Jockey Steve Cauthen rode Affirmed to a 1978 Kentucky Derby victory.

~~

Affirmed is the last racehorse to win the Triple Crown.

~~

Photo by Jerry Cooke/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images

Two weeks later at Pimlico, and:

~~

You know the boys by now:

~~

Affirmed wins again over Alydar.

It’s:

~~

Those boys again.

~~

Part three.

~~

Belmont Park, June, 1978.

~~

You know this drill by now:

~~

Affirmed wins it all.

~~

There have been a total of 12 horses since Affirmed won in 1978, who were in a position to win the Triple Crown:  Spectacular Bid (1979), Pleasant Colony (1981), Alysheba (1987), Sunday Silence (1989), Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999), War Emblem, ridden by Espinoza, (2002), Funny Cide, (2003), Smarty Jones  , (2004), Big Brown , (2007) and I’ll Have Another  (2012).

AFFIRMED  H, THOROUGHBRED, 1975

AFFIRMED* ch 1975 THOROUGHBRED

EXCLUSIVE NATIVE ch 1965 THOROUGHBRED

RAISE A NATIVE* ch 16.2 1961 THOROUGHBRED

NATIVE DANCER* gr 1950 THOROUGHBRED

POLYNESIAN* br 1942

UNBREAKABLE*

blk 1935

BLACK POLLY

b 1936

GEISHA* gr 1943

DISCOVERY*

ch 16.1 1931

MIYAKO

gr 1935

RAISE YOU* ch 1946 THOROUGHBRED

CASE ACE* b 1934

TEDDY*

b 1913

SWEETHEART

ch 1920

LADY GLORY br 1934

AMERICAN FLAG*

ch 1922

BELOVED

blk/br 1927

EXCLUSIVE* ch 1953 THOROUGHBRED

SHUT OUT* ch 1939 THOROUGHBRED

EQUIPOISE* ch 1928

PENNANT

ch 1911

SWINGING

ch 1922

GOOSE EGG gr 16.0 1927

CHICLE*

b 1913

OVAL

ch 1921

GOOD EXAMPLE br 1944 THOROUGHBRED

PILATE* ch 1928

FRIAR ROCK*

ch 1913

HERODIAS

gr 1916

PARADE GIRL b 1933

DISPLAY*

b 1923

PANOPLY

b 1917

WONT TELL YOU b 1962 THOROUGHBRED

CRAFTY ADMIRAL* b 1948 THOROUGHBRED

FIGHTING FOX* b 1935 THOROUGHBRED

SIR GALLAHAD* b 1920

TEDDY*

b 1913

PLUCKY LIEGE*

b 1912

MARGUERITE* ch 1920

CELT*

ch 1905

FAIRY RAY

ch 1911

ADMIRALS LADY br 1942 THOROUGHBRED

WAR ADMIRAL* br 15.2 1934

MAN O WAR*

ch 1917

BRUSHUP

b 1929

BOOLA BROOK b 1937

BULL DOG*

br 1927

BROOKDALE

b 1921

SCARLET RIBBON b 1957 THOROUGHBRED

VOLCANIC b 1945 THOROUGHBRED

AMBROSE LIGHT ch 1933

PHAROS*

br 1920

LA ROSERAIE

1928

HOT SUPPER b 1939

GALLANT FOX*

b 1927

BIG DINNER

1933

NATIVE VALOR br 1948 THOROUGHBRED

MAHMOUD* gr 1933

BLENHEIM*

br 15.3 1927

MAH MAHAL*

gr 1928

NATIVE GAL b 1939

SIR GALLAHAD*

b 1920

NATIVE WIT

b 1929

 

* – Photo Available

AP Racing Writer

~~

****All prose and art copy rights as annotated.****

~~

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A horse with a humble pedigree. A couple of working stiff owners. A 77-year-old trainer with his first Kentucky Derby horse.

~~

Even Hollywood couldn’t have made this up.

~~

California Chrome made it look easy on Saturday, pulling away down the stretch to win the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths.

