 hand Morgan mare was simply known as the “Two Hundred Mile Mare.” It was later said, “For endurance and determination she was a most remarkable animal, capable of taking two men in a buggy fifty miles in five hours, which feat she performed more than once.” Being so highly regarded, she was bred to a grandson of Hambletonian, Andrews Burnham (Milwaukee), and in 1875 produced The Pigeon, a brown filly that a writer to Wallace’s Monthly described as “a filly that has developed into an animal of such rare excellence, that the breeding of the dam has become an object of much interest.”

One point of interest in my own research deals with breeders and owners in western Pennsylvania—their socio-economic positions, their religion affiliations, what led them into horse ownership as well as how that ownership profited them, not necessarily financially, but socially and in their other business (or political) dealings. In other words, did the prestige of possessing a good horse aid them in getting ahead? While I haven’t researched in any further detail Martin Delaney, I did find it interesting that in 1875—two years after his mare’s legendary accomplishment—he founded the Union Stock Yards in St. Paul, to aid in transporting the meat from his butchering business. The owner of her daughter The Pigeon, steamboat captain Barton Atkins left sailing the lakes and became a railroad executive, eventually appointed by President Grover Cleveland as the United States marshal for Alaska, a position he held from 1885 to 1889.

Sources:

• “Trotting Two-hundred Miles in Forty-Five Hours” Washington Reporter, July 23, 1873.
• Edward Madden, The Trotters of Hamburg Place, Lexington, KY (Cleveland: Judson Printing Company, 1911) pp. 95-97.
• J. Fletcher Williams, History of Ramsey County and the City of St. Paul (Minneapolis: North Star Publishing Company, 1881) pp. 255-256.
• Wallace’s Monthly, vol. VII, no. 3 (April 1881) p. 212.
• John Brandt Mansfield, ed. History of the Great Lakes vol. II (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Company, 1899) pp. 809-812.

How I’m Spending My Summer Vacation

Being in academia, my summers are usually pretty low-key affairs. Lots of home improvement projects mixed with sitting by the pool, playing with the dog, and watching a ton of horse racing. This summer is different. As a rather natural extension of my research on Pittsburgh industrialists and their role in the high-rise development of downtown Pittsburgh, I fell into another topic, fascinating to me and fortunately virtually untouched in academic circles: the history of horse racing in western Pennsylvania—the breeding and racing of both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds. For that reason, I’m thrilled to have been selected for the 2012-13 John H. Daniels Fellowship at the National Sporting Library & Museum! For two weeks in late July, I’ll be immersed in their collection and loving every minute of it.

Why western Pennsylvania? In this frontier region physically and culturally isolated from Eastern cities until the mid-19th century, western Pennsylvanians enjoyed the competitive nature of horse racing, with numerous informal contests held on city streets and farm fields, as well as well-attended events at race tracks, driving parks and important agricultural meetings. Newspaper accounts of the era tell us as much, as do other tangible bits of evidence. Nearly every sizeable town in western Pennsylvania once had a race track or “driving park.” Some county fairs (such as those in Butler, Clearfield, Greene, and Indiana counties) still host harness and/or flat racing events, and, of course, we have The Meadows and Presque Isle Downs, but so many more have disappeared. I intend to not only document these long-gone race tracks (some of which had sizeable grandstands and other structures), but also examine more thoroughly how their lands were repurposed or redeveloped.

Luna Park, c. 1907

Right here in Johnstown there were once two tracks: the Tri-County Driving Park Association’s track at Luna Park (built in 1904) is now the footprint of Roxbury Park; the Johnstown Driving Park Association built its track in Westmont in 1893, and by 1905 it had closed, now forming the streets surrounding the gracious tree-lined Luzerne Street.

Waynesburg Fairgrounds

Closer to home, in Washington County, the former Millsboro Driving Park was a 60’ wide half-mile track constructed in 1875 on what is locally known as Sandy Plains. In case you’re interested in a major restoration project, it’s currently for sale, for $425,000. In my home county of Greene, the Waynesburg Fair and Agricultural Association built a track and grandstand (seating 2,500) in 1912 (the track remains, but the old wooden grandstand has been replaced); I haven’t yet been able to nail down the construction date for the Carmichaels Fairgrounds, but have found its track record was set by a pacer named Beaut Kennedy in 1911, so it’s at least that old.

