The Tragic Mystery of Sunny Man

Eighty-five years ago this month, a promising 3-year-old colt named Sunny Man was knocked off the Kentucky Derby and Preakness trail.

Unlike Eskendereya who will enjoy a healthy stud career or Endorsement whose leg fracture will likely heal to allow him to race again, Sunny Man suffered a truly horrific death—poisoned with chloral and arsenic, his mouth blistered and a deathly blue, in his last days of life Sunny Man crazily beat his head against the sides of his Pimlico stall. Just who was responsible for the demise of this prized thoroughbred was never discovered, but the details of his case, and particularly the lack of response by Maryland racetracks at the time, are appalling.

Sunny Man was thoroughbred royalty, son of Willis Sharpe Kilmer’s beloved Travers winner Sun Briar—the pre-race favorite withdrawn from the 1918 Kentucky Derby ultimately won by his bony workmate Exterminator. His English damsire Polymelus, who traced his ancestry back to the Darley Arabian, was the most successful stud of his era, siring among others the great stallion Phalaris. His dam Romagne had already produced a classics winner in Ray Jay, winner of the 1922 Dwyer Stakes.

Fresh off a smashing victory in the Whirl Stakes at Empire City race track, Sunny Man began his 2-year-old fall campaign at Saratoga with wins in the United States Hotel Stakes and the Saratoga Special. A July 20, 1924 Washington Post article lauded his merits and breeding:

“Sunny Man, a chestnut, is a typical Sun Briar—lengthy underneath, short of back and close to the ground. He has plenty of bone, an attractive muscular equipment and a pleasant disposition...[he] has the gait of a distance runner.”

Although he finished third to stablemate Sunsard in the Grand Union Hotel Stakes in his final Saratoga outing, and fourth in November’s Pimlico Special to close out his juvenile campaign, Sunny Man was working sensationally in late spring towards the big 3-year-old races, and if fact, when Preakness entries closed on April 20, the DRF noted: “They are many who believe that Sunny Man will be hard to beat in both the Preakness and Kentucky Derby.”

His 3-year-old debut in the fourth race at Havre de Grace on Monday, April 27 looked like an easy spot, going six furlongs in allowance company. However, much to the surprise of his connections, Sunny Man lost to recent maiden winner Prince of Bourbon who connections at Xalapa Farm “wagered heavily on their candidate, sending him to the post almost an equal favorite with Sunny Man,” a fact that was to be rather suspicious considering what transpired next. Sunny Man toted 124 pounds, 16 ½ pounds more than Prince of Bourbon, but still closed well enough to finish second.

When Sunny Man shipped back to Pimlico after his loss, he was a very sick horse. His trainer J.P. Smith consulted Maryland Jockey Club veterinarian Dr. H.J. McCarthy and called in Kilmer’s vet Dr. Robert McCully from New York, but nothing could be done for the colt whose crazed state finally ended on Saturday, May 2, at 10:15 p.m.—six days before the Preakness, and 14 days before the Kentucky Derby.

Despite initial accounts, Kilmer had only $45,000 worth of insurance on Sunny Man, but it hardly consoled the turfman who put his racing stable on hold while his hired detectives attempted to discover who had poisoned the colt. The Washington Post offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest; Kilmer added another $5,000 to the effort.

On May 5, Washington Post sports editor N.W. Baxter published a scathing editorial which hypothesized upon how events unfolded:

“The poisoning of Sunny Man was very evidently an effort to fix a single race—the fourth on Monday’s card at Havre de Grace. As the event was drawn it was strictly a two-horse affair. Sunny Man and Prince of Bourbon were the only two starters that appeared on form to have the slightest chance to win. The racing public, gullible and seldom given the benefit of protection by those in control of racing, made the Kilmer colt the favorite at odds of $1.70 to $1.00. Wise money, evidently aware of the foul tactics that had been practiced beforehand, made Prince of Bourbon an almost equal choice at $1.90 to $1.00. Too great eagerness to collect on a certainty, born of underhandedness, ran the price on the winner down even lower than the authors of the cowardly conspiracy probably intended. The winners, if they may be called that, certainly did not collect enough pieces of silver to satisfy a modern Judas. A splendid colt is dead—murdered—and racing races an ugly situation that must be cleared up.”