~~

Art Sherman became the oldest trainer to win the Derby, 57 years after he traveled from California as an exercise rider for Derby winner Swaps. He watched that race from the barn area; this time he smelled red roses in the winner’s circle.

~~

“It’s been a long haul,” Sherman said, smiling. “I’m just the same old Art Sherman, except I won the Kentucky Derby.”

~~

California Chrome ran 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.66 and paid $7, $5.60 and $4.20. The chestnut colt was sent off as the 5-2 favorite by the crowd of 164,906, the second-largest in the Derby’s 140-year history.

~~

In a sport dominated by wealthy owners and regally bred horses from Kentucky’s bluegrass country, this was a victory for the little guys. Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to produce the winner of the world’s most famous race with their one-horse stable.

~~

“This is just a dream come true and a great birthday present,'” said Coburn, who turned 61 on Saturday.

~~

 

The chestnut colt with four white feet will attempt to sweep the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont, something that hasn’t been done since Affirmed in 1978. Since then, 12 horses have won the first two legs and failed to complete the sweep in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont; the last was I’ll Have Another, who was scratched on the eve of the Belmont two years ago.

~~

“You have to have a very good horse to win these three races,” said Art Sherman, the winning 77-year-old trainer. “I’m hoping I’ve got one right now.”

~~

Maybe the horse with the modest pedigree and average Joe owners is the one.

~~

California Chrome defeated Ride On Curlin by 1 1/2 lengths in the Preakness, covering 1 3/16 miles in 1:54.84 on a sunny and cool day at Pimlico.

~~

He’s now won six straight races. The streak started with four in a row in California by a combined 24 1/4 lengths. Then California Chrome coasted home in the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths after opening up a big lead in the stretch. The margin dwindled in the Preakness as he fought off multiple challengers.

~~

California Chrome’s co-owner Steve Coburn shed tears after his colt crossed the finish line, dabbing them away with a blue-and-white bandanna.

~~

“I don’t mean to be bold or cocky or arrogant,” Coburn said. “I saw this baby when he was a day old, I told my wife, `Carolyn, this horse is going to do something big. I don’t know what it is, but we’re going to stay in the game to make sure this colt gets to be the best that he can be.'”

~~

Quite a statement from a guy with a one-horse stable.

~~

Coburn and partner Perry Martin bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to produce California Chrome. Based on the colt’s humble breeding, he probably shouldn’t be on the verge of making history.

~~

His mother, named Love the Chase, won just one race.

~~

The owners were long shots to get this far, too.

~~

Coburn and Martin named their operation DAP Racing, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners. Their silks include an image of a donkey. Coburn and Perry who live on each side of the California-Nevada border get up early for their jobs – Coburn working as a press operator and Martin running a lab that tests high-reliability equipment.

~~

“We just hope that this horse is letting America know that the little guy can win,” Coburn said.

~~

Sent off as the overwhelming 1-2 favorite by a record crowd of 123,469, California Chrome bounced out of the gate running, with jockey Victor Espinoza moving the colt into the clear. Pablo Del Monte, a 34-1 shot, charged to the lead and was soon joined by filly Ria Antonia.

~~

Espinoza tucked California Chrome into third, an ideal spot behind the leaders. They stayed there until making their move approaching the final turn.

~~

“I had to move early today,” Espinoza said. “I had to start moving at the half-mile pole, which is tough for a horse to start moving early and keep going all the way to the end. California Chrome proved he can move.”

~~

California Chrome went for the lead, catching Pablo Del Monte while Social Inclusion joined the chase. Pablo Del Monte soon dropped back along the rail, and California Chrome sprinted away from Social Inclusion at the top of the stretch.

~~

But there was one more challenge to come.

~~

Ride On Curlin, next-to-last in the 10-horse field, ranged up and briefly appeared ready to overtake California Chrome. Once again showing his class, California Chrome denied the threat.

