rich attack , the longtime winner of the Kentucky Derby (G1) last year, did not advance to the Preakness Stakes (G1). The desire of his relationships to do everything possible to keep him at his peak outweighed their eagerness to pursue the Triple Crown.
Victorious Mage is the only Derby starter to advance to Preakness this year. This is the first time that has happened since the eventual Triple Crown legend of the Citation scared all but three of the dominant opponents in 1948. With first mission First, this year’s Preakness has only seven starters left, the shortest field since 1986.
The truth is the truth. Opinions vary, of course, but some of the industry’s most prominent figures are wondering if the massive three-race challenge of five weeks should be a thing of the past.
Todd Pletcher is the most important of them all. He famously ignored the Preakness and questioned the wisdom of allowing only two weeks between the 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby and the 1/3/16-mile Preakness and then three weeks to the Belmont 1/2 mile (G1) Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets.
Coach Todd Pletcher
“I think we’re at a point where we have to make a lot of tough decisions in the industry,” he said. “People hate changing traditions, and I totally understand that. At the same time, a lot has changed in the industry. Maybe we have to take a closer look and stretch it out a little bit.”
Hall of Fame coach Shug McGaughey echoed Pletcher’s comment. “I think it’s worth watching because today’s game is different from the 1940’s game or something,” he said. “I think the horse was probably a little stronger then and could bear it.”
When asked if today’s runners lack the same stamina and fitness as in years past, Pletcher replied, “Definitely. If you asked me that a few years ago, I would. will try to refute ‘no’. But it’s getting harder and harder to say that.”
While not all moves are due to illness, the five Derby scratches that occurred during the race week are the most since 1936.
Brad Cox, a two-time Eclipse Award winner as top trainer in North America, notes that horses are rarely required to compete in the Breeders’ Cup World Championships after a two or three week break. rest.
“That’s almost unheard of at week four. Now you’re seeing people go back to five and six weeks,” says Cox. “We talk about what’s best for the horse. I think that’s probably what’s best for the horse.”
Like any good trainer, Cox does his best to listen to his horses by paying attention to their body language and taste. angel of the empire And impressions signaled a timeout after they finished third and fifth respectively in the Derby.
“They took a bit of something from them and it should have been,” Cox said. “They’ve been running very hard physical races. To try to get them up to speed and be ready to run again in two weeks, that seems like a huge number.” Neither is included in Preakness.
Outspoken owner Mike Repole is calling for change beyond the arduous format that has produced only 13 Triple Crown champions since Sir Barton became the first in 1919. In the interest of safety, he argues that Derby should be kept at 14 horses, 6 horses lower than the current limit.
“Twenty horses, two weeks back, stupid. It should have been changed 25 years ago,” said Repole. “I have never supported 20 horses in one race and I have never supported three races in five weeks.”
One idea, floated by Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde and others, would keep the Derby 1/4 mile long on the first Saturday in May, pushing Preakness at a level Racecourse Pimlico back a week and then turned Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park into a grand event on July 4th.
Pletcher will support that. “I think you can argue about a number of things. The debate in May, June, July that I think is valid,” he said. “If that final happens over the weekend of July 4, it could generate some excitement.”
Pletcher added: “When people argue about tradition, tradition used to be that all the best horses ran in all three races, but now that’s no longer the same. You can take that part back, where the best horses run in all three races races.”
John Velazquez, one of the most respected racers in the country, is also an advocate of change. “I like the idea of tweaking things,” he said. “Every sport out there has changed for the better. I think we’re a bit stuck in tradition.”
Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert understands better than anyone how special it is as a still immature 3-year-old standing up to the rigs of the Triple Crown to achieve one of the feats recognized arguably the greatest in sport. by Baffert American Pharoah Racing and non-racing fans alike were thrilled in 2015 when he emerged as the first Triple Crown winner since being confirmed in 1978.
American Pharoah’s tour de force, in front of a passionate 90,000-seat Belmont Park crowd, is considered by many to be one of the most memorable moments in New York sports history. Baffert’s Justify offered an encore in 2018 as a follow-up to those who believed the task was too difficult.
justification is another person who opposes doing anything that could ravage the record books.
“I love the history of the Triple Crown and what it means,” he said. “It takes an iron horse to do that. If you’re going to change it, put an asterisk on it because it won’t be the same.”
What is certain is that horse handling has changed dramatically. With an emphasis on considerable distances between races, elite horses are often kept only a handful of starts.
McGaughey has affectionately reflected on legendary coach Woody Stephens and how he handled Conquistador Cielo. The burly lad was sent to the Met Mile on May 31, 1982, then asked to take part in the Belmont Stakes marathon five days later.
When owner Henryk de Kwiatkowski asked about the wisdom of the plan, Stephens replied, “Put on your tie and I’ll see you on Saturday.”
Conqueror Cielo crossed the Met Mile with a time of 1:33 before crossing the slope to dominate the Belmont Stakes for 14 distances.