He continued:

“The fact that such incidents are happening with frequency is no reason for ignoring their existence. An ostrich-like attitude will not bring about a cure. If, however, the various bodies in control of racing begin to take real disciplinary action—no matter who may be involved—against all infractions of the rules of racing, and punish to the limits vandals such as those that were implicated in the poisoning of Sunny Man, there would be an immediate improvement in conditions.”

“What right have officials charged with the government of racing to call it a sport and make an appeal for the support of the public and owners when it is approaching daily rules of conduct that are only approximated among East Side gangsters?”

“Why should a breeders of thoroughbreds send his horses to the races when, if he has any high-class horses, it is necessary for him to employ armed guards, mount searchlights and turn his stables into an armed camp to make certain that his property is not going to be harmed or injured?”

“The necessity for such precautions does not arise because an owner of thoroughbreds is an enemy of mankind in general, but because the racing associations who claim to foster the ‘improvement of the breed of thoroughbreds’ are derelict in the protection that they afford to honest man and by their weakness enable the criminals to operate virtually unmolested.”

“Competent men, working with thoroughness and honesty, can clean up racing…It should be made a business, better a highly-skilled profession embraced by men with every qualification, including experience, and in these men should be vested full power to proceed against any individual or element that they consider derogatory to the well-being of the industry that racing has come to represent. That fact that the poisoning of Sunny Man is the most open and notorious effort to corrupt racing that has taken place in some time may result in a more active investigation than usual.”

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Baxter’s hopes to be crushed. It was announced in the Post on May 6 that:

“Dr. Frank A. Ingram, veterinarian for one of the insurance companies holding a policy on Sunny Man, was unable to recover the viscera of the dead colt, as the carcass was thrown into an acid bath at the fertilizer plant to which it was removed before he could take steps to remove the vital organs….Dr. Ingram wanted to know on what authority the horse had been moved from Pimlico and destroyed. Thomas Whiting, president of the fertilizer company, explained that the city health ordinances provide that all animals received at the plant be destroyed in as short a time as possible.”

No one took responsibility for ordering the colt’s body removed from Pimlico, and, even more shockingly, the Maryland Racing commission, the Maryland Jockey Club and the Hartford County Agricultural association refused to investigate the incident. As Baxter wrote on May 7:

“All of Maryland’s racing officials continue to close their eyes to the ugly circumstances in the case. They refuse even to explain satisfactorily why they will not take action. The poisoning of a thoroughbred is not a matter that should be allowed to become merely an issue between the owner and insurance companies...”

“There are at present too many contradictions in the stories that are being told to permit of the matter being dropped. Dr. McCully, Kilmer stable veterinarian, says that Sunny Man was deliberately poisoned by the administration of a combination of chloral and arsenic. Dr. McCarthy, veterinarian for the Maryland Jockey club, says that the horse’s death was caused by either an overdose of or wrongly compounded sedative. At the same time these two men and Dr. Ingram, veterinarian for one of the insurance companies interested, agree that the colt was poisoned.”

“The reasons behind the speedy destruction of Sunny Man also demand explanation. Examination of the organs of the dead thoroughbred might have given definite answer to many of the questions that may now remain a matter of conjecture. Lack of an autopsy only gives tongue to many ugly rumors.”

“The ‘oligarchy’ of the turf may take what comfort it can from the fact that it is able to ignore the stench that surrounds it. The odor is apparent, however, to both patrons and supporters of the sport...It is stupid to deny that cause for investigation exists.”

While Maryland officials refused to take any action, others did in regards to instituting greater protection. In New York, special police were hired to protect the horses stabled there, including at Belmont, Empire City, Saratoga, Jamaica and Aqueduct race tracks:

“It will be their duty to see that no unauthorized persons are allowed on the tracks. No one but employees of the stables at the tracks will be allowed in or around the barns except by special authorization. The owners and trainers will be held individually responsible for their own employees.”

