Pedulla's Look Back at 2014

California Chrome's Kentucky Derby victory was one of 2014's most memorable events. (Photos by Eclipse Sportswire unless otherwise noted)
By Tom Pedulla
Tom Pedulla of America’s Best Racing recounts his Top 10 moments of the 2014 season:
NEVER TOO OLD: Art Sherman thought he experienced the thrill of a lifetime when he rode the rails as a caretaker for Swaps and watched him with the Kentucky Derby in 1955. He was wrong. His greatest thrill would come this year when, at age 77, he became the oldest trainer to win the Derby as California Chrome sprinted home by 1 ¾ lengths for jockey Victor Espinoza. Chrome, born to an $8,000 mare, became the first California-bred to bring home the roses since Decidedly in 1962. “He gave me the biggest thrill I ever had in my life,” Sherman said.
SHERMAN WON HIS FIRST DERBY AT AGE 77 WITH CALIFORNIA CHROME

LAST CALL: Tom Durkin, 63, who provided so many unforgettable moments with his dramatic race calls, created a lasting memory with his triumphant parade from the announcer’s booth to the winner’s circle at the end of the meet at Saratoga Race Course. Fans roared their approval for a body of work like no other. We all have our favorite Durkin calls. Mine stems from the 2009 Woodward Stakes: “Macho Again is making a tremendous run from the back of the pack. Rachel Alexandra! Macho Again! It’s going to be desperately close. Here’s the wire. Rachel won! She is indeed Rachel Alexandra the Great, beating Macho Again here and further back is Bullsbay in third. The time was 1:48 and one! Rachel Alexandra raises the rafters here at the Spa!”
THE 2014 SARATOGA SEASON WAS TOM DURKIN'S FINAL CALL

Photo by NYRA
BAFFERT BREAKTHROUGH: Bob Baffert filled the one gaping hole in his resume when Bayern withstood a stewards’ inquiry to nip Toast of New York by a neck and give the Hall of Fame trainer his first victory in the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic. “It’s been so long coming I was like ‘Lord, you can’t take it away from me now.’ I couldn’t breathe the last 20 yards,” said Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby. Bayern, ridden by Martin Garcia, came out at the start to cut off favored Shared Belief, who then collided with speedy Moreno in a controversial start. Bayern went on to set a comfortable pace in the mile-and-a-quarter contest.
BAYERN BECAME BAFFERT'S FIRST BREEDERS' CUP CLASSIC WINNER

RIGHT MOVE: The decision to have Main Sequence compete in the U.S. this season after his modest career in Great Britain could not have worked out any better for Graham Motion, his new trainer. The 5-year-old Aldebaran gelding knocked out four Grade 1 scores in as many starts – the United Nations, Sword Dancer, Joe Hirsch Classic Invitational and the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf. Motion hopes that will be enough to secure Horse of the Year. “Horses don’t win four Grade 1 races in a row like that,” he said. “How many horses can do that?”
MAIN SEQUENCE CAPTURES THE 2014 SWORD DANCER

STUNNING ANNOUNCEMENT: Rosie Napravnik left behind a flourishing career when, after riding Untapable to a length-and-a-quarter victory in the Distaff, she announced that she and husband Joe Sharp are expecting their first child. “I’m not thinking about a comeback in 10 months, but I can’t promise I’ll stay off a horse forever,” said Napravnik, 26. Sharp, a former assistant trainer, is now building his own stable of horses.
NAPRAVNIK ABOARD UNTAPABLE JUST BEFORE HER BIG ANNOUNCEMENT

UNTAPABLE UNSTOPPABLE: Untapable completed an undefeated season against fillies and mares when she rolled in the $2 million Distaff, giving her six victories in seven races for the season and earnings of $2,996,725 for owner-breeder Ron Winchell. Untapable’s only blemish occurred when she faltered against the boys in the Haskell Invitational at New Jersey’s Monmouth Park. She showed her durability for trainer Steve Asmussen by becoming the first Kentucky Oaks winner to go on to win the Distaff since Ashado in 2004.
UNTAPABLE WINS THE 2014 KENTUCKY OAKS

FOILED AGAIN: California Chrome became the 13th horse to sweep the Kentucky Derby and Preakness only to be denied in the Belmont Stakes since Affirmed was hailed as the last Triple Crown champion in 1978. Tonalist, making only his fifth start and his first in a Grade 1 event, spoiled the bid as he turned back Commissioner by a head. Chrome dead-heated with Wicked Strong for fourth. “We reached almost to the top, one step away,” jockey Victor Espinoza said wistfully.
TONALIST VICTORIOUS IN THE BELMONT

CHROME’S PREAKNESS: Although he would fall short of the Triple Crown, California Chrome thrilled fans when he controlled the Preakness by 1 ½ lengths, representing his sixth consecutive stakes victory with those coming by a combined 27 ½ lengths. The string of successes began when Chrome first partnered with Victor Espinoza. “I have to have a tear because we worked hard all year and Victor rode him perfect,” said trainer Art Sherman. “It is a dream for any trainer.”
CALIFORNIA CHROME WINS THE PREAKNESS

DAN’S STILL THE MAN: Wise Dan, two-time defending Horse of the Year, made a remarkable return from a 15-week layoff due to emergency colic surgery when he took the Bernard Baruch Handicap by a willful nose, barely fending off Optimizer. The 7-year-old gelding blazed the mile-and-a-sixteenth in 1:39.08, a scant .17 off the Mellon Turf Course record. “He is really tough. He shows he has the heart of a champion,” said John Velazquez, his regular rider.
WISE DAN WINS THE BERNARD BARUCH

WELCOME HOME: Michael Blowen’s quest to have 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness champion Silver Charm enjoy his final years at his Old Friends retirement facility near Georgetown, Ky. was rewarded when the 20-year-old son of Silver Buck arrived from Japan in early December. “It’s a great example of everyone working for the betterment of the sport in general and the betterment of the horse in particular,” said Blowen after helping Silver Charm settle in. Old Friends will be honored with a Special Eclipse Award on Jan. 17.
SILVER CHARM AT OLD FRIENDS

Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog