Zenyatta and the Ghost of Native Dancer

The parallels are frightening. Two of the most popular horses in modern history were perfect examples of power and athleticism. They did not need to win by ten lengths to prove their superiority over their peers. They raced, and they won. Time and time again, they won. Native Dancer, and then Zenyatta nearly 60 years later, were perfect. Or at least as perfect as we could hope our thoroughbred stars to be. You know the old saying about history repeating itself. It seems as if the race of the year, maybe the race so far of the 21st century, was just a little bit of history repeating. As if somehow haunted by the Grey Ghost, Zenyatta fell victim to the racing gods that evening at Churchill Downs, and poof, just like that, her undefeated career went up in smoke. We all know her story … from 2007 through 2010, Zenyatta won her first 19 races. She entered her final career race with all the fanfare of a rock star. She danced and pranced her way into the public consciousness, and into their hearts as well. Zenyatta is as popular as any race horse has been in at least 30 years. The Breeders’ Cup crowd was bubbling over with anticipation and excitement to see her succeed and head off into the sunset untethered by a single defeat. As it had been 57 years earlier for Native Dancer. He was racing’s first television star. American household’s welcomed him into their living rooms on a regular basis. The Kentucky Derby of 1953 may not have been his final race of his career, but it was the most important. Undefeated and Horse of the Year as a juvenile, the Grey Ghost stormed into Louisville as the people’s horse. He was unblemished through eleven races. The Run for the Roses was destined to be his. It was not. The twin spires proved to be a harsh defender of the sacred undefeated career for Native Dancer. The great colt would rebound in his next ten races to retire with 21 wins in 22 career starts. His name will forever be included in the pantheon of all-time greats, but still I wonder, what if. What if he had been able to start rolling just a few strides earlier? What if he had been able to eclipse that pesky Dark Star? How would Native Dancer be remembered now? No one blames Dark Star. He was a very good horse who ran a great Kentucky Derby. On that day, he won the race. Flash forward to modern day, and I do not blame Blame. He is a good horse. A very, very good horse. Better than Dark Star was, but still, he will never be remembered like Zenyatta will be. He won the race fair and square, but as in 1953, Zenyatta was so very close. In the end it was one desperate head that broke up the perfect game for Zenyatta, as it had for Native Dancer. Both met their demise under the famed twin spires of Churchill Downs on the biggest of days. So very close to perfection, but not meant to be. Was Zenyatta done in by the curse of Native Dancer? Maybe. I will leave you with this one last thought … Native Dancer was denied the Horse of the Year award in 1953, because of that one heartbreaking, and narrow defeat. Well that, and a superlative season by Tom Fool. Something tells me that Zenyatta will not be so cursed.

Lookin at Lucky Poised to Join Elite Company

1905 - Sysonby 1908 - Colin 1910 - Sweep 1920 - Man O’ War 1923 - Zev 1928 - Reigh Count 1934 - Cavalcade 1940 - Bimelech 1942 - Alsab 1943 - Count Fleet 1948 - Citation 1950 - Hill Prince 1953 - Native Dancer 1955 - Nashua 1956 - Needles 1966 - Buckpasser 1973 - Secretariat 1977 - Seattle Slew 1978 - Affirmed 1979 - Spectacular Bid 20 Impressive horses. Soon you can add the name of Lookin at Lucky to that esteemed list. His accomplishments of 2010 have all but made him a shoo-in for his second Eclipse Award, thus becoming the first horse in 31 years to parlay a juvenile championship with a repeat award at three-years-old. Hard to believe, but no horse since Spectacular Bid has been able to turn the trick … until Lookin at Lucky that is. Further investigation into this list of horses who were able to wrap up the double, displays a veritable who’s who of American racing. From Man O’ War to Secretariat, from Citation to Seattle Slew, this is an accomplished group. In fact, 19 of these 20 stars also found there way into racing’s Hall of Fame, with only Sweep being denied.  In becoming lucky number 21 to complete the deal, Lookin at Lucky has carved out a place for himself in the record books, but how will he be remembered? I believe his legacy will be one that improves over time. He was unlucky often, and he ran into a couple of older buzz saws in Blame and Zenyatta in his finale, but he proved as consistent as they come. It is hard not to like a horse who fires every shot. Did the winner of eight grade 1 or grade 2 stakes races in only 13 lifetime starts retire before his time? Yes, but that is an article for another day. For now, I will send off the son of Smart Strike to retirement with this singular thought ... Is he Hall of Fame material? Lookin at History, I say Yes to Lookin at Lucky.