Even as far away as Europe the incident resonated with owners anxious for their prized thoroughbreds. For example, the French colt Ptolemy—fresh off his runner-up effort in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2000 Guineas)—was accompanied by three private detectives when he shipped to England in preparation for the Epsom Derby. As his trainer Robert Denman told the body guards, “We don’t want any Sunny Man business.”

From what I could undercover, the circumstances of Sunny Man’s death were never fully explained, and no one was ever brought to justice for his poisoning. Kilmer never owned another Kentucky Derby winner, although he did breed 1928 winner Reigh Count, father of Triple Crown winner Count Fleet. As an owner, he also celebrated great success with another son of Sun Briar, Sun Beau who was thrice named champion handicap horse in 1929-31.

Another fascinating tidbit: after the death of the famed Australian race horse Phar Lap in April 1932—purportedly due to poisoning—Willis Sharpe Kilmer hired the gelding’s Australian trainer Treve “Tommy” Woodcock, veterinarian Walter Nielsen and jockey Willie Elliot to work for him, “given a free hand with eight or ten Kilmer horses. Unlike U. S. trainers who give their horses stiff, frequent tests for speed, Australia's trainer Woodcock believes in long loping canters to build stamina, stretch muscles.” Woodcock would eventually return to Australia in 1934, but how interesting that Kilmer, who had suffered the tragic loss of his prized Sunny Man just seven years prior, demonstrated great empathy for Phar Lap’s forlorn trio under such tragically similar circumstances.

Sources:

“Kilmer’s Sunny Man is Present Leader” Washington Post, July 20, 1924 p. S4.

“Sixty-Nine Entries for Preakness Stakes” Daily Racing Form, April 21, 1925, p. 1.

“Star in the Embryo. Prince of Bourbon Makes Impressive Showing at Havre” Daily Racing Form, April 28, 1925, p. 1.

“Hint Poison Plot in Death of Great Race Horse. Sunny Man’s Mouth Blistered and Blue, Trainer Smith Says” Milwaukee Sentinel, May 3, 1925, p. S1.

“Derby Colt Sunny Man Dead” Daily Racing Form, May 5, 1925, p. 1.

N.W. Baxter “Poisoning of Sunny Man Must Not Be Whitewashed: Turf Can’t Survive if Officials Refuse to Do their Duty” Washington Post, May 5, 1925, p. 13.

“Colt’s Carcass Destroyed Quickly” Washington Post, May 6, 1925, p. 15.

N.W. Baxter “Officials Act to Prevent Vandalism. Widener Takes Action That Maryland Should Imitate” Washington Post, May 7, 1925, p. 13.

“Sleuths Guard Ptolemy; Fear Sunny Man Case” Washington Post, May 23, 1925, p. 13.

Time, May 2, 1932

Read more »

A Lament for Horse Racing in Pennsylvania

Green has always been my favorite color, thus I relish the rich verdant variations that herald the arrival of each spring. It was my father who infused me with a love of Nature thorough our weekly Sunday walks through the woods and across the neighboring farm fields, and I fondly recall the sights and smells of those days even decades after the fact.

I thought of that recently while driving through the mountains on my way home for a brief visit with family. Blue skies, warm sun, the air fragrant with blooming purple lilac and yellow forsythia bushes, the redbud and crabapple trees bursting with blossoms—and every shade of green Nature possesses. Perfect weather, exactly the kind that makes for a fine day of horse racing.

One town I pass through is picturesque Ligonier, home to Pittsburgh’s horse and pony set (among the quaint shops surrounding the Diamond with its Victorian-style bandstand is Equine Chic “for Horse and Home”). Just outside of town are beautiful manicured farms with rustic split-rail fences, and, as I drive by one, I watch two young foals race one another while their mothers disinterestedly graze nearby. Further down the road I notice a farm for sale, 126 acres, and I begin to daydream about winning the $258.5 million Powerball jackpot. I’d buy the farm, stock it with fleet-footed thoroughbreds and set out to win a Kentucky Derby or two. Hey, the slots-infused purses in Pennsylvania, I could probably do pretty well, right?

