In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.

Number 4: Funny Cide

When we conjured up this idea, we thought about all the elements that make a Derby great. Not just the running of the race itself, but the story lines and the history they create. We have come to realize that there is no such thing as a “typical” Derby winner. Although many of them share characteristics, there is not one thing that seems to always occur. However, there are some trends that seem to appear almost every year. (see Mazur’s Crushing the Derby).

However, some years those trends are bucked and a horse and the people that are associated with him break all the rules. That is what happened in 2003 with Funny Cide.

Continue reading 12 Days of Derby — Number 4 – Funny Cide →

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In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.

Number 6: Silver Charm (1997)

Bob Baffert and Bob and Beverley Lewis – the Killer B’s – took Silver Charm from a $16,500 yearling, whom they purchased privately for $85,000, to being one of the best horses ever, and a near Triple Crown winner. Charm was Baffert’s first Derby winner, ushering in an era where the biggest name at Triple Crown season was generally “Baffert.” Indeed, that is the case this year. Silver Charm also prevailed in a year that featured a true Triple Crown rivalry involving truly excellent horses, besting Free House and Captain Bodgit in the Derby and the Preakness, and then beating Free House again in the Belmont, while losing narrowly to Touch Gold, tantalizingly close to a Triple Crown

Prelude

Silver Charm had six starts before the Kentucky Derby, and showed his class in all of them, with three firsts and three seconds. He broke his maiden in his second start at Del Mar, and then would go on to capture the Del Mar Futurity (G2) to conclude his brief two year old season. ‘Charm next surfaced as a three year old, opening his season in the San Vicente at Santa Anita, prevailing over Free House and putting up a 110 Beyer speed figure, then a 13 point career top. It was the beginning of an epic back and forth rivalry with Free House that would stretch through the 1997 Triple Crown season.

Silver Charm then came back in the San Felipe, but this time Free House turned the tables on him, winning by three quarters of a length. The two rivals would square off again in the Santa Anita Derby, and this time Silver Charm had a new jockey. Gary Stevens took over for Chris McCarron for the SA Derby, but on that Saturday it made no difference as Free House once again prevailed, this time by a mere head. So the stage was set for Louisville, as the West Coast’s best were set to once again go head to head, but this time, they would be joined by the Wood Memorial winner, the best of the east, Team Valor’s Captain Bodgit.

The Race

What a fantastic Kentucky Derby. Silver Charm gets a world class ride from Gary Stevens, rating off the lead for the first three quarters of a mile. The early part of the race is a fairly controlled duel between Pulpit and Free House, with a first half mile in 47 seconds and change. The early pace scenario also featured Shammy Davis, which I mention only because it is a funny name. Silver Charm sat just behind those leaders, ready to pounce. As the field moved around the far turn, Silver Charm was ready to pounce.

Stevens and ‘Charm make a perfect move off the turn, just as Free House takes over the lead. Phantom on Tour was in behind those horses, with Jerry Bailey looking around for running room. As the horses hit the top of the stretch, Silver Charm wears down Free House and Pulpit, although both horses fought gamely down the lane, with Free House eventually finishing third and Pulpit hanging on desperately for fourth. But Silver Charm was far from home free – Captain Bodgit, the favorite, was looming. Streaking down the middle of the track as Dave Johnson gives his signature “and down the stretch they come” call, Captain Bodgit closes on Silver Charm, and Silver Charm comes out ever so slightly, bothering Captain Bodgit just a bit. Was that the difference in a race decided by a half-length? Personally, I don’t think so. Once Captain Bodgit pulled next to Silver Charm, ‘Charm showed just how tough a horse he was, finding another gear and stopping Bodgit’s rally long enough to hit the wire. The celebration that followed showed just how great a race it was and how important the win was to ‘Charm’s connections. Stevens, Baffert and the Lewises all go crazy as Dave Johnson gushes about how good a Derby it was.

1997 Kentucky Derby

Silver Charm would once again tangle with Captain Bodgit and Free House in Baltimore, prevailing once again to set up a chance for history in New York. Neither Free House nor the Captain were deterred, however, as the connections for both horses announced their intentions to move ahead to the Belmont, seeking to deny Silver Charm the ultimate prize. Later in the week after the Preakness, ‘Charm’s chances got just a bit easier, as Captain Bodgit’s connections announced that the horse had sustained an injury at Pimlico and would be retired. The announcement derailed the third act of what was shaping up to be one of the great three horse rivalries in racing history.

It was not to be at Belmont for Silver Charm, with Touch Gold running on to deny Silver Charm the Crown. Silver Charm finished a respectable second, and was turned out for some well-deserved time off.

