A Look Back: Alydar Toast of 1977 Champagne

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This week is a recap of the 1977 Champagne Stakes (gr. I), written by William H. Rudy in the Oct. 24, 1977 issue of BloodHorse magazine. The headline references the Jockey Club Gold Cup recap that followed.

Champagne And The Gold Cup

The 106th Champagne Stakes (gr. I) may not have pointed out the best 2-year-old colt, but it certainly pointed out the two best 2-year-old colts. Big, strong Alydar, second to Affirmed in the Hopeful (gr. I) and the Futurity (gr. I) after beating him in the Great American, came with a powerful rush to win this time by 1 1/4 lengths at one mile, the longest distance either had gone.

Both Alydar, Calumet Farm's colt by Raise a Native, and Affirmed, Harbor View Farm's colt by Raise a Native's son, Exclusive Native, appeared genuine.

They have met five times. The first encounter was in the Youthful Stakes and Alydar, making his very first start, was fifth. Since then they have divided four stakes and each time the loser was second.

They may meet once more this year in the 1 1/16-mile Laurel Futurity (gr. I) on Oct. 29, but it is not certain. Alydar is headed for that race, his last of the season. Laz Barrera, trainer of Affirmed, said he probably will run his colt at Laurel but added: "If it rains at Laurel, we take the first plane to California for the Norfolk (gr. II). The $200,000 Norfolk Stakes at the same distance is to be run at Santa Anita's Oak Tree meeting on Nov. 6.

Barrera said jockey Steve Cauthen told him after the Champagne that Affirmed "never got hold of the track," but Alydar's win nevertheless was most impressive and there was a good deal of comment afterwards about "a nice colt for next year."

The Champagne was run as the sixth race over a track called muddy on the board and sloppy by Daily Racing Form. A cold, all-night rain had not ended until nearly mid-day. Late scratches left six starters, five of them stakes winners. Challenging Affirmed and Alydar for honors were lightly raced Sauce Boat, winner of the Arlington-Washington Futurity (gr. I); Quadratic, winner of the Cowdin (gr. II), and Darby Creek Road, winner of the Saratoga Special (gr. II). The sixth colt, Elmendorf's Syncopate, had won his last three starts and never had been worse than second.

Sauce Boat broke fastest with Quadratic close behind and Affirmed third, running somewhat outside the others. Alydar, under a new rider, Jorge Velasquez, was fourth midway in the backstretch, but when Darby Creek Road moved into contention, he was fifth as Velasquez eased him out from the rail.

As the field rounded into the stretch, four colts were almost abreast. Sauce Boat was on the rail, Quadratic next to him, and Affirmed and Darby Creek Road a bit farther out. Aldyar, behind the foursome, had plenty of room to swing outside and that is what Velasquez did.

Sauce Boat gave way first and Quadratic was next. Affirmed and Darby Creek Road were left on top and Affirmed began to edge away. He led until well into the stretch but by this time Alydar was flying. He caught his rival in the last sixteenth and drew away with authority winning by 1 1/4 lengths with Affirmed the same margin ahead of Darby Creek Road. As Alydar raced up to Affirmed, Cauthen did not go to the whip. His colt was doing the best he could. The mile was run in 1:36 3/5, the last quarter in :24 1/5, with Alydar making up more than three lengths on the pace-setters.

John Veitch, in his first full year as Calumet's trainer, had won the stable's first Champagne since Theory took it in 1949—before the race had been promoted over the Futurity to become New York's top fall juvenile event. The next day Veitch headed for Lexington and Calumet Farm to see what he has coming up next year. This year he had Alydar and Our Mims, candidates for divisional championships and both from the same mare, Sweet Tooth.

The crowd of 23,795, disappointing in light of the caliber of the program but not when the weather was considered, had made Affirmed the 6-5 favorite and Alydar a close 3-2.