Remembering ... Bet Twice

For me the story of Bet Twice begins in the early 80’s at Delaware Park. A favorite destination for our family during my childhood, going to Delaware was like a unique vacation day. There was something special about that three-hour drive to the rural racetrack location. Good memories abound. We saw plenty of good horses there over the years, and one that particularly stands out was a beautiful colt by the champion Nijinsky, named Sportin’ Life. Horses for courses was a tag that fit him perfectly. Not quite grade 1 material when he raced elsewhere, there was something about Delaware Park that brought out all of Sportin’ Life’s immense talent. Simply put, I would not have bet anyone racing in those days to beat him at Delaware. Flash forward a handful of years, and the young sire reproduced the talent that I was so familiar with. Foaled in Kentucky, Bet Twice was a strapping son Sportin' Life out of the multiple stakes producing mare Golden Dust. He was bred by William S. Farish III and E. J. Hudson and was born on what is now Kentucky’s Lane's End Farm. His main owner, Robert Levy, was well known in New Jersey as the owner of Atlantic City Race Course, so it was no surprise to see Bet Twice begin his career under the tutelage of New Jersey mainstay Jimmy Croll. What was a surprise, was to see an untested juvenile come from the clouds to power by his opponents in the Monmouth Park stretch. Not the norm at the speed favoring Jersey shore oval, especially for the babies. Bet Twice was far from a normal Thoroughbred though. I was lucky enough to see two of his first three races in person at Monmouth Park, and today his remarkable stretch running ability in those two-year-old sprints still stick vividly in my mind. After an impressive win in the prestigious Sapling Stakes, Bet Twice would take his show on the road to win major juvenile races in the Laurel Futurity and the Arlington-Washington Futurity. Sent off as a favorite in a marvelous Champagne field that fall at Belmont Park, I saw Bet Twice for a third time in person. He could not get up that day, finishing a competitive third in the stacked field. It would be the last time I would see him until he returned to Belmont almost seven months later. Bet Twice’s performances after winning his first five races was a bit spotty. Early in his three year-old season Bet Twice looked like a champ in winning the Fountain of Youth for fun, but then returned to run an uninspired fifth in the Florida Derby at odds-on. There was an excuse, but still Bet Twice was somewhat ignored at 10-1 on Kentucky Derby Day. It was not known yet, but a great rivalry was about to unfold in that Kentucky Derby. Alysheba and Bet Twice had met already when they shipped across country to run third and fourth respectively in the previous Fall’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. The Kentucky Derby would be their second meeting, and this time they would be the stars of the show. Bet Twice gained command as the field straightened out, but Alysheba closed in fast. Now a part of Derby lore, Bet Twice came out into Alysheba’s path sending the son of Alydar perilously to his knees. In an instant, Alysheba got up from his knees and soared to superstardom, leaving Bet Twice a valiant, but vanquished second place finisher. The Preakness two weeks later would be more of the same, only without the drama. Once again, Alysheba would collar Bet Twice in the stretch, and run by him rival before the wire. Two down, but the Belmont would offer another chance for Bet Twice to turn the tables. After narrow losses in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, Bet Twice was now ready for his greatest race. In the 1987 Belmont Stakes, ridden by regular jockey, Craig Perret, Bet Twice absolutely decimated the top notch field. He made a quick and decisive past Gone West outside the half mile pole, and “poof!” Just like that the race was over. His win by 14 lengths was one of the most impressive in Belmont history. Watching in the stands that day, I could not help feel bad for the likeable Alysheba team who had been denied the Triple Crown, but also I felt a sense of pride for the Monmouth horse who I had watched in the very beginning. Alysheba’s quest was not the only thing denied that day, the win by Bet Twice and trainer Jimmy Croll ended the incredible five-year Belmont Stakes streak fashioned by Woody Stephens. With the victory in the Belmont and runner-up performances in the Preakness Stakes and the Kentucky Derby, Bet Twice also snatched the first ever $1,000,000 Chrysler Triple Crown Bonus from Alysheba who finished fourth by virtue of losing a three-way photo with Cryptoclearance and Gulch. Bet Twice would return from Belmont glory, to run another phenomenal race in his next start. It was a three horse showdown between the two stars of the Triple Crown and the new hotshot, Lost Code, who had been winning the “other” derbies around the nation as if they were going out of style. The race set up perfectly for a three horse battle. Here is how I described what I call the greatest race ever run at Monmouth Park in an earlier column… As they turned for home Bet Twice cornered like an Italian sports car and was breathing down the neck of the speedy Lost Code. Alysheba and Chris McCarron had swung out and lost considerable momentum to the other two who were accelerating by the fence. Lost Code with Gene St. Leon aboard was giving Bet Twice everything he had and they would ding-dong it down the entire Monmouth stretch. Alysheba was now finding new gears on the outside. The crowd was deafening. As they approached the wire Bet Twice edged ahead of the gallant Lost Code and Alysheba’s desperate attempt to catch up would fall just short. Craig Perret pumped his fist and whip in exultation as Bet Twice defeated Alysheba by a neck and it was another neck back to Lost Code. The Monmouth horse had won. Bet Twice’s trainer Jimmy Croll and rider Craig Perret were Monmouth through and through and they had done it. What a race. Bet Twice had defended his home turf and in defeat Alysheba and Lost Code proved that they were stars no matter the situation. In his Belmont and Haskell wins, Bet Twice had his two finest hours in consecutive races. These wins would cement his place in history and in my memories. After them, Bet Twice would have his moments, but never again be able to produce this kind of greatness. As a four year-old, Bet Twice biggest claim to fame was a win in the Pinlico Special. In that race he beat a quality field that included old rivals Lost Code, Cryptoclearance, and of course, Alysheba. It would not be the last meeting for the great foes, but it would mark the last time that Bet Twice would find himself in the winner’s circle. There would be no wins after this grade 1 score in May for Bet Twice, but nor a lack of trying. He continued to run in all the big races and gave his Monmouth Park fans one more chance to appreciate him, with another spirited battle with Alysheba in the Iselin Handicap. On that day Alysheba would wear down Bet Twice late, much as he had in the Derby and the Preakness. All in all the two would face off a total of nine times with the two-time champion Alysheba getting the best of his dogged rival five times. Meaning that Bet Twice defeated the great Alysheba four times. He really was a special horse. He finished his career with ten wins in twenty six starts and that consistently against the best competition the late 80’s had to offer. Bet Twice earned over 3.3 million dollars in his three-year career. Coincidentally, I had the pleasure of seeing Bet Twice in person a whopping nine times. Who knew that Alysheba and I had so much in common? After retirement, Bet Twice stood at stud for several years at Muirfield Farm in Maryland, before being pensioned at the age of 12. He passed away three years later at the far too young age of 15 at Muirfield. His young death was a blow to me, as I always felt a strong connection to this horse, in large part because of my fondness of his sire, and his strong New Jersey connections, but more than anything I respected his as a runner. He was a bit of a throwback; he danced every dance and was always a threat to win. A true warrior, I remember you Bet Twice.

