We're waiting....

Another year, another foiled Triple Crown. With the talent that has conquered the Derby over the years, I'm beginning to think Affirmed's successful Trinity in '78 is safe for the long haul. Not to ignore the splendor of animals like Alysheba, Sunday Silence, and Thunder Gulch, but just in the past few years the sweet taste of Triple Crown has been crudely purged from our mouths--as it was on Saturday with Curlin's remarkable stride past Street Sense.

First, it was the dangerously athletic and substantially lucrative Fusaichi Pegasus, who came into the Triple Crown in 2000 with more hype than a new Star Wars installment. After gassing the Derby field he came up short in the Preakness to a fresh Red Bullet. War Emblem? Close, but no cigar...or in his case, no flesh cigar. Not many people gave the sack-less Funny Cide much of a chance in '03, but perhaps a rough rail trip through the ankle deep mud at Belmont is all that hindered history that year...well, that and the fact that Empire Maker was a beast when he wanted to be. Smarty Jones? Oh, what should have been. I will continue to tell myself that Barbaro had the necessary ingredients to sweep the Crown, but I guess Billy Joel was right.

Fu-Peg. Smarty Jones. Barbaro. Street Sense. Hell, even Afleet Alex and Curlin. All superstars, and yet we still wait. There are those who say that the industry needs another TC champion. I believe those cries are mostly from the outside looking in, for the annual anticipation of another Affirmed-like feat keeps the masses tuning in each year. And then there's the gambling, which isn't going anywhere, and if certain Gubernatorial elections play out as expected, will only be expanding. No, I believe horse racing is good to go for the forseeable future, although I do worry about the drugs. Let's face it, trainers and owners will continue to cheat, or loophole, however you choose to paint it, and as soon as the media is through with baseball and Lance Armstrong,I fear they may leech onto horse racing "like flies on a ribroast."

Rest easy Affirmed. (pours his Natty light to the ground)

Pre Preakness Preview

Winning Derby jockey Calvin Borel traded rubbing hooves for rubbing elbows at the White House, trainer Carl Nafzger thrusted back into the spotlight, and Street Sense became a star. Indeed, the Kentucky Derby, sorry, the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Foods constructs legends, but the Preakness legitimizes them. Each year, the winner on the first Saturday in May trots into Maryland with the hope of becoming the first Triple Crown Champion since Affirmed in '78, and trade their blanket of roses for a smattering of Black Eyed Susans (no, not Dennis Rodman's current girlfriend, the flower). Will we have another Belmont Stakes with a Triple Crown, well, at stake? Let's just hope it goes better than last year.


1. Mint Slewlep—Cute name, wrong event. This colt is this year’s local flavor, but there’s not much here to suggest he can run with this class. He failed to hit the board in his only two previous graded stakes races, and the rail will not do him any favors. Good luck.

2. Xchanger—Impressive win in a stakes at Pimlico in April, this colt appears to be on the upswing. And, he’s the only horse in the field to run on this track, which is nice. The added distance shouldn’t be a problem, but the added talent should. He’ll have to prove he belongs with this group before I waste a Shrute-Buck on him.

3. Circular Quay—It’s obvious that trainer Todd Pletcher is getting sick of this “never won a Triple Crown race” tag, as this colt was entered at the 11th hour. Only in the Derby can a 6th place finish be considered good, but thinking about the all-stars that finished behind him, it is. Throw in the fact that he ran the Derby off an 8 week layoff after winning the Louisiana Derby in March, and that 6th place gets even sexier. As one of the lone closers in the field a grueling pace would be ideal. A definite play at the current odds.

4. Curlin—Making only his 5th career start, Curlin remains somewhat of an uncertainty. His distant 3rd place finish after a rough trip in the Derby prompted many to jump off the bandwagon, but this is not a 20 horse field. He’s still an extremely powerful colt with plenty of speed, and I don’t know how you can leave him off a trifecta ticket. His meager experience is glaring, but so are his results.