Unfortunately, reality is disillusioning. In all ways possible, the Pennsylvania Horse Racing Commission (PHRC) as well as both the governor and state legislature dropped the ball on a pivotal opportunity to create a high-quality racing product when slots were introduced. Instead, mismanagement and a complete apathy for the sport, rooted in its obligatory attachment to slots and gaming which is the real cash cow, has created in Pennsylvania a situation where money is metaphorically being flushed down the toilet, along with the quality of its racing product.

The list of problems appears endless. Persistently beset with complaints regarding its poor quality racing surface, Penn National recently endured the Michael Gill fiasco, his racing manager Anthony Adamo’s suspension, and an as-yet-undefined grand jury investigation that likely has contributed to the resignation of PHRC acting executive secretary Michael Dillon.

After forcing horseplayers to play second fiddle to on-site casino patrons, Philadelphia Park (or, should I say, Parx Casino Gaming and Racetrack) has a new facility, but isn’t a good neighbor, having been cited by the state Department of Environmental Protection with washing horse manure into the Neshaminy Creek watershed. They’ve done virtually nothing to improve the grandstand and other race track facilities, and don’t forget how Greenwood Racing Inc. has allowed Atlantic City Race Course to deteriorate into a shell of its former self, holding only six days of live racing per year. Meanwhile, come hell or high water, Philadelphia hosts racing year-around, as does Penn National.

Presque Isle Downs is no better. Mountaineer Gaming continues to put zero effort into improving the track-going experience for racing fans—all at the expense of slots and table games, of course. It’s bad enough not a single dime was initially expended to provide for grandstand seating, and even the apron lacks the slightest gradient to allow for convenient track viewing while standing. Now, word is the partially-enclosed section of the apron has been claimed for construction of the new table games facility which opens in July, and some aren’t happy about dropping Sunday racing or the complete lack of access by reporters to the track’s backside. Makes you wonder what they want to hide.

Exactly how many of PA’s three thoroughbred race tracks have applied for and been granted accreditation through the NTRA’s Safety and Integrity Alliance? Look at the map below to see for yourself:



None. Not surprising considering the complete disconnect between those state officials supposedly entrusted with properly regulating the industry and the casino executives who couldn’t care less about the tracks. In fact, their apathetic non-compliance led the American Grade Stakes Committee to revoke the graded status of the G2 Pennsylvania Derby and G2 Fitz Dixon Cotillion at Philadelphia Park, and the G3 Masters Stakes at Presque Isle Downs earlier this year (recently reinstated).

So, if they could care less about the highest quality races offered in the state, how infinitesimal do you think they care for daily race events? As per horsemen's demands and with money to spare, apparently the more, the better—thus perpetuating low quality racing at the expense of developing a better product. Philadelphia Park and Penn National may have been beyond hope, but when the license for Presque Isle was granted, the state should have required the licensee to step up and created a first-class facility for racing instead of the shit-hole void of any trees or decorative charm that exists there now. With its 100-day season perfectly positioned between Keeneland’s spring and fall meets, in relative close proximity to Saratoga, Woodbine and Arlington, Presque Isle could have been a destination race track. Instead, it’s just another mediocre nighttime simulcast.

If on-track patrons are persona non gratia and it’s the ADW customers that Presque Isle, Penn National and Philadelphia Park are interested in, you would think at the very least they would put some money into their websites and broadcasts, right? Instead, there is virtually no original information or flashy graphics on their individual websites (click embedded links above) which are boring. On the other hand, look at the new website for Philadelphia’s Parx Casino—it’s only for a complete lack of interest that the race track websites are barebones. At the very least, considering the amount of money poured into the coffers of both the state and the casinos, Pennsylvania tracks should be required to upgrade their video broadcasts, much like Churchill Downs Inc. has upgraded its tracks to high-definition. What a magnificent improvement for horse players that would be!

But, why should Pennsylvania racinos bother spending money on promoting racing or making sure a high-quality product is offered? If the industry dies or self-implodes as it likely is, they don’t have to be bothered with it any more. And politicians don’t give a shit because the money now directed to purses and breeding incentives can instead be funneled into the state coffers to be misspent at their indiscretion.

Talk about ruining a dream...guess I'll pass on the farm.