My Morning Lines - Derby & Oaks 4/20

Kentucky Derby Eskendereya 5-2 Lookin At Lucky 5-1 Sidney's Candy 7-1 Endorsement 12-1 Super Saver 15-1 Ice Box 15-1 Awesome Act 20-1 Dublin 20-1 Mission Impazible 20-1 Noble's Promise 25-1 Line of David 25-1 American Lion 25-1 Rule 30-1 Stately Victor 30-1 Paddy O'Prado 30-1 Eightyfiveinafifty 30-1 Discreetly Mine 35-1 Dean's Kitten 35-1 Conveyance 35-1 Homeboykris 50-1 Kentucky Oaks Blind Luck 2-1 Devil May Care 5-1 Crisp 6-1 Evening Jewel 10-1 Amen Hallelujah 10-1 Quiet Temper 10-1 It's Tea Time 12-1 Tidal Pool 12-1 Jody Slew 20-1 Sassy Image 25-1 Ailalea 30-1 Beautician 30-1 Bella Diamante 40-1 Joanie's Catch 40-1

And the California Turf Beat Goes On

Two more turf stakes were run this weekend at Santa Anita Park, and the results were anything but a surprise. The current queen and king of the California turf scene, Tuscan Evening and Bourban Bay continued their winning ways. Not quite considered among the top turf horses in America yet, both horses have made strong arguments to be considered as such soon. Tuscan Evening has won carrying her early speed from 6 ½ furlongs to a 1 ¼ miles in winning one race in each month of 2010. Meanwhile, Bourbon Bay has demonstrated an affinity for distance racing in also winning one race each month so far this year. While they have different ways of accomplishing their goals, both runners have proven to be superior than any competition currently seen on the lawns of Southern California. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Distance - The Dirty Little Word in American Racing