~~

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Espinoza said. “Today it was just a crazy race. I got more tired mentally than physically. I see another horse go to the front. I was going to sit second. … I sit back, as soon as the other horse got clear of me, it worked out perfect.”

~~

California Chrome paid $3, $3 and $2.40. Ride On Curlin returned $5.60 and $3.80, while Social Inclusion was another 6 1/2 lengths back in third and paid $3.40 as the 5-1 second choice.

~~

General a Rod was fourth, followed by Ring Weekend, Pablo Del Monte, Dynamic Impact, Kid Cruz, Bayern and Ria Antonia.

~~

Espinoza will get another crack at trying to complete the Triple Crown, after missing with War Emblem in 2002. He finished eighth in the Belmont that year.

~~

“You have to be a super horse to win,” the jockey said. “Hopefully, California Chrome comes back good, and he’s the one that hopefully can do it.”

~~

Bob Baffert trained War Emblem, one of his three Triple tries that ended in failure. He missed with Silver Charm in 1997 and again the following year with Real Quiet, who lost the Belmont by a nose.

~~

“California Chrome is something. He’s a cool customer,” Baffert said after the race. “He does everything right. He’s fast enough to stay out of trouble.”

~~

CALIFORNIA CHROME   (USA) ch. C, 2011 {A4} DP = 7-5-10-0-0 (22) DI = 3.40   CD = 0.86 – 10 Starts, 6 Wins, 1 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: $1,134,850

LUCKY PULPIT (USA) ch. 2001		PULPIT (USA) dkb/br. 1994		A.P. INDY (USA) dkb/br. 1989 [IC]		SEATTLE SLEW (USA) br. 1974 [BC]		BOLD REASONING (USA)		dkb/br. 1968
								MY CHARMER (USA)		b. 1969 *
						WEEKEND SURPRISE (USA)* b. 1980		SECRETARIAT (USA)		ch. 1970 [IC]
								LASSIE DEAR (USA)		b. 1974 *
				PREACH (USA) b. 1989		MR. PROSPECTOR (USA) b. 1970 [BC]		RAISE A NATIVE (USA)		ch. 1961 [B]
								GOLD DIGGER (USA)		b. 1962 *
						NARRATE (USA)* dkb/br. 1980		HONEST PLEASURE (USA)		dkb/br. 1973
								STATE (USA)		b. 1974
		LUCKY SOPH (USA) b. 1992		COZZENE (USA) gr. 1980		CARO (IRE) gr. 1967 [IC]		FORTINO (FR)		gr. 1959
								CHAMBORD (GB)		ch. 1955
						RIDE THE TRAILS (USA) b. 1971		PRINCE JOHN (USA)		ch. 1953 [C]
								WILDWOOK (USA)		b. 1965
				LUCKY SPELL (USA) b. 1971		LUCKY MEL (USA) ch. 1954		OLYMPIA (USA)		b. 1946 [B]
								ROYAL MINK (GB)		ch. 1948
						INCANTATION (USA) dkb/br. 1965		PRINCE BLESSED (USA)		b. 1957
								MAGIC SPELL (USA)		b. 1954
LOVE THE CHASE (USA) ch. 2006		NOT FOR LOVE (USA) b. 1990		MR. PROSPECTOR (USA) b. 1970 [BC]		RAISE A NATIVE (USA) ch. 1961 [B]		NATIVE DANCER (USA)		gr. 1950 [IC]
								RAISE YOU (USA)		ch. 1946 *
						GOLD DIGGER (USA)* b. 1962		NASHUA (USA)		b. 1952 [IC]
								SEQUENCE (USA)		b. 1946
				DANCE NUMBER (USA) b. 1979		NORTHERN DANCER (CAN) b. 1961 [BC]		NEARCTIC (CAN)		br. 1954
								NATALMA (USA)		b. 1957 *
						NUMBERED ACCOUNT (USA)* b. 1969		BUCKPASSER (USA)		b. 1963 [C]
								INTRIGUING (USA)		ch. 1964 *
		CHASE IT DOWN (USA) ch. 1997		POLISH NUMBERS (USA) b. 1987		DANZIG (USA) dkb/br. 1977 [IC]		NORTHERN DANCER (CAN)		b. 1961 [BC]
								PAS DE NOM (USA)		br. 1968
						NUMBERED ACCOUNT (USA)* b. 1969		BUCKPASSER (USA)		b. 1963 [C]
								INTRIGUING (USA)		ch. 1964 *
				CHASE THE DREAM (USA) b. 1984		SIR IVOR (USA) b. 1965 [IC]		SIR GAYLORD (USA)		b. 1959 [IC]
								ATTICA (USA)		ch. 1953 *
						LA BELLE FLEUR (USA) b. 1977		VAGUELY NOBLE (IRE)		b. 1965 [CP]
								PRINCESS RIBOT (USA)		b. 1964