Read more »

What Makes the Dwyer Stakes Unique

In addition to the lack of centralized authority, unified drug regulations, coordinated race scheduling and vision for the future of horse racing, add a lack of appreciation for racing’s history as an unfortunate casualty of the sport's slow demise. Only the Kentucky Derby still possesses for the general public the allure that the sport once enjoyed in its hey-day. I don’t mind Pimlico advertising the Triple Crown’s second jewel with “Get Your Preak On.” (you might want to turn the volume down if you click on the link) Purists might declare it offensive and pandering to the lowest common denominator, but, honestly, in a sport whose fan base is rapidly aging, isn’t any attempt to muster interest among the younger crowd a good thing—as opposed to doing nothing and permitting the sport to die? That's not to say I like the idea of filling the infield with drunken louts, but serious fans wouldn't be able to see the race from there anyways.

What I’m not crazy about is fiddling with what little historical significance remains in American racing, particularly those races run at the classic distances (9 furlongs +). D. Wayne Lukas recently told the Paulick Report he advocates shortening the distances of all three Triple Crown races because horses aren’t being bred to get the classic distances. Poppycock! That thinking reminds me of the trend in youth team sports of awarding trophies for just being part of a team or requiring that all players play regardless of talent. Forgive me if I don’t wish to bitch further about the general dumbing down of American culture having just finished the semester and about to embark on four months of vacation bliss...but the idea of shortening the classic races is offensive, and attempts to cheapen the achievements of those great champions of the past. If anything, we need to more wholeheartedly embrace the past, and find ways to make those great staying races even more relevant and important in the greater scheme of things.

For some incomprehensible reason, NYRA felt it necessary to move the Dwyer Stakes from early July to mid-May, purportedly to take the place of the temporarily-suspended Peter Pan Stakes as a Belmont Stakes prep race. Unfortunately, coming just one week after the Kentucky Derby, the seven-horse field leaves much to be desired (even with much-ballyhooed G2-placed Drosselmeyer). No Man o’War, Gallant Fox, Omaha, Johnstown, Whirlaway, Assault, Native Dancer, Nashua, or Damascus here.

First run in 1887 as the Brooklyn Derby, one of the more fascinating facts about the Dwyer is that it, unlike the other 3-year-old open company classics, has never been won by a filly. All three Triple Crown races, plus the Travers, Withers and now defunct Lawrence Realization have all been won by fillies. So too have other vintage races like the Haskell, Santa Anita Derby, Blue Grass, and American Derby (*First run in 1964, the Jim Dandy has yet to produce a filly winner).

On May 26, 1891, the $20,000 Great American Stakes for 2-year-olds overshadowed the $6,000 Brooklyn Derby at Gravesend race track, so the filly Ambulance’s second-place finish behind stablemate Russell hardly merited notice. When Intermission finished second, three lengths behind Handspring in the 1896 Brooklyn Derby, the New York Times scoffed at the race as “really no Derby at all, as it is run over a course of a mile and a quarter instead of over the regulation distance of a mile and a half.”

In the 1907 edition (which was over 12 furlongs), only four horses challenged Belmont Stakes winner Peter Pan, trying “in turn to go out and take the track from the favorite, in the hope that if hard pressed Peter Pan would quit as he did in his first races of the year, but...the tactics failed, for the simple reason that none of the field could get to the favorite.” One who went with him, but never passed him, was Yankee Girl who finished third, losing second in the final strides by a neck to Paumonok, a colt carrying seven pounds less than the filly.

In 1935, Good Gamble (about whom I have written previously at Fillies First) finished just 1-1/2 lengths back of Triple Crown winner Omaha, while Gallorette was beaten by a head in the final stride by Wildlife in 1945. She had already won the Pimlico Oaks (now Black-Eyed Susan), Delaware Oaks and Acorn, and would subsequently win the Empire City Stakes against Belmont winner Pavot.