Carmichaels Fairgrounds

 These are but a few of the many tracks I’m currently exploring, and for that I need help. If you or anyone you know has old photographs or information about these tracks, please leave me a comment here or send me an email (see About Me information in right sidebar). I’m basically interested in all the counties west of the Allegheny Mountains: Erie, Crawford, Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, Washington, Greene, Fayette, Westmoreland, Allegheny, Butler, Venango, Warren, McKean, Forest, Elk, Cameron, Clarion, Jefferson, Clearfield, Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Bedford and Somerset.

In addition to racetracks, the breeding of race horses occurred in western Pennsylvania as well. While congressman William Lawrence Scott’s late 19th century Algeria Stock Farm in Erie County is well known—counting English St. Leger winner Rayon d’Or among its important stallions—few realize that as early as 1811, the imported English race horse Honest John (by Derby winner Sir Peter Teazle) stood stud at Morganza in Washington County. In the early 1890s, in Franklin, near Oil City, Prospect Hill Stud Farm bred trotters of such quality that period writers dubbed it the “Palo Alto of the East” in reference to the great California stud farm of Governor Leland Stanford. Such information is outside the mainstream discussion of American breeding; nevertheless, it is an important part of the larger picture of breeding history, and certainly the role western Pennsylvania breeders played. It is the intent of my research to help fill in the historical gaps, and demonstrate to a contemporary audience just how important horse racing once was—and can continue to be—in this part of the Commonwealth.

I’m also fascinated by the western Pennsylvanians involved in the sport, such as Captain Samuel S. Brown, owner of Senorita Stock Farm (now part of Kentucky Horse Park), but also a farm in Bridgeport, near Monongahela, PA. He won the 1905 Kentucky Derby with Agile, the 1904 Travers with Broomstick, and the 1886 Suburban with Troubadour—and he made his money as a Pittsburgh industrialist. John W. Galbreath wasn’t a Pittsburgher, per se, but as a long-time owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates we’ll claim him as such; synonymous with Darby Dan Farm, he and fellow Pittsburgher Paul Mellon (Rokeby Stables) share the rare feat of having captured both the Kentucky Derby and the Epsom (English) Derby. How many non-racing fans realized how significant Galbreath’s champion Roberto (yes, named after the tragic Pirate great Roberto Clemente) is even in today’s bloodlines? If you haven’t done so before, read my 2009 blog post about how Art Rooney Sr.’s talent for playing the ponies helped built a legendary football team. These are but the tip of an iceberg.

There’s also so much more to explore about: jockey Donna Burnham who rode for Jim Zimmerman at several race meets at Waynesburg before moving on to the big time; Hall of Fame harness driver (and Greene County native) Dave Palone; and someone named V. J. Reynolds from Waynesburg who, according to the Daily Racing Form in 1910 arrived at Lexington with three 2-year-olds and a 3-year-old, with the intent of racing over the Kentucky circuit. Who was this guy?!? These are the kinds of things I’m fascinated with, which should make for a busy yet enjoyable summer.

Preakness Day

Post time for the G 3 Gallorette is an ungodly 11:30 a.m., and the next race isn’t until over an hour later? How odd. [edited to add: ah, they ran the G1 Arabians race in between]. Zagora disappointed as the favorite last out in the G1 Jenny Wiley, and I fear she needs more early speed to close into than she’ll get today. Since Javier Castellano sticks with Zagora, Ramon Dominguez picks up the ride on Laughing who gets a nice 6-pound weight advantage off her foe. She’s a half sister to the monster Viva Pataca, and has already won going longer—in last June’s Nijinsky Stakes at Leopardstown, at 200 to 1, no less! I also like Smart Sting here, cutting back and regaining the services of John Velazquez.