5. King of the Roxy—After getting clipped at the wire by Tiago in the Santa Anita Derby, Pletcher immediately pointed this colt for Pimlico. With a month to train for a specific race, there’s really no excuse for him to throw in a dud. He proved he was more than a sprinter at Santa Anita, and he gets the red hot Garrett Gomez in the reigns. More amazing: this colt was purchased for a mere $8,000 as a yearling; a Kia that runs like a Jaguar, not bad.

6. Flying First Class—If there’s one certainty in this race, it’s that this guy will be the pace setter. How fast he’s forced to go remains to be seen. Sometimes, a rabbit is allotted the lead to the extent that he’s able to put it in cruise. If that’s the case, he could be a factor, but there’s just too much other speed in here to think he’ll have much left in the stretch. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is a Preakness master, and his romp in the Derby Trial earlier this month suggests he can go the distance, but is he fresh enough to do it again? Worth a look, but would be a surprise.

7. Hard Spun—Ran his eyeballs out in nearly wiring the Derby field, and with Flying First Class to his inside, should be able to slide right in underneath him. Detractors will say he ran too fast in the Derby to be fresh two weeks later, but this is a classy colt with plenty of leg. With a jockey (Pino) who knows this course as well as Calvin Borel knows Churchill, it’s hard to envision him not being there at the end. Might be exhausted, but might be ready to explode too.

8. Street Sense—Not much needs to be said here: he was the best as a 2yo, and continues to be at 3. His Derby effort was nothing short of astounding, closing from 19th place at the ¼ pole to rout his rivals, maybe breaking a sweat along the way. His recent work late last week shows he’s still in top form, and maybe, just maybe, has room to improve. Scary thought. The hope of the industry rests on his shoulders, and the best part about it, he has no idea.

9. CP West—Lightly raced, but very consistent…and expensive ($425,000 as a yearling). Trainer Nick Zito didn’t come here just for the crab cakes and pageantry, and his robust odds are enticing. He’s 0-2 as a 3 year old, but I think he’s yet to show his best stuff, and Edgar Prado aboard is a plus. If you’re looking for a price to bust up the chalk, this might be it.

My Picks:
1. Street Sense
2. Curlin
3. Hard Spun
4. CP West

Kentucky Derby 133...oh, sorry, the Yum! Foods Kentucky Derby 133

Betting tips:Don’t be turned off by prep non-winners. 3 year olds can show dramatic improvement from week to week, and those who came up short a month ago might be ready to turn the corner. Don’t ignore the dam when looking at bloodlines. Horses out of successful mares tend to do better in the Derby, regardless of Sire. And of course, if the rain holds up, look to see who’s mudda was a mudda. Don’t give a whole lot of merit to post positions, as a quality horse is a quality horse from anywhere on the track. Getting a clean and comfortable trip is more important than where you start from.

1. Sedgefield—Let’s see, a horse who’s yet to race on the dirt gets his first stab at it in the Kentucky Derby…and from the dreaded 1 hole. In short, anything decent here would be a surprise. He has shown consistency, and Leparoux is as good as they come, your average graded turf race, this is not. Good luck.

2. Curlin—Let’s just say Woo blindly picked a good one here in the morning line favorite. This horse has all the makings of a proverbial super-horse (picture him flying through the air in a cape), but will be racing against history here. He’s a perfect 3 for 3 this year, and hasn’t even been sniffed—he’s won his 3 races by a combined 28 lengths. The only problem: those are his only 3 career starts, and as we all know, it’s been 120 years since a horse won the Derby without racing as a 2 year old. As of now, Curlin is an enigma; dominating, but green. How he’ll handle the swarm of 150k drunkards, unyielding competition, and 18 horses to his right remains a mystery. Maybe he is a once-in-a-generationer, but I’ll have to wait one. Note: Curlin is named after the great grandfather of co-owner and Lexington attorney Shirley Allen Cunningham—who if you’ll remember was the Heavy Hitter before Daryl Isaacs even had warning track power.

