Thursday Morning Links
– Racing journalism has its problems, but access to the sport’s (human) stars isn’t one. In this way, at least, being a niche sport benefits fans and writers, unlike baseball.
– The Quick-Pick inquiry spreads, wild finger pointing begins, and a California state legislator notices that there’s no independent wagering monitor. Uh oh.
– Pittsburg Phil, Noted Plunger, Passes Away. Consumption, such a shame. He was just at Ascot last year.
– Dutrow has yet to confirm post-Belmont plans for Big Brown with IEAH, but he’s considering the Travers and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. Curlin vs. Brown — we can dream.
– How they take those pics: Wired at the Preakness Stakes.
– Mike Brunker is looking prescient. Flashback to his April 1 column, in which he not only predicted Big Brown’s Derby win, but went a couple steps further: “This is a colt with the talent to end the 29-year Triple Crown drought …”
On Bellyaching
I’ve been accused of late, in emails and comments, of not being properly enthusiastic about Big Brown, so let me give the horse his due: Big Brown is a phenomenal talent, a freak, and he would be coming out of any barn. He’s dominated every start, he’s shown that he can rate or lead, that he can break from the inside or the outside. He accelerates effortlessly, and he displays qualities exhibited by past great racehorses — he makes every race look like his own and every horse he beats look second-rate.
I hope he wins the Triple Crown. It’s been 30 years; racing fans deserve a superstar.
Apparently, that’s all I’m supposed to say. Anything else is “bellyaching.”
You know, over the past two weeks, we’ve heard endlessly that racing is in crisis, that racing must change, that the sport has to deal with its drug problem and breed more durable horses.
Last Saturday, both ESPN and NBC dedicated panels to discussing these and other issues and everyone involved earnestly agreed to the necessity of reform.
Not 10 minutes after the NBC segment wrapped, Bob Costas was announcing a stud deal for lightly-raced Big Brown.
A few minutes later, NTRA president Alex Waldrop appeared and, among other things, promised that racing would be steroids free by 2009, without even giving a nod to the fact that the Preakness favorite — and more than likely, half the field — was on steroids as a matter of course.
And yet all that, as well as trainer Rick Dutrow’s lengthy record and questionable character, should be put aside.
Well, I’m not interested in doing that. Big Brown, on the verge of a historic achievement, embodies racing’s rot. I watch his races and feel the transcendence that great horses offer — I really meant it when I said he’s phenomenal — but then the disenchantment comes on.
To stop talking now about Dutrow’s career and methods, or IEAH’s rush to stud and its business plan and what it all means, is to give the racing establishment a pass on the problems corroding our game.
Racing is compromised, its future success threatened, and to refuse to grapple with the contradictions and questions that surround Big Brown is to willingly put on blinkers.
But I guess desperately wanting to celebrate a Triple Crown winner nullifies any claims integrity or intellectual honesty make on our consciences. As David Brooks wrote of the unsavory Melmotte, “Dishonesty becomes acceptable so long as it contributes to success.”
Back to the ’70s
In slightly more than two weeks, Big Brown will attempt to become the 12th Triple Crown winner, the first in 30 years and only the second undefeated. In this brief lull before Belmont Stakes anticipation explodes, it seems worthwhile to take a quick look back at the last three …
The Rivals
It began during their 1977 2-year-old campaigns and continued through every Triple Crown race. In 1978, the story was the rivalry of Affirmed and Alydar, which reached its apex in the one mile match race that unfolded during the Belmont Stakes:
Affirmed’s head is in front of Alydar’s, and as the two jockeys rise in their saddles beyond the finish line Velasquez yells over to Cauthen, “Stevie, congratulations.” Cauthen yells back, “Georgie, thank you. It ain’t been easy.”
Alydar became known as the only horse to finish second in every spring classic, a shadow Triple Crown winner.
More: SI cover / recap / Kentucky Derby replay / Preakness replay
The Undefeated
Seattle Slew went into the Belmont a perfect 8-for-8, but that wasn’t enough to quell the doubters, who complained about his slow Wood victory over an undistinguished field and groused that his Kentucky Derby win wasn’t all that impressive. The 1977 Belmont convinced even the most ardent skeptics that Slew was no slouch:
It was “the easiest win race of his career,” said trainer Billy Turner after. From the start:
Slew smothered the Belmont field so completely … that his seven opponents looked as if they were running in place. Run Dusty Run challenged early in the backstretch hut Slew just moved out a notch. A half-mile later Sanhedrin made a bid, but for naught. Slew drew away as he headed home. A few jumps before the winning post. Jockey Jean Cruguet, once a $20-a-month bartender in the French army, stood high in his stirrups and waved his whip to the crowd in jubilation.
The following year, Seattle Slew met Affirmed in the Marlboro Cup, where as the 2-1 second choice, he wired the field and won by four lengths despite going wide on the final turn. Affirmed, the 1-2 favorite, finished second.
More: SI cover / recap / Kentucky Derby replay / Preakness replay
The Greatest
Secretariat, transcendent in 1973:
Secretariat won by 31 lengths and knocked more than two seconds off the track record. His performance was then, and it still remains:
The greatest performance by a racehorse in this century.