Not sure I can articulate why exactly, but I love the old warrior Ravalo to pop a surprise in the G3 Maryland Sprint—it looks to be a pretty weak field overall so thus willing to take a flyer on the old boy [blah, he's scratched!]. The James W. Murphy looks evenly contested, though, with Easy Crossing shortening up and coming in off a break with Ramon Dominguez aboard for Christophe Clement, a potent combo. The other Clement entry is on the far outside, Achilles; his dam Solvig was a dual-G3 winner on turf and lots of quality turfsters in his family, so expect him to do well moving up in class. Returning to turf should help Gold Megillah, as it should Hammers Terror who finished ahead of him in the G3 Lexington last out. For a price, though, I’ll risk some bucks on Jimmy Toner trainee Two Months Rent who just missed against older horses last out. Interestingly, Illinois Derby winner Done Talking is in here, trying turf for the first time—or maybe he’ll be a scratch when the race stays on turf?

Honestly, I’m ambivalent about the G3 Allaire Dupont, as none in here particularly thrill me. Absinthe Minded is too irregular in her efforts to inspire confidence, and new shooter Awesomemundo is a bit green for my taste. Love and Pride should like shortening up, but I’ll probably risk some on Canadian Mistress off her form against Awesome Maria this year.

The G2 Dixie features Casino Host coming in off two big wins this year—and there lays the problem. Then again, there’s not much in the way of quality turf horses these days in the U.S. so maybe this is the best we get. Oh, how I long for the days of Einstein, Better Talk Now and even Paddy O’Prado! Smart Bid won the G3 Fair Grounds Handicap, and then bombed last out. Hudson Steele looks promising second-up, and for a price Humble and Hungry could be a contender.

Finally, the Preakness…I’ve already expressed my lack of passion for this field, especially the Derby winner. That said, if the track plays like it did on Friday with early speed holding, only those who run on pace will have a chance: Bodemeister and I’ll Have Another, naturally, but also based on prior form, Creative Cause and Cozzetti. Went The Day Well will have to stay closer than he did in the Derby (which he did when he broke his maiden), and even with the blinkers added Tiger Walk just has too much drama for me now with the jockey change to Ramon Dominguez. Regardless of his win last out here, I can’t take Pretension seriously based on his prior form. A longshot exotics play could be Teeth of the Dog if he too stays close early. Bottom line: I’ll be rooting for Creative Cause if Bodemeister fails to fire.

Graveyard of Dreams

Admittedly due to my love of true stamina tests, the Belmont Stakes is, hands-down, my favorite of the Triple Crown races, closely followed by the Kentucky Derby with all its pageantry and then finally the Preakness. No offense to Pimlico or all my Maryland friends, but, irrationally I suppose, I always associate it with disappointment, as in all of my favorite Derby winners (and thus potential Triple Crown champions) that failed to capture the second jewel beginning with Foolish Pleasure, Genuine Risk (damn you, Angel Cordero), Winning Colors…the list goes on. I’m not a fan of I’ll Have Another, mostly due to his disgraceful excuse for a trainer (if this isn’t enough to convince you, then consider these folks with more recent concrete examples). Thus, I won’t be too disappointed when he loses on Saturday. I like Bodemeister, but actually think a new shooter will be even better, hopefully Tiger Walk or Cozzetti. I’ll have more thoughts on Saturday’s undercard later.

Today, it’s Black-Eyed Susan day, as well as the Female Jockey Challenge at Pimlico, featuring top-notch riders Rosie Napravnik, Emma-Jayne Wilson, Forest Boyce, Vicky Baze, Rosemary Homeister Jr., Tammi Piermarini and Greta Kuntzweiler. Apparently pin-up girl Chantal Sutherland is too busy riding two maiden claimers at Hollywood Park to make the trip east, but she won’t be missed. The ladies earn points for finishing in the top 4 placings; for those interested, the scoring races are the second, third, fifth and seventh races (and they will be riding against men in each race).