3. Zanjero—This one intrigues me. At 30-1, my guess is he’ll get some decent play in a lot of exotics and come down a bit. In my opinion, this colt has yet to show us his best stuff, and his steady improvement throughout the year coupled with his solid works over the Churchill track tell me he may be ready to fire a gem. The added distance shouldn’t be much of an issue, and if the pace gets hot, this stretch runner just might drop a bomb. Don’t leave him off too many tickets.

4. Storm in May—It’s hard to put much merit on his 2nd in the Arkansas Derby, seeing as how Curlin was 10 ½ lengths ahead of him. He does have some quickness, but looks to be in over his head here. To add to the uncertainty, he’s blind in his right eye. That’s right, blind, just like in the movies. Gotta love it.

5. Imawildandcrazyguy—Purchased for a mere $17,000 as a yearling, it’s a surprise that he’s been this successful. He appeared to be knocking on the door early this year with a solid effort in the Risen Star, but has taken a step back in his last two starts. I’ll give him some slack for the 6th place in the Florida Derby, as he was almost went to his knees at the start. But there are too many other good prices out there attached to much better horses.

6. Cowtown Cat—I’m hearing from a lot of horsemen that this colt could be a surprise. You can’t knock his pedigree, and you certainly can’t knock his resume. One of five horses from the Pletcher supercenter, the Illinois Derby champ might also have his best effort ahead of him. If he can survive the break and get a clean avenue to the front, he could be tough.

7. Street Sense—You really couldn’t script this colt’s ascent to the Derby any better. He routed fellow rivals in the BC Juvenile as a 2 year old at this very track, took the Tampa Bay Derby in his first start of the year, and was barely nudged at the wire in the Bluegrass last month. His workouts have been flawless, as has his condition. With all his accomplishments, I believe he’s yet to be asked for his all, and his all just might bury this field. Assuming he gets a clean ride, he’ll be the one to beat. Note: Trainer Carl Nafzger returns to the Derby for the first time since 1990, where he saddled the victor, Unbridled. Also, facing long historical odds, as no Juvenile champ has ever won the Roses.

8. Hard Spun—Disposing 5 furlongs in 57:60 as he did last week at Churchill is freakish; but was it too much? This is another mystery horse—consistently dominant, but against lesser competition. His romp in The Lane’s End on the Poly at Turfway was convincing, but trainer Larry Jones decided to buck tradition and hold his horse out for the remainder of the prep season. As peculiar as Jones’s tactics may be, he knows his horses, and is very confident in his colt. That alone makes him hard to rule out, but he’ll have to prove that he belongs.

9. Liquidity—This West Coaster trained by Doug O’Neil is often overlooked in favor of his stable mate, Great Hunter. With odds of 30-1, it’s likely that this trend will continue on Saturday. I’m not saying he’s got what it takes to win, but don’t be surprised to see this Tiznow colt in the thick of things. He’s got some good early speed, and if he can keep up with Trueflesburg in a fairly moderate pace, he could hit the board. His works show he’s in peak form and ready to improve off his 4th place in the Santa Anita Derby. Worth a look.

10. Tueflesburg—Was fortunate in the Blue Grass to be unchallenged for the lead, setting a crawling pace and leaving enough in the tank for a strong 4th place. He’ll be gunning for the lead, so a clean break is essential. The added distance might prove too much, and with Curlin, Stormello, Cowtown Cat, and Liquidity likely to challenge for the lead, he’s not going to have the pleasure of a :50 opening quarter. Note: If you want a Rudy story, here it is. He was purchased for a mere $9,000 as a yearling. Nice return.

11. Bwana Bull—Was giving Great Hunter a run for the West Coast title before a disappointing 5th in the Santa Anita Derby. Anything stellar tomorrow would be a surprise, as he looks more overachiever than champion.