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Comes now, for California Chrome:

~~

THE TEST HERSELF….

The “Big Sandy.”

~~

The “Big Sandy,” 

~~

Is the nickname of the racetrack at Belmont Park, perhaps a reflection of the old 1920’s .

~~

“Big Apple” name for the New York racetracks and the “Big A” (Aqueduct).

~~

Although several horses were named “Big Sandy” since the early 1900’s, the “Big Sandy” nickname probably arose simply because the track is big and sandy.

~~

Citations for “Big Sandy” have been found in print since only the early 1990’s.

~~

Consider, dears, these harrowing facts:

~~

While in the decade of the 1970’s, we were so lucky to see 3 Triple Crown winners:

At Big Sandy, in 1973, Secretariat wins the Belmont and the Triple Crown.

Words fail myself, as they fail all others, but to say that Secretariat was the physical embodiment of the:

~~

Platonic:

~~

Ideal HORSE.

~~

I recall his:

~~

Raw, often ungovernable, SAVAGE:

~~

POWER.

~~

Sheer, brute force, power, gobbling up all in his wake.

~~

A horse that can not exist and yet, somehow, did exist.

~~

He was for me, on seeing him at stables at Belmont, the very picture of an:

~~

ANGRY, VENGEFUL:

~~

GOD.

~~

He simply overpowered everyone else.

~~

He ran roughshod over everyone else

.~~

In that sense most of all he was:

~~

The quintessential:

~~

American Horse.

~~

He broke all the molds.

~~

All of them.

In 1977, Seattle Slew won the Triple Crown while winning at Big Sandy, the only colt ever to win the Triple Crown while undefeated.

SEATTLE SLEW   (USA) br. H, 1974 {13-c} DP = 7-6-4-5-0 (22) DI = 2.14   CD = 0.68 – 17 Starts, 14 Wins, 2 Places, 0 Shows Career Earnings: $1,208,726