Race 8 is the Miss Preakness Stakes, featuring the awesome, undefeated Agave Kiss. She worked nicely over the Pimlico track this week and, with her speed, will likely be hard to beat. Cutting back in distance from her third-place finish in the Grade 3 Comely against Kentucky Oaks runner-up Broadway’s Alibi, Sagamore Farm’s Millionreasonswhy is my sentimental pick, but think Singlet could also be dangerous cutting back; she ran well early with Broadway’s Alibi. And what the hell is D. Wayne Lukas thinking putting Colonial Empress in here? Seriously, unless you’re just trying to get more black-type to retire her as early as possible, why not drop her down into maiden company and build up her confidence?

In the Jim McKay Turf Sprint, last year’s winner Maryland-bred 6-year-old Ben’s Cat returns, but he’s all the way out in post 11—ugh! Another senior citizen, Ju Jitsu Jax breaks right inside him, but appears in a bit better form. From a much-better post position, Zeb looks promising, having run third last-out in the Grade 3 Shakertown at Keeneland—he’s also won with Rosie Napravnik aboard before, so I’m hoping to get a good price on him. Cactus Son also looks suited to the distance and comes out of a strong Grade 3 Turf Sprint at Churchill.

I handicapped the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for ThoroFan; you can check out my thoughts here. Looking for a price, I landed on Welcome Guest, but I’m afraid she’ll be the “wise guy” pick for too many and thus not be as lucrative a choice as she could be. Hoping Glinda The Good might add a little more to my exotics payout, but also think In Lingerie is good play.

In the Very One Stakes, Inspired and Well Deserved both come out of the Giant’s Causeway turf sprint at Keeneland, and will thus likely garner much favoritism. That said, I’m intrigued by the 3-year-olds, Jazzy Idea and especially Sensible Lady who failed horribly against Agave Kiss in the Trevose, but looks to like turf better.

And, boy, didn’t the Pimlico Special come up strong? Alternation is riding a three-race win streak, all at Oaklawn, but I’m thinking Yawanna Twist may run big here. Sentimentally though, I’d love to see Endorsement win—he’s been a long-time favorite ever since I cashed on his Sunland Derby win, and it’s always good to see a once-injured horse make it back to the track. Considering Martin Garcia rode him when he broke his maiden, the jockey switch doesn’t bother me, and he’s certainly bred to get the distance. Hymn Book really disappointed last out in the Oaklawn Handicap, but he should be flying late for a piece; despite his fast workouts, I’m still not sold on Mission Impazible although he does gain a nice weight advantage against the others.

While he never ran at Pimlico, well-traveled Mambo Meister will be remembered with an 8-furlong turf overnight stakes at Calder on May 26. Another gallant warrior, 9-year-old Presious Passion returns on Saturday, in the Elkwood Stakes at Monmouth—hard to believe he’s been retired now since January 2011! Here’s to a safe journey, old boy.

Den of Iniquity

As a word geek, there’s nothing I love more than a well-named race horse. To hardcore horseplayers that fascination may appear superficial since actual performance is seemingly unrelated to a horse’s name, but I would argue that, consciously or not, a horse’s moniker affects the expectations connections have for that animal. Taking the time to thoughtfully craft a name implies a high regard, whether realistic or not, for a horse’s abilities. Not to pick on any one horse, but that’s why a filly like Thewifedoesntknow doesn’t stand a chance beyond the claiming level. Still, I can appreciate quirky named horses like The Guru of Gloom (IRE) or Jonny Lesters Hair (IRE).

That’s why I had to smile today reading that an 11-year-old horse named Den of Iniquity won a hurdle race at Perth. His pedigree: by Supreme Leader out a Phardante mare named Divine Comedy. Poetry! Others that have tickled my fancy for the witty merging of sire and dam names include:

• Sylvan Song (Street Cry-Forest Heiress, by Forest Wildcat)
• Venomous (Red Ransom-Snake Dancer, by Golden Snake)
• L Frank Baum (Sinndar-Rainbow City, by Rainbow Quest)
• Cool Rhythm (Iceman-With Music In Mind, by Mind Games)
• Perennial Song (Songandaprayer-Yearly Copy, by Souvenir Copy)
• One Way Or Another (Carnegie-True Blonde, by Naturalism)
• Frequency (Starcraft-Soundwave, by Prince Sabo)
• Margins (Parameter-Printer’s Mistress, by Semipalatinsk) added 5/12/2012

What are your favorites?