12. Nobizlikeshobiz—Trainer Barclay Tagg is the quintessential horseman: peculiar, conservative, methodical, and reserved; the guy also happens to be damn good at what he does, and as we saw with Funny Cide in 2003, puts his horses in winnable situations. The winner of the Wood Memorial, this colt is the definition of consistency, having never fared worse than 3rd in 6 career starts. His tendency to lose focus seemed rectified by the addition of blinkers in the Wood, and he has a pretty good position here to get out and stalk the pace. The only real knock is he hasn’t sown blazing speed en route to his past wins, but his workout show me he’s capable of a spurt. Factor him in.

13. Sam P.—This appears to be a stretch…solid 2 year old campaign, but has yet to find the winner’s circle at 3. It’s difficult to envision a Derby champ with a 2 and 8 lifetime record.

14. Scat Daddy—Florida champ has done everything asked of him this year, winning his two major preps in the sunshine state. Has never run a bad race in his life, and Pletcher has been aiming him here since day 1. Still, Street Sense beat him by some 15 lengths at this track last year. I think he’s definitely got the stuff to win, but he’ll need a perfect trip. I like him if the price is right.

15. Tiago—Much like his half-brother Giacomo, the added distance shouldn’t affect this stretch running longshot winner of the Santa Anita Derby. A hot pace would play right into his hooves, and out of all the stretch bombers, he might have the strongest kick. He’s very green, however, and has never raced outside of SA. If he gets a fast pace, and an alley, it could be déjà vu from 2005. Note: Owned by Jerry Moss, who also owns A&M records, and is named for the son of Brazilian singing sensation (or so I’m told) Sergio Mendes. If you’ll remember, Giacomo was named in honor of Sting’s son. Precious.

16. Circular Quay—A lot to like with this improving colt and Louisiana Derby champ. Ran second to Street Sense on this track in the BC last year. Will be coming off a fairly long layoff, which normally could be a positive, but in a 20 horse field, maybe too much to ask. Not sure if he can rate at 1 ¼.

17. Stormello—Jockey Kent Desormeaux is a Derby vet, so it surprised me when he all but predicted a victory earlier this week. Nice colt, yes, but he getting the lead from the 17 post will require a lot of early horse. I think he has the stamina, as evidenced as his sizzling 2nd place effort and 112 Beyer in the Fountain of Youth attested, but I’m wary of a speed duel. Everything has to go right.

18. Any Given Saturday—Easily the best name, so that’s worth at least a $5 bet. Much like Stormello, his post position doesn’t favor his front running style, and these two could cancel each other out early. Was nosed out by Street Sense in the Tampa Derby, but earned a sexy 114 Beyer fig for his effort. Some might be turned off by his 3rd place in the Wood, but he was wide on both turns and lost some ground. Impeccable bloodline, and winning connections (Pletcher-Gomez has been on fire of late), and barring a torrid opening quarter, could be a serious factor. Very attractive, especially with a good price. This just might be that Saturday.

19. Dominican—This gelding had to have the Blue Grass Stakes to get in, and came through with an impressive late spurt to nip Street Sense at the line. However, the tortoise pace might have been his saving grace, and he’s shown spotty success when not on the cushion. His bullet work at Chruchill shows that he may be peaking at the right time, and could be poised for another dynamite effort. Bejarano is a master, and should never be written off. Can’t ignore his recent form, and his extreme outside post shouldn’t pose too much of a problem. Note: calls Springfield, Ky home, owned by the Hamilton family. He’s named after the Saints, and not the Country, so divine intervention may be in store.

20. Great Hunter—The West Coast champ disappointed in the Blue Grass where he was knocked around in the stretch. The post position looks ominous, but it might not be a problem if he can seamlessly position himself off the pace early, and not get caught too wide in the first turn. If he has sitting with a full tank in the turn for home, look out. By far the best bargain at 15-1, and it might not come down too far if bettors are turned off by the post position. Very capable.

