Since Affirmed beat Alydar yet again to take the Triple Crown in 1978, 13 horses have come to Belmont with a chance to join the most exclusive club in Thoroughbred Racing. Now its American Pharoah’s turn. In the words of George Santayana, “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” American Pharoah has a lot of take-aways from the last 13 failed Triple Crown attempts. It might be June, but for American Pharoah, school is in session.
It’s a simple, yet easier said than done, directive–stay focused. If American Pharoah wants to erase 37 years of shortcomings, he and his connections cannot lose focus today, tomorrow, and especially Saturday.
One would think that a horse and his connections in the wake of back to back career defining wins, and on the cusp of galloping with legends, would not need a reminder on the importance of staying focused, eye on the prize, and not decreeing victory before the race was won. Unfortunately, the history of Triple Crown misses provides us with an example of how a loss in focus, can lead to a loss of a crown, by the slimmest of margins.
In 1998 the horse with crooked knees, who was sold for only $17,000 as a yearling, captured the Kentucky Derby and Preakness and appeared poised to end the Triple Crown drought. Real Quiet was an incredible story who brought three accomplished horsemen– owner, Mike Pegram, trainer Bob Baffert, and jockey Kent Desormeaux–on an unforgettable ride. However, somewhere between Baltimore and the Belmont finish line, Real Quiet and his pilot lost focus, on multiple occasions.
In the Belmont, at the top of the stretch, the race appeared to be over. Real Quiet had won the Derby and Preakness with devastating moves at the top of the stretch. In the Belmont, Desormeaux asked and Real Quiet provided the same burst of speed at the same spot. As he entered the stretch, Real Quiet was clear by four lengths. One problem, however, unlike the Derby and Preakness, Real Quiet still had six furlongs to go , and he had already made his move.
“Twenty years in the waiting!” proclaimed Tom Durkin. “One furlong to go!”
But that last furlong seemed to last for an eternity. Real Quiet was slowing down. His rival Victory Gallop was gaining with every stride. The Belmont crowd turned from euphoric to nervous as the finish line was back pedaling. Finally, Real Quiet reached the finish, but so did Victory Gallop. The cameras flashed. And when the photo was revealed, a Triple Crown–which appeared a given just two furlongs earlier–was erased.
Real Quiet and Victory Gallop–1998 Belmont
After the race, all the talk was about a lack of focus. Critics argued Desormeaux moved too soon. Perhaps the premature move was the product of cockiness or a sense of invincibility created by three weeks where Desormeaux was treated as a racing immortal. Desormeaux spent much of those three weeks following the Preakness trying to cash in on his new found fame. He even hired a second agent during that time to find him endorsements and schedule appearances. The days before the Belmont he was throwing out the first pitch at Yankees Stadium and ringing the bell on Wall Street. Baffert would say of Desormeaux, years later, “He lost focus a little….It kind of turned me and Mike [Pegram] off when he hired an agent.”
But Desormeaux wasn’t the only one to lose focus on June 6. So too did Real Quiet, a horse that was known to do his best running when he had a target. By opening a four length lead with six furlongs to go, Real Quiet had ample opportunity to get bored on the lead. And according to Baffert, that’s what happened. Real Quiet lost focus in the stretch and began gawking at the photographers lining the turf course.
And just like that, a loss of focus lead to a lost Triple Crown.
Aware of this history, the task for American Pharoah and his pilot is simple–don’t lose focus. Again, easier said than done. Even if Victor decides to move early on Pharoah or send him to the lead, he cannot get complacent in front and assume victory. Belmont is too big, too long to ever think the race is over at the far turn.
All of that said, I don’t see a loss of focus being an issue for AP or his connections. While Victor seems to be enjoying his time in the spotlight (which is a huge benefit to racing), he’s been here before and knows the task at hand. Also, unlike Real Quiet, AP has shown no signs of letting any horse catch him when he breaks free in the stretch. His kicks in the Arkansas Derby and Preakness, for example, were devastating, anda similar move in the Belmont, if timed a little later, would break the spirit of his competition.
Stay focused, American Pharoah. Keep your eye on the prize. There’s a Triple Crown well within your grasp on Saturday.