Ill-Conceived Derby Dreams

With less than two weeks remaining, exactly who to bet on Kentucky Derby day is becoming, at least to my thinking, even more confusing as so many more potential entrants this year actually possess the kind of stamina breeding you want to see in a Derby candidate. Not among them, however, is Trinniberg whose connections have most unwisely chosen to pursue their Derby dreams on the back of a horse so uniquely unqualified for the distance.  Consider, in seven lifetime starts, this son of Teuflesberg has never run around two turns. He’s never run beyond seven furlongs. His gutsy but incredibly hard-raced (and at times ill-placed) sire at least had some foundation before attempting the Derby, having won the 1-mile Southwest (over Hard Spun, no less) before finishing third to Curlin in the 8.5 furlong G3 Rebel Stakes and then a close-up fourth in the 9-furlong G1 Blue Grass. After contesting the Derby early, Teuflesberg’s breeding kicked in, and he faded to finish 17th out of 20 entrants. Trinniberg’s damline doesn’t possess a lick of stamina. That’s no exaggeration, either. That owner Shivananda Parbhoo based his decision to enter Trinniberg on the defection of Secret Circle is beyond naïve; does he really think he can steal the race on the front end against such seasoned horses? I could see taking a chance with a weaker field of candidates, but that’s not the case. This may ultimately be one of the more talented Derby fields in recent years, so what a shame it is to potentially ruin a nice sprinter like Trinniberg on an ill-conceived flight of fancy. Still, it’s his horse to do what he will so good luck, Mr. Parbhoo. You’ll need it.

Again this year I’ll be contributing “Going the Derby Distance 2012” to Hello Race Fans!, a feature that over the past two years has been incredibly accurate. In 2010, I nailed the exacta with Super Saver and Ice Box; ditto in 2011 with Animal Kingdom and Nehro among the top stamina-bred horses. As previously noted, it’s going to be a whole lot more difficult this year finding contenders based solely on that criterion, as both top and bottom breeding for many looks stamina-rich. We’ll see how significant a role workouts, jockeys, post positions, and track conditions play, but more than at any time in recent years I’m hopeful we may see an extremely competitive Triple Crown series.

Here Comes Malicious

On Saturday, the return of Lava Man to the race track (albeit as a mere stable pony for G1 Santa Anita Derby winner I’ll Have Another) was a treat for many folks; hard-knocking horses like him engender deep feelings of affection in fans who often fall in love with “Cinderella” stories and gritty performers. In that context, I was reminded of a film clip I ran across recently from 1939 called “Here Comes Malicious.” Narrated by Joe Hernandez—the “Voice of Santa Anita”—the 10-minute “Turf O’Gram” features marathon specialist Malicious. 

A son of Kentucky Derby winner Omar Khayyam, out of the mare Ridicule whose sire was the English St. Leger winning stallion Black Jester, Malicious won only 32 races in 185 starts, and yet is spoken of as being in the revered company of “Exterminator, Phar Lap, Equipoise, Colin, Regret, Black Gold and Lexington.” It’s a fascinating film, with excellent race footage of Malicious coming from far back to not only win a 2-mile race at Tanforan, but doing so in track-record time. There’s also great footage of him in retirement, enjoying fan mail and the delivery of treats from his admirers. All retirees should be so lucky!