My Picks: 1. Street Sense 2. Curlin 3. Dominican 4. Tiago

Kentucky Derby 133: The Oaks

The Kentucky Oaks, the "Desperate Housewives" of horse races, goes off today with promises of a Queen, rain, rain, and more rain. Yet another element that only compilcates this thing we call handicapping. The favorite, #11 Rags to Riches, has all but dismantled the best 3 year old fillies on the curcuit all season, going a perfect 3 for 3 this year. This Todd Pletchter trained filly will look to stalk the pace, and assuming the mud isn't a problem, could walk home. But don't overlook stable mate #4 Octave. The Unbridled's Song filly came up a nose short in Keeneland's Ashland Stakes, but she's been strong in recent workouts, showing no ill effects from the loss. Don't count out #7 Dreaming of Anna. The BC JF champ has faltered in her only 2 starts of the year, but you have to think she's going to pick up a quality win at some point...recent works show this might be it.

To commemorate this year's Oaks, here's" a post I composed last year detailing my run in with Football legend and double murderer OJ Simpson at last year's Oaks. Enjoy, and check out the site later today as I'll have a breakdown of all 20 horses for tomorrow's Derby.

Mutuel Recap: Dominican Order

As the near freezing April rain tried valiantly to dampen spirits (and buzzes), the driest place at Keeneland yesterday was the track itself. Indeed, the Polytrack held up its end of the bargain, and so too did the world class thoroughbreds who braved the adverse conditions to make for an electrifying day in Lexington.

The highlights:

I had the 4^th race ($66,000 Allowance 4+) circled as soon as the field was announced, for one of my all-time favorites, the resilient Perfect Drift, was on board. The well-traveled and extremely lucrative 8 year old colt hadn’t raced since his 8^th place finish in the Breeder’s Cup Classic back in November, and trainer Murray Johnson obviously wanted to get his horse a solid work before taking on Churchill. Perfect Drift went off as the favorite, but was simply no match for the winner Stream Cat, who left PD in the dust with a very impressive kick on the stretch. Chalk up another dubya for the can’t-miss Frenchy duo of Biancone/Leparoux. The fact that Stream Cat is co-owned by former Dukie Bobby Hurley only compounded my disappointment, but this colt will be tough to beat on the weeds this year.

Race 6, the Jenny Wiley Stakes (G3) was short on numbers (6 entrants) but tall in talent. In a showcase of Breeder’s Cup tested fillies and mares 4+, the Todd Pletcher trained Wait a While figured to be a lock, but it was obvious from the get-go that she simply wasn’t in the mood to run. Women. However, even if she was, I’m not sure she could’ve run down the #4 My Typhoon, who edged Bejarano and Precious Kitten for the win. The Bill Mott trained filly reiterated the notion that the Poly plays truer to grassers than it does mudders, and looks like a serious BC contenda this fall.

The 8^th, The Commonwealth Breeders’ Cup (G2), bore proof that we might’ve taught the Japanese a little too much after WWII. The Far-East bred Silent Name (Sunday Silence) routed an accomplished field of sprinters to get back on the winning path. Trainer Gary Mandella has to feel extremely confident in his colt after yesterday. A solid effort also from the one time all-star turned longshot Lewis Michael who showed some kick in getting up for 2^nd, and an equally disappointing effort out of Baffert’s Midnight Lute, who never threatened en route to a 4^th place finish.