Distance. The word itself doesn’t sound so bad. So why has it become a nasty little four letter word when used in the context of American Racing? Distance in other countries is a concept revered. A high percentage of the best races in Europe are run over 12 furlongs. The race that stops a nation down under, The Melbourne Cup, is a two mile jaunt. Meanwhile in America we breed for speed. Microwave ovens and drive-thru fast food, we want things fast. Is that why we do not want to wait to develop our horses and have them run a distance of ground? Do we need to see our investments return money sooner than other cultures? Or perhaps watching a race for 2 ½ minutes or more is simply too long for our instant gratification needs. Whatever the reason, in America we breed for speed. The result has steadily produced a more fragile animal than what we see in places like Europe and Australia. It wasn’t always this way. The prestigious Jockey Club Gold Cup, now a comparative 10 furlong sprint, used to be run at two miles. It was contested at this distance for more than fifty years, and it was far from the only long distance race in our nation. Now the closing leg of our coveted Triple Crown, the Belmont Stakes, at 1 ½ miles, has become a bit of a dinosaur. It is a race in which the main story is the distance rather than the horses that run. It is not too late to change this disturbing trend. Certainly a change in breeding philosophy is vital. The Breeder’s Cup Marathon is a step in the right direction. We also need to value the distance races we still have. Today’s closing feature at Santa Anita Park is the San Juan Capistrano Handicap, and I will be watching. I remember the days when the San Juan Capistrano was won by stalwarts such as Exceller, Tiller, John Henry, Lemhi Gold, and Erin’s Isle, and that was only in a six year stretch. Nearly thirty years have passed since the glory days of the longest graded stakes race in America. In step with the speed trend our nation’s breeders have created, the San Juan Capistrano has slowly and steadily become a less important race in our racing schedule. It has lost its grade 1 status, and the now grade 2 race does not attract the kind of horses it used to. In the late 80’s we had Great Communicator and in the 90’s, we saw top horses like Kotashan, and Bien Bien win the 1 ¾ turf race, but it has been a steady decline of talent since then. I am somewhat hopeful that the favorite of this year’s edition, Bourbon Bay, may be the real deal, and actually be a threat when the Breeders’ Cup Turf rolls around. Or who knows, maybe a trip to Australia for the Melbourne Cup may be in his future. Only time will tell. Even more than today’s entrants though, I root for the race itself. Let’s stop the speed trend, and strengthen the breed. At 14 furlongs, the San Juan Capistrano is clearly a throwback. If we want to get back to breeding a stronger American Thoroughbred, I certainly hope races like the San Juan Capistrano never become a throw-away.

Twenty Horses – There Must be a Better Way

The Kentucky Derby is unlike any other race in the world. It is the first leg of the Triple Crown, and has a colorful and rich history. It attracts funny hats and fans from all over the world. Simply put, the Kentucky Derby is the race everyone wants to win. It can be no wonder than that the race attracts as many prospective starters as it does. Now more than ever, The Derby tests the boundaries of how many horses can safely and fairly run 1 ¼ miles on the first Saturday in May. Twenty horses is the limit, and believe it or not, I think that is a good number. Sure it is a bigger field than just about any other race going, but it is supposed to be special, it is supposed to be an amazing happening, it is after all the Kentucky Derby. In a twenty horse field, many horses have tough trips, while some miraculously have no trouble whatsoever. This magical trip only adds to the mysticism that is the Derby. Limiting the field to 12 or 14, I do not believe, is in the best interest of maintaining the grandeur of the greatest race. This one race a year, we like to see the twenty horse field make a cavalry charge for the first turn. ***The remainder of today's column can be found on Youbet.com*** Click Here