Who is Your Derby Dark Star???

As the days leading to the Kentucky Derby wind down, we all start to form allegiances to the horses we will back in the big race. Whether we show it in the form of our wagering dollars or not, we all want our pick to do well when the gates spring open. It is a big thrill to see a horse we like cross the Churchill Downs wire first, even if the only connection is that of a fan. If you are like me, you will have more than one horse that you root for in the Derby, and a few of those, will be horses not favored to win. Derby dark horses if you will. But given one of the most famous upsets in the history of the Kentucky Derby, it seems there may be a better name for these horses. Let’s scratch the dark horse and instead call them dark stars. Of course this moniker comes directly from the 1953 Kentucky Derby champion Dark Star. Dark Star was a brown colt by Royal Gem out of the Bull Dog mare, Isolde. Owned by Harry Guggenheim, trained by Eddie Hayward, and ridden by Henry Moreno, Dark Star was the 5th choice at just under 25-1 in the eleven horse Derby field. The speedy colt had won the Derby Trial just days before, but was not paid much attention, largely because of the presence of the Gray Ghost. Native Dancer was more than a champion, he was a national hero. A television star and a Horse of the Year as a juvenile, the undefeated gray colt entered the starting gate as an overwhelming 7-10 in America‘s most famous race. In one of the most surprising upsets ever seen, jockey Henry Moreno guided Dark Star from an outside post to a wire-to-wire win, holding off the Ghost in a furious stretch run to prevail by a diminishing margin. The photo revealed Dark Star had held on by a head. Race fans everywhere were stunned. The Derby would be the only time in 22 career starts that Native Dancer would be defeated. It was nothing for wins for racing‘s star after that day. He rebounded quickly with a win in the Withers, and then exacted a small level of revenge over his Derby vanquisher in the Preakness. Dark Star would tire to finish a distant fifth that day and never again would win a big race. Native Dancer would go on to win the final leg of the Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, as well as, the Dwyer Stakes, Arlington Classic, Travers Stakes and the American Derby. Thereby cementing is place as an all-time great in American racing. How was Native Dancer beaten? As an old friend would say…“Reason tatters the forces tear loose from the axis.” Whatever you may call it, upsets happen, and Dark Star did defeat Native Dancer in one of the most famous Run for the Roses ever run. Can it happen this year? Other than the Derby favorite, Eskendereya, and the two colts who will be nearest to him in odds, Lookin at Lucky and Sidney’s Candy, I think you can consider everyone else in the race as a potential dark star. It is very possible after the first three choices, everyone in the field will have double digit odds. That leaves 17 legitimate opportunites for this year’s Derby to produce a Dark Star like result. Of course many of those 17 will not turn out to be legitimate. It is our job to separate the pretenders from the real contenders. Maybe we will find a one day upsetter, like Dark Star, or maybe they will go on to greater futures. For now I am only worried about one race. I have begun the process and my Dark Star top five includes Awesome Act, Endorsement, Mission Impazible, Setsuko, and Super Saver in no particular order. I ask you all…Who is your Derby Dark Star???

