Winning Crown Connections Feel It's Time

If there's one thing you can count on whenever there's a horse trying for the Triple Crown, it's that the connections of the Seventies Super Heroes—Secretariat (1973), Seattle Slew (1977), and Affirmed (1978)—will get together on a national teleconference and offer their take on the prospective new club member, whether they feel he can do what so many before him have failed to do, and their own remembrances of those glory days.

Penny Chenery, owner of Secretariat, admits being cloistered away in Colorado has prevented her from seeing American Pharoah in the flesh, but she does know the colt enough to say, "He seems to have a very fluid, easy stride, and doesn't seem to have any weaknesses to overcome. The question is whether he can deal with the short rotation of the three races. We'll just have to see if he can wrap his mind around it and get it done."

With all the talk about changing the format of the Triple Crown to prevent fresh horses from having an advantage in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I), everyone—Chenery, Patrice Wolfson, Steve Cauthen, Ron Turcotte, Dr. Jim Hill, Billy Turner, and Jean Cruguet—feels there should be no changes and that facing fresh horses is part of the challenge that makes sweeping the Triple Crown so demanding and special.

"I hope they don't change the format; it's been this way for so long," Chenery said. "I don't think the issue of fresh horses is such a big deal. A good trainer knows how to get his horse to peak. It's horse racing; if you make it too easy there will be more Triple Crown winners and it will lose its validity. With Secretariat, the more you worked him the better he was. The Triple Crown is something that has been out of reach. People like outstanding feats; it catches their eye."

Dr. Hill, co-owner of Seattle Slew, was more outspoken about the prospect of fresh horses and addressed California Chrome's co-owner Steve Coburn's outburst following last year's Belmont.

"My reaction to that may not be too politically correct, but my initial thought was, 'This guy hasn't been a hundred yards out of the cow pasture.' He didn't understand what racing is all about," Hill said.

As for American Pharoah and racing's need for a Triple Crown winner, Hill said, "I think it would be great. It would be terrific for racing and would stimulate a lot more interest. This colt has had an amazing trip. But he'll be tested; it's not a gimme. I think we'll get a good fair pace. He'll be pressed and we'll see if he's good enough. It's supposed to be a tough thing to do."

Wolfson, owner of Affirmed with her husband Lou, is pretty confident American Pharoah can get the job done. "I think the time has possibly come," she said. "I really do. He's just beautiful and has done everything they've asked him to do. He was the 2-year-old champion and the last four Triple Crown winners were 2-year-old champions. I just think the time has come. Of course we have to see how he takes to the big Belmont oval. It's going to be a challenge."

Cauthen who rode Affirmed and became the youngest jockey ever to win the Triple Crown, is optimistic even though jockey Victor Espinoza has not had much experience or success at Belmont Park. He added that Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert has handled American Pharoah well.

"American Pharoah was so impressive in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I)," he said. "He's an excellent mover and he has beautiful conformation. That team has been there before. Bob has been training him lightly to keep his energy up. We'll just have to find out if he can handle the mile and a half.

"Belmont is a unique track and jockeys not used to it can move prematurely. It's easy to make a mistake if you don't ride there regularly. Victor has won enough races (around the country) but nobody's going to give it to him. And that's the way it's supposed to be. There will be several talented horses taking him on. The best hose is always being conspired against. That's normal in any race; if you're good enough you can overcome it."

Seattle Slew's trainer Billy Turner also has been impressed with American Pharoah, although he says he's surprised Baffert didn't bring the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) and Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) winner to Belmont earlier.

"The way he ran in the Peakness, he's such an easy striding colt who moves so beautifully," Turner said. "That race didn't take much out of him, and I think he's coming up to the Belmont perfectly.

Belmont Park is unique and it becomes a rider's race. Jockeys not used to riding that oval tend to get a little too anxious too soon. They look like winners at the eighth pole, but not winners at the finish. All of Woody Stephens' Belmont winners were used to going around that big oval; it does give you an edge if you trained over it. It really, really surprised me that American Pharoah didn't come earlier to work over the track. Going around that big track makes a big difference if you're used to going around those one-mile ovals."