1997 Preakness Stakes

1997 Belmont Stakes

Aftermath

The aftermath of Silver Charm’s Triple Crown run was fantastic. He took basically the rest of his three year old season off, coming back in the G1 Malibu in December, finishing second over 7 furlongs. He came back with a vengeance during his four year old year, however, winning the San Fernando and the Strub at Santa Anita, before making the journey to Dubai to take the 1998 Dubai World Cup by a nose. He hit a bit of a rut upon his return stateside, finishing second in the Stephen Foster and an unsightly fifth – by 27 lengths – in the San Diego. He busted out of his slump big time in the Kentucky Cup Classic at Turfway, however, winning by 17 lengths and posting a ridiculous 123 Beyer speed figure. He followed that up with a win in the Goodwood and a second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic, losing to Awesome Again (the same horse that had beaten him earlier in the year in the Foster). For good measure, Silver Charm came back and won the Clark to close out his year. Despite his stellar four year old season, Silver Charm lost horse of the year to Skip Away, who had reeled off 9 straight graded stakes victories before going down in defeat in the ’98 Jockey Club Gold Cup and the Breeders’ Cup Classic.

1998 Dubai World Cup

Silver Charm came back for more in ’99, the San Pasquale and then putting up show performances in the Donn and the Big Cap. The ’99 Big Cap, won by Free House, was a great race, and Silver Charm’s 118 Beyer was only good enough for show honors. Silver Charm again made the journey to the Middle East, but could do no better than sixth in the ’99 Dubai World Cup. He followed that up with a 4th in the Stephen Foster before calling it a career.

Silver Charm retired to Three Chimneys Farm in 2000. He spent the next four breeding seasons in the U.S. before going to Japan. His foals include multiple graded stakes winners Preachinatthebar, Miss Isella, and Spring Waltz. In 2007, Silver Charm was elected to the Racing Hall of Fame.

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In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.

Number 7: Fusaichi Pegasus

The Build Up

The only ‘international’ star to win the Derby in recent years. FuPeg as his fans know him, was a highly regarded racing prospect who raced for Japanese owners Fusao Sekiguchi. Although he never raced in Japan, he was a star there before he even touched the track by the nature of his owner’s huge receipt for the horse: $4 million as a yearling.

Once he made it to the track, FuPeg lived up to the hype by finishing second first out, then running a streak of 4 wins in a row, capped off by the Wood Memorial, before entering the gate in the Kentucky Derby. FuPeg began his career in California and raced his first four starts there, but proved to be a road warrior by going to New York to take his final Derby prep.

The Neil Drysdale trainee proved to be a deserving Derby favorite. However he would have to break the streak of defeated Derby favorites that was last broken back in 1979 by Spectacular Bid.

The Race 

Although FuPeg was all the talk derby week, he was not the only horse with a chance in the race. The 1999 BC Juvenile winner Anees was in the line up as well, along with other horses destined for greatness in future Grade One Winners Captain Steve, War Chant, and Commendable. However, interestingly missing was the horse who recently finished second to him in the Wood, Red Bullet.

As the gates opened, FuPeg got off to a great start. The 19 horse field took to usually speedy fractions. Kent Desormeaux guided FuPeg to the rail to save ground, and start to make a slow inside move up the backside. As the field made it’s way into the turn FuPeg was passing horses but still had plenty to do. Sitting in the  second flight, Kent D angled FuPeg out and gave a clear run down the stretch. At the eighth pole, FuPeg had taken the lead and took off to open up by 2-3 lengths and continued his win streak in the Derby and totally vindicated his $4 million purchase price.

 The 2000 Derby

The Aftermath

After FuPeg’s win, he did what every other Derby winner does: try to win the Triple Crown. After close calls in the last three years, it was all but assumed by the public, including my own 11 year old self who was to attend my first Belmont, that FuPeg would win the Preakness.

However, FuPeg’s run ended at the hands of his Wood Memorial foe Red Bullet in Baltimore. FuPeg did not race in the Belmont, although he did win the Jerome later that year as a prep for the Breeders Cup Classic where he finished a disappointing 6th behind late-blooming 3 year old Tiznow.

However,  Fusao Sekiguchi made out like a bandit when he sold FuPeg to Coolmore for a reported  cool $60-70 million. However, FuPeg has not lived up to that price in breeding shed, having failed to produce a high number of grade 1 runners. But his Derby performance totally vindicated all of his praise and promise as a yearling and is deserving of a spot on our list.

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In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 3, 2015.

 Number 8: Real Quiet (1998)

When I think about Real Quiet, I can’t help but think about the ’98 Belmont – not the Kentucky Derby. So, so close. I really can’t imagine what Bob Baffert, Mike Pegram and Kent Desormeaux must have been thinking in the moments after they finished four inches short of a Triple Crown. Fourteen year old me, of course, was jumping up and down – I loved Victory Gallop, and as a native Saratogian, took a dim view of Mr. Baffert and west coast racing in general. The east coast bias changed (a little) as I got older – one trip to Del Mar will tend to have that effect – and nobody can deny the success of Baffert, Pegram and Desormeaux over the years. But I digress – this series is about the Kentucky Derby, and the 1998 renewal was a classic.

Continue reading 12 Days of Derby: Number 8 — 1998 Real Quiet →

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In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbys and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbys of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 2, 2015.