BOLD REASONING (USA) br. 1968		BOLDNESIAN (USA) b. 1963		BOLD RULER (USA) br. 1954 [BI]		NASRULLAH (GB) b. 1940 [B]		NEARCO (ITY)		br. 1935 [BC]
								MUMTAZ BEGUM (FR)		gr. 1932 *
						MISS DISCO (USA)* b. 1944		DISCOVERY (USA)		ch. 1931 [S]
								OUTDONE (USA)		b. 1936
				ALANESIAN (USA)* b. 1954		POLYNESIAN (USA) br. 1942 [I]		UNBREAKABLE (USA)		blk. 1935
								BLACK POLLY (USA)		dkb/br. 1936
						ALABLUE (USA)* b. 1945		BLUE LARKSPUR (USA)		b. 1926 [C]
								DOUBLE TIME (USA)		b. 1928
		REASON TO EARN (USA) b. 1963		HAIL TO REASON (USA) br. 1958 [C]		TURN-TO (USA) b. 1951 [BI]		ROYAL CHARGER (GB)		ch. 1942 [B]
								SOURCE SUCREE (FR)		br. 1940 *
						NOTHIRDCHANCE (USA) b. 1948		BLUE SWORDS (USA)		b. 1940
								GALLA COLORS (USA)		b. 1943
				SAILING HOME (USA) ch. 1948		WAIT A BIT (USA) ch. 1939		ESPINO (USA)		br. 1923
								HI-NELLI (USA)		b. 1933
						MARCHING HOME (USA)* ch. 1932		JOHN P GRIER (USA)		ch. 1917
								WARRIOR LASS (USA)		ch. 1926 *
MY CHARMER (USA)* b. 1969		POKER (USA) b. 1963		ROUND TABLE (USA) b. 1954 [S]		PRINCEQUILLO (IRE) b. 1940 [IS]		PRINCE ROSE (GB)		b. 1928 [C]
								COSQUILLA (GB)		b. 1933
						KNIGHTS DAUGHTER (GB)* br. 1941		SIR COSMO (IRE)		br. 1926 [B]
								FEOLA (GB)		br. 1933 *
				GLAMOUR (USA)* b. 1953		NASRULLAH (GB) b. 1940 [B]		NEARCO (ITY)		br. 1935 [BC]
								MUMTAZ BEGUM (FR)		gr. 1932 *
						STRIKING (USA)* b. 1947		WAR ADMIRAL (USA)		br. 1934 [C]
								BABY LEAGUE (USA)		b. 1935 *
		FAIR CHARMER (USA) ch. 1959		JET ACTION (USA) ch. 1951		JET PILOT (USA) ch. 1944		BLENHEIM (GB)		br. 1927 [CS]
								BLACK WAVE (USA)		b. 1935
						BUSHER (USA) ch. 1942		WAR ADMIRAL (USA)		br. 1934 [C]
								BABY LEAGUE (USA)		b. 1935 *
				MYRTLE CHARM (USA) b. 1946		ALSAB (USA) b. 1939		GOOD GOODS (USA)		b. 1931
								WINDS CHANT (USA)		br. 1931
						CREPE MYRTLE (USA)* b. 1938		EQUIPOISE (USA)		ch. 1928 [IC]
								MYRTLEWOOD (USA)		b. 1932 *

If Secretariat were raw power, Seattle Slew was:

~~

Raw Speed.

~~

He was, quite simply put:

~~

Too FAST.

~~

Seattle Slew was followed, in quick succession,  the very next year, at Big Sandy, by Affirmed, who won the Triple Crown  to become the third to do it in the decade of the 1970’s,

~~

The Decade in which the Racing Gods smiled so bountifully on us.

~~

I was at Belmont, in a box three tiers up from the track and for about a mile, everybody in that immense arena simply:

~~

Screamed.

~~

Screamed so that, in the straight, as Affirmed and Alydar remained glued to one another, we become mute, voiceless, we could not speak or shout.

~~

It was the most remarkable race that I have ever seen.

~~

EVER.

~~

If Secretariat were POWER and Seattle Slew were SPEED, Affirmed was:

~~

GRACE HERSELF.

~~

Affirmed had a feminine appearance, a feminine movement and rhythm , a feminine head.

~~

To look at him, on first blush, he looked a filly.

~~

He was light,  slight built and graceful:

~~

So very much unlike Secretariat.

~~

A cute note of gossip about 1978 Triple Crown winner, Affirmed:

~~

Steve Cauthen, his rider in the Triple Crown used to say, when asked what it was like to win so many close races, so many photo finishes, against Alydar:

~~

“Affirmed is lazy as a yard dog.”

~~

He’ll only give you exactly as much as he needs to in order to win.  He is very intelligent: He knows that when the jockey tells him to get to the lead, he is supposed to get the lead.  So, he gets to the lead……But then, he just  stops.  He waits on other horses.  He won’t work a lick more than he has to.  That is why all his races end up being:

~~

HEART ATTACKS…………..for me and everybody around him:

~~

He wins by as little as possible because he is flat-out LAZY.”