Let’s Win One for Alan Seewald

“Alan had an incredible soft side to him that everyone loved. All you had to do was pay him a compliment and he would have this big smile, lower his head, turn on heel and walk away saying he had to do some work or something. He didn’t like the attention. (Jennifer laughs) … I really will miss him!” -Jennifer Weigand, a Fantasy Lane Stable Owner. There is a lot riding on tomorrow’s Lexington Stakes. For some, it is a final opportunity to earn enough in graded stakes to enter the Kentucky Derby. For others it is an opportunity to win a big race at one of America’s most beautiful tracks. But for one horse and his myriad of connections, it offers the unique opportunity to honor a man. A good man that deserves to be honored. Trainer Alan Seewald passed away this past Monday, in his sleep, at the age of 62 years young. It was a shocking and saddening blow to his family and to all of the many people that knew him on the racetrack. His horse, Uptowncharlybrown, is running in the Lexington Stakes tomorrow at Keeneland, and a win would serve to celebrate the life and work of Alan Seewald. “Losing Alan Seewald this week was not only a devastating blow to his family, but his FLS family as well. He was held in very high regard and I don’t think you could find a more honest, genuine, passionate, all-around wonderful person to be around at the track.” -Patrick Sheehan, a Fantasy Lane Stable Owner. Alan Seewald was born January 15, 1948 in Brooklyn, New York. He received his trainer’s license at the age of 36 and has been a solid trainer on the New Jersey racing circuit for the past 26 years. This Spring, Alan Seewald was closing in on 1,000 career wins from his 5,700 plus starts. Growing up in New Jersey, I always liked to see his name as the trainer of a horse I was liking. His horses were ready to win. My favorite Seewald horse was a hard knocking New Jersey horse named Teddy Drone. I remember seeing Teddy win a fast allowance race at Monmouth Park early in his career. Seewald kept this horse healthy for a long career and Teddy would go on to win 31 times in 89 races. He won many small stakes on the East Coast, and when he was sharp he could give the big boys a run for their money. Teddy Drone was around for years, was easy to love, and in retrospect you have to give a lot of credit to his trainer, Alan Seewald. Seewald trained a lot of good horses over the years, but Teddy Drone is one I personally will never forget. Alan Seewald was much more than just a trainer, but that is how I knew him, and how I admired him. He is survived by his wife Kathleen, sons Ryan and Shane, and grandson Blake. “We enter Uptowncharlybrown in this weekend's Lexington Stakes with a heavy heart after losing this wonderful man way too soon. This will be a very sentimental and emotional race for us all and should good fortune shine upon us Saturday afternoon, and Charly wins the race, it will certainly be done in Alan's honor. I think it would be a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much of himself to this sport, his horses, his owners and most of all, his family. He always acted in the best interest of the animals and we would all love to see Charly cross the wire first, to pay tribute to all of his efforts.” -Patrick Sheehan Is Uptowncharlybrown worthy of this responsibility? Yes. In his career, Uptowncharlybrown, has won half of his four career starts. His first win came last December in his career debut. In that race, Charly romped by 9 lengths. He followed that up with a 6 length score in Tampa Bay’s Pasco Stakes. Charly has not found success in graded stakes yet, as he finished 3rd in the Sam F. Davis Stakes in February, and is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Tampa Bay Derby five weeks ago, but it should only be a matter of time. Neither race was too disappointing, as he was closing fast down the middle of the track in the Davis, and then had little chance when bottled-up on the rail all the way around in the Tampa Bay Derby.  A race in which he only beaten less than three lengths. Seewald had decided to run Charly in the Lexington, because of how well he felt the son of Limehouse was doing since his last race. “Losing Alan was such a shocking, devastating blow to all of the partners. A win in the Lexington on Saturday would substantiate for everyone exactly what Alan saw in Charly from the very first time he saw him in the sale last year. Alan thought the world of him, believed he had the potential to be a champion and never wavered from that opinion of Charly. A win for Charly would be one more for the “Good Guys” in racing and a perfect tribute to Alan’s Legacy – you do right by the horse and he will do right by you. Win or lose, we can all learn from Alan’s patience, understanding and dedication to his horses. He was a great trainer in his own right and we will miss him dearly.” -Jennifer Weigand I do not know if Uptowncharlybrown will win tomorrow’s Lexington Stakes, he is certainly one of the ones to beat, but what I do know, is that he deserves to win. I know I will be rooting hard for him. Alan Seewald was a good trainer and a good man, who has left this world too soon. To Uptowncharlybrown, Linda White, Alan’s assistant who has taken over training duties, and the entire Fantasy Lane Stable team, I say let’s win one for Alan Seewald. Linda White, Uptowncharlybrown & Alan Seewald Photo by Kate Seewald