Then, of course, there was the preppiest of preps, the Blue Grass Stakes (G1). Featuring the two most impressive 3yo thus far, Street Sense and Great Hunter, many were mistakenly quick to write this off as a duel. 1:51.33 later, as four heads reached the finish line at nearly the same instance, this supposed “match race” had a winner: 10-1 shot Dominican. With Bejarano once again waving his whip as if it were a magic wand, the winner of the Rushaway Stakes clipped even money favorite Street Sense and fellow “afterthought” Zanjero at the line, stamping his ticket to Churchill. The Blue Grass played like a turf race, with lone speeder Truflesberg setting an unfettered snails pace with a 26 + change opening quarter. With a near 2 ½ length lead and plenty left in the tank, I wondered if anyone would catch this resolute son of Johannesburg. Street Sense appeared to be poised for yet another photo-op at the top of the stretch, but was unable to separate from a game Truflesberg and a charging Zanjero. It was obvious that rider Calvin Borel was fighting to keep his horse aligned and focused. Great Hunter suffered through a stretch run from hell, twice getting sandwiched between SS and Tberg, and ultimately having to slam on the breaks before the wire. Bejarano timed his run perfectly, as a stretched out Dominican rallied hard from the outside to nip the others at the wire. Although the connections of Street Sense would’ve happily accepted the $750,000 purse, I’d say they still feel awfully good about their colt heading into May’s first Saturday. I don’t believe he was pushed to his max yesterday, but still showed plenty of mettle. Likewise with Great Hunter. I don’t think he was going to make a winning push, but he certainly could’ve done more with a cleaner trip. Hopefully, he came out sound, and I still think they’re the two to beat (along with Ark. Champ Curlin) at Churchill.

Lessons learned:
No turf? No problem...Street Sense and Great Hunter are still tough, but mortal...Sunday Silence has good seed, in case you forgot...Gomez and Leparoux aside, this is Bejarano's house...Curlin, very fast...April weather, f-you...

Mutuel Musings 4/14

Race 1

I like the #9 Cointreau. He’s been running on the weeds for most of his career, but did romp in a $25,000 claimer on the Keeneland Polytrack last October. He’s been very consistent against similar competition all year, and with Bejarano up, you know he’ll at least get the chance to make a run. Not far behind is the #2 Skippy Due, who has done no worse than 2nd in his last 6 career starts. Locally trained by Phil Sims (no, not the one with the girly sons), he’s very adept on the Poly. Takes a minor step-up in class this trip, but his consistency is too strong to overlook. If you’re looking for a price, take the #3 Sweet Grass Creek.


Race 3

Darley, and their lovable owner Sheikh Mohammed Al Something or Other, couple two talented 3yo’s in #1 Sahara Heat and #1a No Reply. Both horses are impeccably bred and look to be poised to make a move here. You’re getting a 2fer here, so that’s good, but the even money morning line isn’t. #5 Highest Degree finished 7th in the G2 Lane’s End at Turfway his last time out, and this dramatic step down in class might be enough to get him the winner’s circle. Still, at 2-1 I’d be hesitant to play. There’s not much else here, but put the #1 and #2 over a longshot in a tri-box and hope for the best.


Race 4

#5 Pulpit Talk has been wildly inconsistent of late, but his bullet work last week shows he’s ready to improve in his second start off a layoff. I would be remiss if I didn’t make a push for Perfect Drift, who at the age of 8 is the statesmen of this bunch, and is one of my all-time favorites. He’s a no-nonsense colt with enough career earnings to buy his own private horse jet...which is cool in theory, and he’s been running against the best in the world his whole career. Dropping down to an allowance is peculiar (think Celtics Bill Walton), especially one on the grass, but he’s still the one to beat.


Race 6-Jenny Wiley Stakes

Like the theater in Prestonsburg which bears her name, the Jenny Wiley Stakes is playing host to the best fillies and mares in the world. With only six horses to choose from, a good price might be hard to come by. #2 Wait a While trots out of the Pletcher barn with ace jock Garett Gomez at the reigns. She’s one of the fastest mares in the world, and a clean trip would prove disastrous for the others. If the #2 doesn’t happen to feel like running, then another even money lass, #4 My Typhoon will be there to strike. Trained by the King of Turf Bill Mott, she should be ready in her 2nd start from a layoff. #5 Mauralakana is another Biancone/Leparoux combo, with plenty of experience against similar competition. She hasn’t raced since finishing 7th at the Breeder’s Cup last year, and this might be too tough a test coming off that long of a vacation.