You can watch the full film here: http://archive.org/details/PET718_1

Golden Slipper Day

Fantastic all-group stakes card at Rosehill this evening (Saturday in Australia), including the first leg of Australia’s 2-year-old Triple Crown, the G1 Golden Slipper. There’s no Black Caviar, but it will be a fantastic day of racing with the track likely rated Good 3. My thoughts on the prime contenders, with some longshot hopefuls tossed in for good measure:

1A The Schweppervescence (G3, 2yo, 7f) 9:45 p.m. EDT

Her improving form makes G2-placed Flying Snitzel a logical choice; her dam Hula Flight won the G1 Metropolitan Handicap over the talented Nothin Leica Dane. Mildly concerning is her going up six pounds in weight, but she is the most proven horse in the field. Humble Power, Fiveandahalfstar, and Rise To The Top come out of the same 7f race, but don’t necessarily look too threatening here, although with blinkers added, Fiveandahalfstar should run closer to the pace. The filly Dear Demi has won over this track and looks to enjoy the extra ground.

For a longshot chance, the lightly-raced Toydini by Bernardini (out of the G1 Doncaster runner-up Johan’s Toy) should like the firmer surface and turn the tables on Smart Man who defeated him last time.

2A Sebring Stakes (G3, 3yo+, 5.5f) 10:25 p.m. EDT

He’s been away from the scene since October 2010, and it’s been even longer since Mic Mac has won a race (August 2009), but he’s put in two solid barrier trials in advance of this start, so I would not be surprised to see him win. Poor Temple of Boom has had no luck of late, clashing with likes of Black Caviar and Hay List, but those races were on the Flemington straight track. G2-placed Do You Think also comes in off two sharp barrier trials, with Blake Shinn aboard for Bart Cummings.

For a bit of a price, Zaratone is a worthy bet, with a great record at this distance and over this track.

3A Vinery Stud Stakes (G1, 3yo fillies, SW, 10f) 11:05 p.m. EDT

At set weights, Oaks winner Mosheen looks tough to beat here; she’s won two straight G1 races (Australian Guineas and Royal Randwick Guineas) and has already run farther. G1 Flight Stakes winner Streama will take a lot of play as well, but this will be her first attempt beyond one mile; a place chance. My longshot play here is New Zealand-bred Thy, an O’Reilly filly whose half brother Solid Billing finished third in the G1 Sydney Cup going two miles. With the potent combo of trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen, she’s a big chance especially after just missing last time out going this distance. Big step up in class, though.

4A Myer Tulloch Stakes (G2, 3yo colts/geldings, 10f) 11:45 p.m. EDT

Rekindled Alliance is the likely post-time favorite and has some quality about him; his full brother Rekindled Interest ran third in the G1 Cox Plate and won the G2 AAMI Vase over 10f. He should come flying late. Undefeated Strawberry Boy takes a huge step in class and distance, but if he can carry his early speed the distance he’s a likely wire-to-wire winner. Gai’s got another top contender in Compass who’s already proven at a route; his dam is a half sister to superstar Makybe Diva. A Waterhouse trifecta? Possibly, with Satirical Boy enjoying a huge drop in weight off his last win; his unraced dam is out of 10f listed winner Sardegna, and a full sister to 12f G2 runner-up Samoa.

5A The BMW (G1, 3yo+, 12f) 12:25 a.m. EDT

What a marvelous stayers’ race, pitting in-form Americain and Manighar against one another, along with the nice mare Southern Speed. Those three recently met in the G1 Australian Cup, with Manighar eeking out the win. I’d expect those three to mix it up again today, but for a price, good ol’ Precedence is worth a flyer longshot bet.

6A Inglis Queen of the Turf (G1, 3yo+ filles/mares WFA, 7.5f) 1:05 a.m. EDT

The shocking death this week of Pinker Pinker takes some thrill out of this race. Chances are More Joyous will successfully defend her title, but last-out G1 Coolmore Classic victress Ofcourseican could give her a late run for her money; she’s got an excellent record over this course, but meeting at equal weights probably favors More Joyous. Making her third start this cycle, King’s Rose finished brilliantly in the Coolmore Classic, and actually gets some weight relief. While not likely, I would love to see hard-trying Yosei get another G1 victory.