Number 10:  1995 Thunder Gulch

The 1995 Derby was in the midst of D. Wayne Lukas’ domination of the Triple Crown Season. The year before he won both the Preakness and the Belmont with Tabasco Cat, and was ready to continue the streak with three entries in the 1995 Derby:  last years 2 year old Champ Timber Country,  the All-Star filly Serena’s Song and Thunder Gulch, who although was very successful that year was a bit of an afterthought.

Continue reading 12 Days of Derby — No. 10 Thunder Gulch 1995 →

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In the run up to the 2015 Kentucky Derby, the Thorobros took a good hard look at the past 20 years of Derbies and tried to rank the top twelve. We were able to arrive at this highly scientific ranking through a complicated logarithm that generated a foolproof list of the best Kentucky Derbies of the past two decades. This year’s renewal of America’s most famous horse race looks to be particularly strong – perhaps we will have a new addition to these rankings come May 2, 2015.

Number 12: Charismatic (1999)

Charismatic was a great, and ultimately heartbreaking, story. But he also was a story of redemption, overcoming adversity to win the Kentucky Derby in the first place, and then overcoming even greater adversity just to survive a fractured leg suffered in the Belmont Stakes to make it to the breeding shed. While Charismatic may not be the best horse to ever win the Kentucky Derby – in fact, he may not even be close – its hard to imagine a better story

Prelude

Charismatic was owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis – among the bluest of racing’s blue bloods. But anybody with a spare $62,500 could have owned him in February of ’99, just three months before he won the Kentucky Derby. Charismatic’s record coming into Churchill Downs was 14 starts, with just 3 wins, 2 seconds and 3 third place finishes. He had run for in two different claiming races – once to break his maiden, and a second time in the aforementioned February ’99 claiming contest at Santa Anita. That February claiming race kick-started something for Charismatic, though, as he followed that with three consecutive 90+ Beyer speed figures, including a second place finish in the El Camino Real Derby and a fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. Sensing that Charismatic was getting better as he continued to race, his legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas fired him right back in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. With Jerry Bailey aboard for the first time, Charismatic exploded, running a 108 Beyer speed figure and taking down his first graded stakes victory at 12-1. Lukas may not have known it at the time, but he had found his next Derby winner.

Unfortunately, he would have to find a new Derby rider, as Bailey was already committed to riding Worldly Manner, the winner of the Del Mar Futurity and Best Pal stakes as a two-year old. This is where we welcome Chris Antley to the story – and the Ant-man came through big time.

The Race

Charismatic was 31-1 when the gates opened in the ’99 Derby. While that year’s race did not have any clear cut favorite (the post time chalk was the entry of Excellent Meeting and General Challenge), there were some real big time horses in the race: Menifee, Cat Thief, Lemon Drop Kid and Stephen Got Even, to name a few. In fact, Charismatic was the third longest shot on the board, with only Answer Lively and First American at longer odds. Charismatic and Chris Antley, however, ran a magnificent race – even overcoming getting shuffled back around the first turn to get first run down the lane and then hold off the hard charging Menifee at the wire.

When you watch this race a few times, perhaps the most notable thing about the stretch drive is Menifee. Menifee is absolutely FLYING down the lane, and ends up losing to Charismatic by a rapidly diminishing neck. D. Wayne Lukas is known for telling his Derby jockeys to make their move when they see the “track kitchen,” which is off the far turn. Lukas believes that this will allow his horses the best chance at getting first run and then squirting clear for the stretch drive. This race is a good example of that philosophy coming to fruition. Charismatic got first run, got clear, and there simply was not enough time for Menifee and Pat Day (perhaps living up to his reputation as sometimes patient to a fault) to get up. While he may have been saved by the wire, Charismatic’s performance in the Kentucky Derby was sublime – he was not going to be denied down the lane, passing horses down the middle of the track the others – except for the hard charging Menifee – were no match. Charismatic matched his 108 Beyer speed figure from the Lexington Stakes, which was 13 points higher than his previous top. Charismatic had pulled off the upset and run the race of his life – but could he do it again?

1999 Kentucky Derby

Aftermath

As the Triple Crown trail moved to Baltimore, the public decided that Charismatic’s victory was a nice story, but a fluke. He was sent post-ward in the Preakness at 8-1, with Menifee as the 2-1 chalk. Charismatic, the Derby winner, was the fifth choice in the wagering, also behind Cat Thief, Worldly Manner and Excellent Meeting. Worldly Manner and Excellent Meeting would finish second to last and last, respectively. Charismatic, of course, would win – once again besting Menifee and moving to New York City with a chance to capture the Triple Crown. And that is where Charismatic’s journey took a tragic turn. He led the Belmont Stakes as the horses reached the final furlong – one eighth of a mile to immortality. But Charismatic took a bad step and, though he still finished third behind Lemon Drop Kid and Vision and Verse, he had broken his leg in two places. Chris Antley pulled him up just past the wire, cradling his broken leg. Antley’s actions are widely credited with saving Charismatic’s life and allowing him to pursue a career in the breeding shed. But that was the last we would see of Charismatic on the track.

1999 Preakness Stakes

1999 Belmont Stakes

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