Race 8-Commonwealth Breeder's Cup

Like the Jenny Wiley, the Commonwealth Breeder’s Cup will showcase a plethora of Breeder’s Cup quality colts in the Sprint division. I’m going with the #8 Silent Name. This Japanese bred out of Sunday Silence runs like a Toyota--smooth, quiet, and quick. He's been tested against graded competition most of his career, and I think his connections should feel awfully good about this. Look for him to get the lead, and 'Polytrack' his way to a w2w. Standing in his way is the #7 Midnight Lute, outta the Baffert barn, and the #4 Street Light. Longshot: #10 Gin and Sin. Come on, you know you like the name, just bet it.

Race 9-Toyota Bluegrass Stakes

1- Zanjero—a lethal combo of Asmussen and Gomez makes him sexy enough on paper, but this colt can run. He’s won on this course, and the simple fact of the matter is, he’s yet to run his best race. Might this be it?
2- Dominican—Plenty to like here: coming off an impressive triumph in Turfway’s Rushaway Stakes last month on the same surface, earning a 109 Beyer speed figure. But this is a step-up in class, one that may prove to be too much.
3- Love Dubai—If betting on who finished last were playable, then this would be a sure thing. The justification for this horse to be in this race is just not there.
4- Street Sense—I’ve been hailing him as the 3yo champ all year for one simple reason: the reigning 2yo champ is 1 for 1 as a 3yo. While there is very little to not like here, his 4-5 ML kills any excitement. As dominant as this colt has been throughout his career, trainer Carl Nafzger believes he’s yet to run his best race…will be shocked if he doesn’t hit the board.
5- Time Squared—Gets a nod for bloodline (Fusaichi Pegasus) and connections (Biancone), and has some really nice works of late. Taking a monstrous step up in class, and his only previous attempt at a graded stakes yielded an uninspiring 7th place finish. If the pace is hot early on, he could come on late and hit the board, but I’d look elsewhere.
6- Teuflesberg—Has found the board in each of his last 5 races, including 3rd in the Rebel Stakes last month. Prado aboard is a huge plus. Should be unmatched on the lead, and if the fractions are slow, he could just wire this field. Very capable of big things, but this big…not so sure. Is a player, but I would only play him in the exotics if his price is decent.
7- Great Hunter—If there’s anyone who can rival Street Sense in class, it’s this west coaster. This colt can do it all, and looks to be moving into top form at exactly the right time. He’s been facing the best of the best his whole career, and hasn’t faired any worse than 3rd. Put him on top with #4 in any exotics.
If I were a bettin man: tri-box 1, 4, 7

Riding with history

One Hundred and thirty one years. that’s how long the city of Louisville and its famed Churchill Downs have hosted the Kentucky Derby. Of the thousands of thoroughbreds to have loaded in the starting gate on the first Saturday in May, only eleven proceeded to capture the next two jewels and claim the Triple Crown. One of those eleven is the extraordinary Seattle Slew.

"The People’s Horse," as he was dubbed during his 1977 campaign for immortality, Slew entered the race for the Triple Crown that year with a flawless 3-0 record and would stride into the history books several weeks later as the only undefeated winner of horse racing’s most elusive achievement. In the driver's seat piloting Slew the entire way, was jockey Jean Cruguet.

Born in France in 1939, the sharp-tongued, hard-nosed, rough-riding jockey quickly cemented himself as a top-rate rider on the New York circuit in the late 60's. Never coy about his opinions, Cruguet’s confidence both delighted, and agitated spectators and stakeholders. Three days before he was to ride Seattle Slew in the Kentucky Derby, he brazenly guaranteed victory for his colt to a sea of reporters. Three days later, his riding did the talking.

Cruguet was on board numerous champion thoroughbreds, including Hoist The Flag, for whom he famously boasted, “The only way he can lose is if he falls down.” Now, at the age of 66, he continues his brilliance on horseback as an exercise rider at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky. This is where I found him, fresh off the training track--in his element--and discovered that the great ones never change.


Hotwalker: When did you first realize that you wanted to spend your life riding horses?