ZATT’s Top 10 All-Time Greats

The Top 10 Horses to run on American soil according to ZATT. Let’s count it down… 10) Native Dancer - The Gray Ghost was racing’s first television star and so dominated his peers of 1952 through 1954, that he came a desperate photo away from being a perfect 22 wins in 22 starts. Unfortunately the loss came in the Kentucky Derby, as the gray hero gained with every stride, but came up just short to longshot, speed horse, Dark Star. One jump away from an undefeated Triple Crown champion, but alas, it was not to be for one of America‘s favorite horses. At stud, Native Dancer became a prolific sire, and his sire line proved to be one of the most influential in modern American racing. 9) Forego - Forego was a late developing son of Argentine great, Forli, and did not race as a two-year-old. At three, he was no match for the king of his generation, Secretariat, but he continued improving through a busy campaign and by that Winter was a major player. As an older horse, he became an all-time great, highlighted by four consecutive wins in the Woodward. Seeing Forego’s stretch run was like watching a force of nature. The gelding won 34 of his 57 career starts while running against the top competition in his era and consistently carrying hefty weight handicaps. He was named Horse of the Year three consecutive times from 1974 through 1976. 8) Seattle Slew - In a matter of weeks, Seattle Slew went from an inexpensive unknown to a juvenile champion and early Kentucky Derby favorite. In 1977, Slew did not disappoint his legions of fans as he steamrolled through derby preps in Florida and New York. The ultimate test of the Triple Crown turned into nothing more than a coronation for him as the dark bay speedster easily cantered into immortality. At four, Slew showed his tremendous talent and will to win as he handled the superb three-year-old, Affirmed, twice in the Fall. A true rags to riches story Seattle Slew remains the only horse to win the Triple Crown while still undefeated. 7) Kelso - If dominating the Horse of the Year voting year after year, was the top criteria, Kelso would be number one with a bullet. King Kelly amazingly was named America’s best horse five consecutive seasons, from 1960 to 1964. The great gelding made it to the racetrack in eight different years, won 39 times and is still the benchmark for durability at the highest level. Kelso carried great weights and won at all distances. He was probably best on dirt, but some still consider his romping win on turf, over rival Gun Bow in the 1964 D.C. International to be his finest performance. Kelly’s feat of winning five straight Jockey Club Gold Cups will never be matched. 6) Dr. Fager - No other horse was quite like the Good Doctor. He was a wild child with his flowing mane and go for broke running style. Irresistible speed and undeniable heart carried Dr. Fager to finish first in 19 out of his 22 starts between 1966 and 1968. He did not have it easy as he had a super rival in Damascus, a champion older horse to contend with in Buckpasser, rabbits to pressure his awesome speed, and great weights to carry. In 1968, Dr. Fager pulled off the unprecedented feat of being named Horse of the Year, Champion Older Horse, Champion Grass Horse, and Champion Sprinter. He set a world record for a mile of 1:32 1/5 while toting 134 pounds in Chicago and finished his career by winning the Vosburgh in 1:20 1/5 (only one fifth off another world record) while carrying 139 pounds. 5) Count Fleet - Did Count Fleet go out in style? How does winning the Triple Crown with a 25 length runaway in the 1943 Belmont Stakes sound? Count Fleet was not perfect early on, as it took him awhile to discover his best running. When he did 6 furlongs in 1:08 1/5 in a workout as a juvenile, it was clear that legendary jockey Johnny Longdon had been right. Longdon had urged his owner not to sell Count Fleet when he was still winless. Together him and The Fleet would roll to 10 wins as a juvenile and the best was yet to come. When Count Fleet arrived in Louisville, it was clear that he was the best and was sent off at 2-5. The rest is history as The Fleet rolled through the Triple Crown with amazing ease. He threw in a romp in the prestigious Withers Stakes during the Crown for good measure. Count Fleet was undefeated in six starts at three and never broke a sweat. 4) Spectacular Bid - Oh, if not for a safety pin. The Bid was a great two-year-old, a greater three-year-old, and a supreme example of the excellence of a thoroughbred at four. The Bid set multiple track records in his championship season at two. At three, he was so dominant in the lead up to the Derby, that the world thought it a foregone conclusion that he would become the third consecutive Triple Crown champion. Things were going swimmingly until the morning of the Belmont. The Bid stepped on a safety pin and lost the Belmont, finishing 3rd and having a 12 race win streak snapped. At four. Spectacular Bid trumped his first two marvelous seasons by completing one of the greatest seasons ever. He finished his career with an unbeaten season in nine starts, setting four track records, and set a career earnings record. In an ultimate sign of respect, not one horse would line up against The Bid in one of the biggest races of the year, the 1980 Woodward. It was Spectacular Bid’s final race and it was a walkover. 3) Citation - Big Cy had two separate racing careers. The first was a testament to his incredible ability and consistency, and the second to his heart and courage. In 1947 he was the top juvenile in the nation with only one loss and in 1948 he incredibly won 19 out of 20 starts in his Horse of the Year season. His Triple Crown run was a tour-de-force as he won each race easier than the previous, culminating with an eight length romp in the Belmont. The Calumet runner missed his four-year-old season due to arthritis in his fetlock joint, but in his first two remarkable seasons, Citation had 27 wins and two 2nd place finishes in 29 starts. Not the same after his arthritis problems and layoff, Citation still proved to be one of the finest handicap horses of his time in 1950 & 1951. 2) Secretariat - When Big Red was at his best, I believe he was the greatest horse that ever looked through a bridle. His win in the Belmont Stakes has never and may never be equaled. Secretariat fell short in a troubled trip in his first start of his career and thrice was stymied by his W curse in the Wood, Whitney, and Woodward as a three year old, but the sheer brilliance he displayed in the rest of his 17 races is enough to consider Secretariat one of the two greatest horses in American history. Secretariat not only ran the greatest 12 furlongs ever in the Belmont, he had already set records in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness. For one horse to be so sensational in each leg of the grueling Triple Crown series is truly unbelievable. Despite a few losses after the Triple Crown, his powerhouse wins in the Marlboro Cup, Man O’ War, and Canadian International were more than enough to cement his place in racing lore. Drum roll please, and the number one race horse of all-time is… 1) Man O’ War - The original Big Red had it all, consistency and greatness. In only two seasons of racing, the great horse won 20 out of 21 races. His only loss was as a juvenile, when he finished 2nd to Upset in the 1919 Sanford Stakes when he gave the winner 15 pounds and was said to be the victim of a horrible trip. The son of Fair Play dominated the rest of the year and was named champion juvenile. As a three-year-old Man o' War won all of his 11 races. In eight of those races he broke track records. He carried up to 138 pounds in the , he won the Belmont Stakes by 20 lengths and Man O’ War won the Lawrence Realization by an unbelievable 100 lengths breaking the track record by more than four seconds in the 1 5/8 mile race. In a match -up of stars Man o' War defeated the previous year’s Triple Crown winner Sir Barton by seventeen lengths in a match race at Kenilworth Park. At stud, Man O’ War was one of the best sires of the first half of the twentieth century.