~~

It is a curiosity of our little world that the horses that bear what I call:

~~

“The Persian Appearance,”

~~

Tend to be, in the main, fillies and mares.

~~

A curiosity because, it is the male line of the thoroughbred which is the slight, light-footed Arabian.

~~

As all thoroughbreds must trace their lineage to one of three foundation sires from The Levant and North Africa, imported into England in the 18th century by racing men hoping to breed them with, and counterbalance the massive, ponderous English, stamina laden, female line of the breed, by today, all thoroughbreds trace their lineage to all three Persian sires.

~~

Some say to me that the thoroughbred of today is over bred which causes many sad break downs, but in truth, how can it be otherwise than that as thoroughbreds are always over bred, if one understands that to be a thoroughbred is to trace your lineage back over now three centuries to one or more of these three foundation sires from Persia:

The Byerly Turk by John Wootton

The Godolphin Arabian, Also known as the Godolphin Barb:

~~

He was named for his best-known owner, Francis Godolphin, 2nd Earl of Godolphin.

~~

In the 36 years since Affirmed won the Triple Crown, 12 horses, fully one in three, have come to the Big Sandy, and all 12 have died there, on that sand, on that field of battle that so dispassionately destroys man’s most elusive dreams.

Let us count now their names, the war dead of the Big Sandy, since 1978, since the triumph of Affirmed:

~~

There have been a total of 12 horses since Affirmed won in 1978, who were in a position to win the Triple Crown:  Spectacular Bid (1979), Pleasant Colony (1981), Alysheba (1987), Sunday Silence (1989), Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999), War Emblem, ridden by Espinoza, (2002), Funny Cide (2003), Smarty Jones, (2004), Big Brown (2007) and I’ll Have Another (2012).

~~

So, now then, down to business:

~~

Will California Chrome become the Lucky 13 who dodges the odds and becomes the first Triple Crown winner in 36 years?

~~

While God alone knows the answer, we will hazard this:

~~

If California keeps his current form and health he will win the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown…and join these 11 triple Crown winners in racing’s pantheon of the:

~~~

   

Date	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Owner
1919	Sir Barton	John Loftus	H. G. Bedwell	J. K. L. Ross
1930	Gallant Fox	Earl Sande	James Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud
1935	Omaha	William Saunders	James Fitzsimmons	Belair Stud
1937	War Admiral	Charley Kurtsinger	George Conway	Samuel D. Riddle
1941	Whirlaway	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1943	Count Fleet	John Longden	Don Cameron	Mrs. J. D. Hertz
1946	Assault	Warren Mehrtens	Max Hirsch	King Ranch
1948	Citation	Eddie Arcaro	Ben A. Jones	Calumet Farm
1973	Secretariat	Ron Turcotte	Lucien Laurin	Meadow Stable
1977	Seattle Slew	Jean Cruguet	William Turner, Jr.	Karen L. Taylor
1978	Affirmed	Steve Cauthen	Lazaro S. Barrera	Harbor View Farm

Our

…

Most

~~

GREATEST OF GREATS

~~

Becoming the :

~~

Undisputed CHAMPION of our day.

 

Can California Chrome, in the 2014 Belmont Stakes, be the lucky 13th who will break the 36 year drought of Triple Crown winners?

~~

God alone knows.

~~

Alone, God knows.

 

And so now, we say to California Chrome, as did the mothers of the warriors of Sparta to their sons at the dawn of war:

~~

“Come back to me, boy, either carrying high your shield, or laying dead atop it.”

~~

Which translates, very awkwardly, into the hideous nomenclature of modern American English:

~~

“Win or die trying”~

~

Until then my dears, until June 7, 2014, we wait and with us,

~~

Under God’s eyes:

~~

California Chrome waits likewise…..

For:

Fully so as much as General Gaius Julius Caesar had his Rubicon, California Chrome faces now his:

~~

Big Sandy.

California Chrome arrives at Belmont Park, his Big Sandy, his Rubicon, for his final test as a champion of champions, 20th May, 2014, Tuesday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~