Jean Cruguet: I left school when I was seventeen, and I wanted to do sports. I was always good at sports, even basketball. But you know, my size wasn’t the best for basketball. I tried fighting, being a boxer. I was a good fighter, but I didn’t want to get hit in the nose for the rest of my life. I didn’t know much about horses, but with my size and weight it seemed like a good fit.


Is that what brought you over to the United States?

JC: Well, I was in the (French) army for three years, then I came back and started riding. I spent six months is France, in the Bush leagues. I was pretty good, but I knew I had to go to England or the US if I wanted a good career a rider. So, next thing I know, I’m with my wife on my way to Florida to ride for the winter.

Not a bad place to be for the winter.

JC: (laughs) No. I didn’t stay there long, only a couple of months. I went to New York soon after, and there I stayed.


You said riding a horse came natural for you- as you indeed proved- but what are some of the less glamorous aspects of becoming a jockey?

JC: It’s hard, because people assume that most jockeys use drugs, but it’s more than that, you know. It’s really tough; a lot of competition and you gotta get lucky a few times and work hard. Especially in this country, there are a lot of Spanish names but I was “the French guy," one of the first. Then of course you have to learn the language.


You completed the Triple Crown on a Saturday, obviously. How was your life different on Sunday?

JC: Not too much. I was 28 when I won the Triple Crown, so I had already made a name for myself. Of course, when you win the Triple Crown your owner will take care of you a little, you know?


Sure, I’d say you deserved it.

JC: I won the Derby. Yes, I was on the best horse, but it was me that won that one, not the horse. We came out of the gate and he went like this (motioning towards the ground) so I kept him composed and we were in last by that point. Then I-bomp! beem! boom!-past three or four guys to be where I wanted to be. Most riders wouldn’t do that. But I knew the first time I got beat with this horse…I probably didn’t enjoy it like I should’ve.


You earned the reputation as a ‘rough-rider’ early in your career, did you not?

JC: Oh yes. My first year over here…you know in France that’s how you ride. Get out of the way or get killed. So that’s how I did it when I first came over, and I got, you know, 10-day (suspension), 10-day, 10-day.


You have never been shy about speaking your mind. Did your sharp tongue ever get you in trouble?

JC: (laughs) Oh yes. Hey, that’s me, that’s the why I am. You can be right 9 out of 10 times, but that one time you’re wrong, everyone’s saying “Oh, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.” They forgot that 9 times you were right, you know?


When did you first realize with Seattle Slew that you were sitting on greatness?

JC: Well, the first time I breezed him, and he was OK, nothing spectacular. But the next time…I was hanging on for dear life, and I told the owners they had something big.


Do you see any positive or negative changes in the sport since you started riding?

JC: Oh yeah. It used to be, you know, 30, 35 years ago, you knew who was going to win the Derby, you know Hoist the Flag or Seattle Slew…you knew who was the best 3 year old. Now, everyone is so concerned about money, and every horse comes into the Derby with money, and nobody knows which horse is actually good, and which horse had greedy owners. Nowadays, people don’t care if they win or lose, they just want to get paid. To me, that’s a disgrace.


You competed into your 50’s, and you still ride everyday. How do you continue to stay fit?

JC: Well, I do 175 push ups when I get up. And I drink a lot of water and take vitamins.


175? Amazing. Did you have a similar routine during your career?

No, I only did 100 push ups back then. I couldn’t get too big you know, nobody wants a bulky jockey.


As Cruguet climbs onto his next morning ride a confident smirk creeps over his face. After all, this horse is in his hands now, and if it doesn't know it now it sure will when they hit the track. As they speed up, the world slows down. The rider and horse become one.

Reviled for his swagger, revered for his record, Cruguet is truly a unique character in a sport full of them. He’s a loving father and husband who still jumps out of bed every morning to do what he loves: ride. Brash and bold he may be, but his remarkable results and unyielding love and respect for his animals speaks for itself. Although I’m sure he’d have something to say about it.