More: Photo / recap / Kentucky Derby replay / Preakness replay
The Other Contenders
– Tale of Ekati worked for the first time since finishing fourth in the Kentucky Derby, zipping four furlongs in :46.84 at Belmont on Tuesday morning. “He went a little faster than we wanted, but he did it easy,” said assistant trainer Robin Smullen, who confirmed that the Belmont Stakes was the colt’s next likely start. “We realize that Big Brown is a very salty customer, but Tale of Ekati is doing awfully well” (DRF). Along with Tale of Ekati, two other Derby starters are likely — Denis of Cork and Anak Nakal — as are two Preakness starters — Icabad Crane and runner-up Macho Again.
– Casino Drive, widely considered Big Brown’s main rival, remains without a jockey. “We are leaving our options open,” said racing manager Nobutaka Tada. “Fortunately, many good riders are interested” (Blood-Horse). Over on Green But Game, Dana considers who she would like to see on the half-brother of Rags to Riches and Jazil and narrows the possibilities down to Castellano or Prado …
– Music Note reappears. The 3-year-old A.P Indy filly made her debut last fall in a maiden special that turned out to be a major key race, returned three weeks later to win her second start by an impressive 7 1/2 lengths while under a handride, and then was shipped to Dubai for the winter, where she apparently didn’t race. On Thursday, she makes her first start for trainer Saeed bin Suroor in the third, a one mile N1X, which drew a couple promising maiden winners in the Seeking the Gold filly Charming ($3.2 million Keeneland yearling purchase) and the Barclay Tagg-trained Song of Love (half to Nobiz Like Shobiz), as well as A Rose for You, making her second start for Kiaran McLaughlin.
– Interesting: “It’s impossible to overlook the fact that every Grade 1 winner [Dutrow has] had since Carson Hollow in 2002 had started his or her career in another barn.”
– Epoxy, Whistle Dick, and 498 more bad horse names.
Big Brown in Town
– About 75 reporters, photographers, and gawkers were waiting for Big Brown and his entourage at Belmont when the colt arrived by van from Pimlico early Monday afternoon to settle into a stall in trainer Bobby Frankel’s barn, where he’ll await the final leg of the Triple Crown. With a little less than three weeks to go and many column inches to fill, silly season is open, Vic Ziegel reports in the Daily News:
But my favorite question for the Big Brown group, on its horse’s first day back in New York, was asked of Michael Iavarone, the horse’s co-owner: “What does this mean for Long Island?”
More hotel bookings for the weekend of June 6-8? Traffic?
– Trainer Rick Dutrow said Big Brown ran down his hind heels in the Preakness, but that the abrasions were minor and being treated with a topical ointment. “It won’t happen next time because I will put patches and bandages on him” (Blood-Horse). More on rundowns from Fran at Hoofcare.
– Gary West, in fine form, takes on the hypocrisy and ignorance suffusing some corners of the post-Kentucky Derby debate over safety in racing:
People understand that football is violent and seem to accept it. But many people, especially the small-minded, will attack what they don’t understand. And fewer and fewer people, it seems, understand a sport where violence occurs only by accident.
– Dr. Mary Scollay has been hired by KHRA as its first equine medical director. Best known for development of an injury reporting system that launched last year, Scollay will continue her studies on breakdowns, as well as advise on medication policies and oversee drug research. “I wish I had her two weeks ago,” said director Lisa Underwood (AP).
– Gategate @ Churchill Downs (top right column, don’t miss the illustration at bottom). KHRA is investigating.
Triple Crown, Huh, What Is it Good For?
Absolutely nothing, of course.
This idea that the sport needs a Triple Crown winner is laughable. So Big Brown wins the Triple Crown, Joe Public gets attached, and then never sees the horse again? How is that good for the sport?
The idea that Big Brown winning the Triple Crown will make someone go check out the races at Grants Pass Downs or Yakima Meadows is akin to saying that someone breaking the world record for running a mile will make more people go to their local high school track meet.
People want to see greatness, which is why 100,000-plus people will go to Belmont and millions will watch on TV.
Indeed, the pursuit of a Triple Crown is infinitely more valuable than the Triple Crown itself especially when the best horses in the race all these “new fans” are about to watch are headed to the breeding shed and back to Japan afterward.