7A AAMI Golden Slipper (G1, 2yo, 6f) 1:50 a.m. EDT

The field of 16 is evenly divided between colts and fillies, but only one stands out as the post-time favorite, the undefeated More Than Ready filly Samaready. To say her runs thus far have been impressive would be an understatement; she’s displayed a brilliant turn-of-foot, gutsy toughness and won all four of her races with ease, including the G1 Blue Diamond against males. Her dam is a half sister to multiple G1 winner County Tyrone (Queensland Derby, Metropolitan Handicap, and Sydney Cup) who won as far as two miles, so it’s exciting to think of her future career. Craig “Froggy” Newitt will be challenged breaking from the 11 barrier post, but that should be her only challenge. My top pick. Trainer Gai Waterhouse has five entries, led by the undefeated Lonho colt Pierro with Nash Rawiller up. His dam is also a half sister to a multiple G1 winner, Laverock (Prix D’Ispahan, Gran Premio del Jockey Club Italiano), so his future stretching out also looks promising. He breaks from the rail post, though, which could be a little problematic.

Of the remaining male contenders, Epaulette looks promising after his narrow defeat to Pierro last out; his three-quarter brother Helmet was a multiple G1 winning juvenile. The fillies’ contingent looks very powerful, beginning with Gai’s undefeated Fastnet Rock filly Driefontein, as well as No Looking Back and Snitzerland, both of whom have been clearly defeated by Samaready. All three are serious exotics choices.

For my longshot pick, thought, I’m rooting for the maiden Exceed and Excel colt Narcissus to break out with a placing here; his Snippets dam Hasna finished third in this race back in 2003 after being blocked for a run, and then convincingly won the next two legs of the Triple Crown for Gai Waterhouse: the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and G1 Champagne Stakes. Oh, and did I mention Hasna’s second damsire is Foolish Pleasure?

8A George Ryder (G1, 3yo+, WFA, 7.5f) 2:35 a.m. EDT

It could be a huge night for trainer Gai Waterhouse, and 3-year-old Niagara is her hope in this race, although he’ll have to win from the far outside 16 barrier against seasoned campaigners. Off his recent good form against Manighar, last year’s victor Rangirangdoo has a strong chance to repeat, as he loves this track and the distance. King Mufhasa defeated the late Pinker Pinker last out in the G1 Futurity Stakes, but in three previous efforts he’s never managed to finish better than third at Rosehill, including the 2010 George Ryder. The mare Secret Admirer is in sharp form and gets a good barrier. For a longshot, look no further than Monton with Craig Newitt aboard.

9A HKJC Stakes (G3, 3yo+, 10f) 3:10 a.m. EDT

Maules Creek is in excellent form, and a lightweight compared to the more experienced campaigners like Zavite who takes a real class drop here. For a big price, I’m willing to wager on Gai’s duo, Western Symbol and Charing Cross.

When the Old Ways Still Work

Something Bill Pressey pointed out over at his ThoroEdge blog this week has been rattling around my brain as sounding awfully familiar. Bill noted that, on his Louisville Courier blog, Hansen’s owner casually mentioned that the morning of the Gotham, trainer Mike Maker galloped the near-white Breeders’ Cup Juvenile champion six furlongs—and how that relaxed him better. We all saw how well that strategy worked, as the colt rated just off the pace before roaring down the stretch to win by three lengths.

Being an earnest historian of the sport, I particularly enjoy learning how ideas about training and racing have evolved over the years, so in the midst of researching something entirely different this evening, I ran across this fascinating tidbit about the great Troubadour. The day before the running of the 1886 Suburban Handicap—a race he would win by four lengths after having never been headed—Troubadour’s trainer J.W. Rogers worked the dark bay horse one mile (eight furlongs) over the Sheepshead Bay course in 2:07 3/4. As Walter Vosburgh tells the story in his Racing in America, 1866-1924 (available scanned in its entirety via the Kentuckiana Digital Library), p. 134, Troubadour's trainer later said:

I know people criticized my working him the day before the race, but sometimes when a horse has had his last work several days before the race he is apt to stiffen up his muscles when it comes to the day of the race. But when he has it just before the race he comes out all unlimbered and fit to run.

I’ll definitely remember that, and Hansen’s recent experience, the next time I question a trainer “blowing out” a starter close to race time. Some times the old ways still work, don't they?