The last filly to place in the Dwyer was 1947 champion 3-year-old filly But Why Not, a Blue Larkspur daughter whose second dam was the great Black Helen (and third dam was the incomparable La Troienne). Among the field of nine that year Belmont Stakes winner Phalanx stood out; as post-time favorite, he had been defeated by Jet Pilot in the Kentucky Derby and finished third in the Preakness. But Why Not had won the Acorn and Pimlico Oaks, but was a beaten favorite in the Coaching Club American Oaks coming in. As James Roach described in the New York Times, they “were locked in a purse-stirring duel after having come on from back in the pack around the last turn, and there was little to choose between them at the end of the mile and a quarter.” Phalanx won by a head, and it was a distant six lengths back to the rest of the field. A few weeks later Phalanx repeated the feat, beating But Why Not by two lengths in the Empire City Stakes; he also won the 2-mile Jockey Club Gold Cup that year, defeating the great Stymie. But Why Not came back to win the Matron, and then defeated males in the $93,800 Arlington Classic in late July—repeating a feat achieved by Twilight Tear when she won the 1944 Classic.


Sources:
“St. Florian Won $20,000 in the Great American Stakes Race at Gravesend” New York Times, May 27, 1891, p. 2.
“A Derby for Handspring” New York Times, June 17, 1896, p. 6.
“Peter Pan Victor in Brooklyn Derby” New York Times, June 16, 1907, p. S2.
“Phalanx Beats But Why Not By a Head in Dwyer” New York Times, June 15, 1947, p. S1.

Read more »

¡Feliz Cinco De Mayo!

In honor of one of the most gratuitous excuses for getting wasted, some hunch bets for Wednesday:

Belmont, Race 5—Miss Tequila (10)
Charles Town, Race 3—Lots of Rum (5)
Charles Town, Race 7—Rum City (9)
Delta Downs, Race 1—This Guys Toasted (9)
Delta Downs, Race 3—Cocktail Warrior (6), and Down Some Crown (10)
Delta Downs, Race 6—Alcohol and Ambiance (6)
Hollywood, Race 7—Miss Mojito (2)

Looking through Wednesday’s entries, I also noticed another theme. For your blogging pleasure:

Belmont, Race 5—Jen’s Dream (3)
Belmont, Race 9—Dana’s Bell (4)
Delta Downs, Race 4—Jess A Loaded Bug (3)
Evangeline, Race 9—Geno (12)
Indiana Downs, Race 6—Ms. Cat Princess (4)
Indiana Downs, Race 7—Lisa’s Kitten (2)
Will Rogers Downs, Race 5—Mustbejohnsfault (4)
Will Rogers Downs, Race 10—Megawatt Joe (3)

Read more »

How Difficult is It to Sire a Derby Winner?

With Super Saver becoming the second Kentucky Derby winner for the deceased Maria’s Mon, it got me thinking about the other great sires who have accomplished this feat.

In the early years (probably due to a more limited number of stallions) there were plenty who sired multiple winners, beginning with Virgil whose sons Vagrant (1876), Hindoo (1881) and Ben Ali (1886) won the Derby. There were others such as Broomstick, McGee, Black Toney and St. Germans who sired dual-winners but the only others to sire three Derby winners were:

● Falsetto: Chant (1894), His Eminence (1901) and Sir Huon (1906)
● Sir Gallahad III: Gallant Fox (1930), Gallahadion (1940) and Hoop, Jr. (1945)
● Bull Lea: Citation (1948), Hill Gail (1952) and Iron Liege (1957)

Interestingly, none of the stallions mentioned above actually won the Derby themselves.

Sir Gallahad III was also the broodmare sire to Johnstown (1939) and Jet Pilot (1947) while Bull Lea’s daughter Two Lea produced by Tom Fool the great Tim Tim (1957). Tom Fool’s daughter Fool-Me-Not was the dam of Foolish Pleasure (1975).