Cede the Crown
The Triple Crown? It’s a done deal for super Big Brown:
“He’s the right horse at the right time. Confident, cool and awesome. A freak. And a dream.” – Rick Maese
“That stretch run was, dare we say, reminiscent of Secretariat’s history-making triumph in the Belmont Stakes in 1973, when he streaked off to wrap up the Triple Crown.” – Ray Kerrison
“He is special, blessed, not mortal. It’s not fair to the other horses. Racing him is like giving Pete Sampras three serves, letting Wilt play on a seven-foot basket, fighting Ali with one hand.” – Bill Dwyre
“Everyone’s been waiting for the next Secretariat-type horse, and we got him. He’s going to do it.” – Bob Baffert
“No living, breathing being is beating Big Brown. Only an act of God, or a balky starting gate or a soft spot on his dirt on the Belmont track, can keep the winner of the first two legs of the Triple Crown from closing the deal three Saturdays from now.” – David Steele
“That horse from Japan, Casino Drive, will be waiting for us, but he can’t beat our horse. All the Japanese people coming here for the race thought Godzilla was dead. They’re going to find out he’s not dead.” – Rick Dutrow
Meanwhile, Andrew Beyer plays spoilsport. At least one commentator is keeping a little perspective …
Let the Hype Begin
Big Brown just made the Preakness look like a NY-bred allowance race over the Aqueduct inner track and now heads to Belmont as the first contender for the Triple Crown since Smarty Jones … and regardless of how he does there, he’ll likely retire immediately after to Three Chimneys, which bought stallion rights to the Boundary colt for $50 million.
5/18 Addendum: The final time of 1:54.80 translates into a Beyer speed figure of 100 for Big Brown. Just as his Derby figure didn’t reflect ground loss or the headwind he raced into, so this one doesn’t reflect the strong hold Desormeaux had on him down the backstretch, or the rider wrapping him up in the stretch, saving a little for the Belmont, or the easy dominance Big Brown displayed over a weak field.
Preakness Picks
Ed’s picks:
Kentucky Bear has flashed the kind of talent required to win this race.
Trainer Reade Baker has said that Big Brown does not even need to bounce off his winning Kentucky Derby effort for Kentucky Bear to win. While I don’t agree with that, I do think that Big Brown will react to his big effort two weeks ago, and that Kentucky Bear is the most likely winner if that happens.
Racecar Rhapsody ran some quick races at two, and this one looks to be rounding back into top form for trainer Ken McPeek in his third start off the layoff.
Racing Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito has told anyone who will listen that Stevil will hit the board, and Zito’s friends did hit the superfecta last year when Hemingway’s Key finished third.
Look, I’m not stupid. Big Brown is the most likely winner, but there will be overlays in the exotic pool. Kentucky Bear has some steam on him, so I’ll play Big Brown on top of Stevil and Racecar Rhapsody in tris and key Kentucky Bear in the supers. Then I’ll back that up with Kentucky Bear, Racecar Rhapsody, and Stevil exacta boxes and them on top of Big Brown.
JC’s picks:
Steroids-enhanced Big Brown is 1-9 in early wagering and with his triple-Beyer advantage, he’ll be hard to beat. Going with probability, I’ll play Big Brown over Racecar Rhapsody, Giant Moon, and Hey Byrn.
Friday Morning Notes
– On Thursday, Big Brown galloped a mile and a half at Pimlico, got a new pair of glue-on shoes on his front feet, and probably got a shot of the legal steroid Winstrol:
“I give all my horses Winstrol on the 15th of every month,” Dutrow told the Daily News.
Asked recently why he uses the supplement, Dutrow replied:
“You’d have to ask the vet what the purpose of that is,” he said. “I don’t know what it does. I just like using it.”
Prompting this hilarious follow-up conversation, which was reported by the Baltimore Sun:
You like using it, but you don’t know what it does? Why would you like using it if you don’t know what it does? You must see something?
“No,” he said. “I don’t.”
Do you see something from not using it?
“No,” he said.
Right, he knows nothing about what Winstrol does or why he likes it. I wonder if Dutrow, who maintains he has had only one medication violation in his career, knows more about the phenylbutazone overages at Gulfstream and Calder that went on his record this year (PDF).
– More about Big Brown’s new shoes and heels at Hoofcare.
– Behindatthebar is out of the Preakness. The Lexington winner came up with a bruised left front foot this morning.
– Dick Powell, pondering the Preakness, gets conspiratorial: “Why are a dozen mediocre sophomores willing to take him on? What do their connections know or suspect?”
– The stud deal for Big Brown, which was to be announced on Thursday, is on hold. “Legal issues and time constraints proved too much to overcome,” said IEAH president Michael Iavorone, “and we will revisit all options following the Preakness” (ThoroTimes).
– Thoroughbred Safety Committee chairman Stuart Janney said the day after the committee met for the first time that there were “relatively few” things the Jockey Club could do to enforce recommendations that might emerge from the panel’s deliberations and so the committee would mainly serve “as a bully pulpit to be persuasive on certain matters” (Blood-Horse). This is when I miss being a reporter: Such a statement, which suggests no forthcoming threats to the status quo, brings up several questions I’d love to ask. For instance: As the official breed registry — the organization through which every thoroughbred must be registered in order to race and breed — what hinders the Jockey Club from establishing rules regarding the age a horse enters stud service or forbidding the use for breeding of horses that ran on certain raceday medications? Surely, TJC has more power than just approving racehorse names.
– The Wall Street Journal follows Jess Jackson to Argentina, where the prominent owner scouts for sturdy breeding stock.
– Magnificience returns! Sunday, Hollywood, third race.
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Jessica Chapel writes and edits in Massachusetts. Railbird is a Thoroughbred horse racing blog published from June 2004 to July 2019. More / Contact
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