You are Not Going to Race??? 1953 Revisited

Are you like many of us who are disappointed that Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta are likely not to race each other this year? Two great horses, one a 3-year-old filly and the other a 5-year-old mare. Why can’t something be done to get them on the track together and further prove just how great they really are? How unsatisfying! Well if you were around in 1953 you might have had the same unsatisfied feeling, maybe even more so. Native Dancer and Tom Fool arguably the two greatest horses of the 1950s, were at their best in 1953. Native Dancer was coming off an undefeated 2-year-old season in which he won all nine of his races and was named Horse of the Year. In 1953, the gray ghost started his year with a victory in the Gotham and finished it with a nine length score in the Arlington Classic. All he did in between was win the Wood Memorial, Withers, Preakness, Belmont, Dwyer, American Derby, and Travers. His only loss came in the Kentucky Derby as Dark Star held him off by a desperate nose. He finished the year one fleeting nose away from being ten for ten and an undefeated triple crown winner. The following year, despite being hampered by nagging injuries Native Dancer was named Horse of the Year for a second time. Only an incredible season could deny Native Dancer Horse of the Year bragging rights in 1953, and that year was turned in by Tom Fool. The Greentree colt was a top notch horse at two and three. He was the champion two-year-old of 1951 and narrowly missed a championship again at three. But it was as a four-year-old in 1953 that Tom Fool rose to another level. In one of the greatest handicap seasons ever seen in racing, he won all of his ten races ranging in distances from five-and-a-half furlongs to a mile-and-a-quarter. He carried staggering weights up to 136, routinely giving rivals more than twenty pounds. He was so dominant in the top handicap races that many times betting was not allowed. Tom Fool was a deserving Horse of the Year in 1953. Race fans everywhere clamored for a meeting between the two great horses, but it was not to be. A possible match-up in the Sysonby Mile was won by Tom Fool without Native Dancer as the 3-year-old was having hoof problems. So, in 1953 the race that could have been, never was. Race fans were left to debate and imagine what might have been had Native Dancer and Tom Fool ever raced each other. Fast forward 56 years to present day…imagine what a race with Rachel Alexandra and Zenyatta might be.