As a broodmare sire, probably the most impressive early producer was Lexington whose daughters produced Aristides (1875), Day Star (1878), Hindoo (1881), and Ben Ali (1886). Others whose daughters birthed three Derby victors include:

● King Alfonso: Lookout (1893), Chant (1894) and Agile (1905)
● Hanover: Worth (1912), Donerail (1913) and Sir Barton (1919)
● Blenheim II: Ponder (1949), Hill Gail (1952) and Kauai King (1966)

Since 1970, there have been four stallions to sire multiple Derby winners:

● Bold Bidder: Cannonade (1974) and Spectacular Bid (1979)
● Exclusive Native: Affirmed (1978) and Genuine Risk (1980)
● Halo: Sunny’s Halo (1983) and Sunday Silence (1989)
● Alydar: Alysheba (1987) and Strike the Gold (1991)

Interestingly, both Alydar and Exclusive Native were sons of Raise a Native, while Halo’s sire was Hail to Reason and Bold Bidder was by Bold Ruler—and none of these seven horses won the Derby themselves. Also, none of their aforementioned sons (and daughter) has produced a Derby winner.

As broodmare sires, Drone has done well with Grindstone (1996) and Charismatic (1999), while Dixieland Band produced Monarchos (2001) and Street Sense (2007).

As for Derby winners producing Derby winners, it’s actually quite rare. Reigh Count (1928) sired 1945 Triple Crown winner Count Fleet who in turn sired 1951 winner Count Turf. 1944 winner Pensive sired 1949 winner Ponder who in turn sired 1956 winner Needles. 1930 Triple Crown victor Gallant Fox is the only Derby winner to have sired another Triple Crown winner, Omaha (1935). Swaps (1955) sired Chateaugay (1963).

So, while Super Saver may indeed have a promising stud career ahead of him, history suggests that chances are quite slim one of his sons or daughters will repeat his feat—although not entirely outside the realm of possibility. And that just proves how exceptional being a Kentucky Derby winner is.

Read more »

Super Saver Totally Made Sense

Finally, Todd Pletcher can stop pretending to tolerate those idiots who constantly ask him, “How’s it feel not to have won the Derby?” Like, “duh.” How do you think it feels—it sucks. But now he’s won it, and how appropriate is it to have won it with Calvin Borel?

Pundits were amazed that Super Saver was the favorite in overnight betting, and Lookin At Lucky wasn’t—well, turns out bettors aren’t as stupid as the so-called experts think. Come on, what wasn’t there to like? He had the stamina pedigree, it was his third race off a break, he worked extremely well over the sloppy Churchill track on Monday, he had already won a race (G2 Kentucky Jockey Club) over this track, he freaked on a sloppy Belmont track to break his maiden by 7 lengths last year, and, oh, he’s got Calvin Borel as his jockey. Seriously, for all the outcry about freaky results, he totally made sense. Congratulations to Dana at Green But Game who nailed Super Saver in the Paulick Derby Index!

Ditto Ice Box who but for a wicked trip—much worse than Lookin At Lucky, I might add—could have won this race. Yea, it took him a little longer to mature last year, but his Florida Derby performance was superb. He’d worked well on the sloppy track too, and with his G2-winning dam Spice Island (Tabasco Cat) having won over 12 furlongs, his pedigree entitled him to win this race. Watch out for him in the Belmont for sure.

I wasn’t crazy about Paddy O’Prado, especially considering his only previous dirt effort. Maybe the slop brought him into contention. On a fast dry track I doubt he would have had a chance. And Make Music for Music? Stunning to get up for fourth! Yes, he had good form vs. Lookin At Lucky last year, but a colt by Bernstein out of a Carson City mare getting 10 furlongs on dirt? Crazy.

Can we please stop the whining about Lookin At Lucky’s bad luck? That’s all they talked about on HRTV and in other West Coast circles. He didn’t get it done. Period. Noble’s Promise did a lot better than I thought he would, but he didn’t get the distance, which was the primary knock against him, and Dublin? Oy vey! Talk about another overly-hyped horse, although some will take solace in that seventh-place finish. Blah! The bottom half (barring Awesome Act) showed their distance limitations and/or turf/all-weather creds. Unfortunately, due to the shameless need to pack the field, how many of those runners will never again win a race?

As great as the Pletcher/Borel line is, arguably the best Derby story is Glen Fullerton, “Call the Close” contest winner who won a VIP trip to the race and a free $100k wager on the race—which he hit for $900k when Super Saver came home the winner. Lucky dog!

Read more »