By Thomas Chambers
It’s getting right at that time when you can, or think you can, start to draw some conclusions about the contenders for the 135th running of the Kentucky Derby May 2 at Churchill Downs.
But this year, a year in which the three-year-old class appears to be at least somewhat talented, and the Derby Preps very entertaining, there will also be two stories that portend more intense scrutiny and disdain for a game battered by the heartbreaking saga of Barbaro, the Big Brown steroids “scandal”, and the breakdown of Eight Belles in this very race last year. They include a syringe full of “cough medicine” and alleged mistreatment of Thoroughbred horses by a fairly prominent horseman.
Both stories are far from over. Their impact will almost certainly be determined by how much mainstream media coverage they get, with the bulk of that burden falling on ESPN and NBC as they bring Derby Day festivities to the people who watch or experience horse racing on just one day a year.
In the first instance, the New York State Racing and Wagering Board is investigating trainer Jeff Mullins for allegedly shooting Air Power, an over-the-counter “cough medicine” made up of natural ingredients, including menthol, down the throat of Gato Go Win just before the Bay Shore Stakes, a race on the undercard of the Wood Memorial, held last Saturday at Aqueduct. Mullins also trains I Want Revenge, whose gutty performance later that day in the Wood will probably make him the betting favorite for the Derby itself.
When the deal went down, Gato Go Win was in the security barn, a detention area where horses are kept just before races so that these things don’t happen. Mullins apparently nonchalantly came in and administered the substance and later said it was “an honest mistake” and that he didn’t know he couldn’t do that, adding that he has done the same with all of his horses. Apparently Air Power doesn’t show up in testing because it is natural. An official saw him do it and Gato Go Win was scratched from the race.
Mullins is no stranger to this kind of controversy. He was caught a few years ago for elevated levels of carbon dioxide in one of his horses, probably administered through a “milkshake” containing baking soda. He seems to think it’s just part of the game, and spits contempt on anyone who would bet on Thoroughbred races. Maybe his point is wise.
Horseplayers might now wonder how I Want Revenge improved by such leaps and bounds in the Gotham Stakes. It had been attributed to his switch from synthetic surfaces in California to the dirt of New York; now it’s not so clear. The controversy is all over the racing press and blogosphere, with arguments ranging from “the system worked” to “who does Mullins think he’s fooling?”
David Lanzman, owner of I Want Revenge who just recently sold half interest in the horse to IEAH Stables, says there are no plans to replace Mullins as trainer.
So my thoughts as a player must include: He must not have had the chance to administer the substance to I Want Revenge before the Wood and he still ran great, but even so, what other substances might he have had and what will Mullins try to do in Kentucky, where the rules are at least slightly different? Is this horse for real? I’m hoping the racing media ponders this before May 2, but I’m not holding my breath. Will we have another Dancer’s Image?
The second issue is just plain animal cruelty. New York State Police and the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA seized the Center Brook Farm, owned by Thoroughbred owner and horseman Ernie Paragallo, who also owns Paraneck Stable. It followed closely revelations that a horse-rescue advocate found four horses in a kill pen and traced them back to Paragallo. Officials say at least 40 of the nearly 175 horses of all ages on the premises were in bad health and that all of the horses showed at least some signs of neglect. Charges are expected.
We see this all too often, granted, but Paragallo is half owner of Unbridled’s Song, one of the most prominent and successful sires in racing today. Unbridled’s Song commands $125,000 per cover at stud (he is safe on the Taylor Made Stallions farm in Kentucky). Son of the late, great Unbridled, who won both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders Cup Classic at age 3 in 1990, this horse won the Breeders Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial and was second in the Fountain of Youth. He won more than $1.3 million racing. He is the sire of top 2009 Derby contenders Old Fashioned and Dunkirk, as well as legitimate Derby aspirants Silver City and Midshipman. He is also the sire of the ill-fated Eight Belles. Unbridled’s Song and the game have been good to Paragallo.
Judging by the quotes, Paragallo, whose Cellar Dweller finished sixth in the very same Wood Memorial Saturday, seems blindsided by this whole affair and tells his side of the story in this portion of a forum thread (see pages two and three under the handle “paraneck”). It would be unfair to pass judgment until investigations are complete and facts are known.Yet, the horses were not properly cared for.
Horse slaughter is just one planet in the solar system of racing controversies. America’s high regard and appreciation for all that the equine species has done for it throughout history endures to this day. The idea that a horse thief is the lowest kind of varmint is rooted in the reality and proportion of how important horses were to society not that long ago.
Near term, in the context of that modern phenomenon called public relations, a big question is how will this be covered in the following weeks and how the general public may or may not react.
How will NBC (and ESPN will present five hours of coverage before NBC even signs on for the main event) cover it on Derby Day? TV sports coverage excels in mentioning a story but downplaying it to nearly nothing. Will it repel what casual fans remain? Will it even repel longer-term fans and horseplayers?
These problems are rooted in the inability of racing to unite and develop a uniform plan of regulation in areas such as drugs (especially on race day), wagering integrity, jockey welfare and insurance, horse welfare and even the marketing of the game. Sure, there are efforts in these areas, but they are as disjointed as you would expect when the states and the tracks all seem to stubbornly behave solely in what they see as their own best interests. And when on earth is the horse racing industry going to get its act together and even attempt, over and above the myriad toothless committees and the seemingly ineffective National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), to solve these problems? Too bad if society in general turns against the game, but racing’s own inaction will be squarely to blame. We’ll see on May 2 how the story is or is not told, and how the general public reacts. Or doesn’t.
Playing the Field
Through all of this, the racing was tremendous last weekend.
* Wood Memorial. I Want Revenge turned in what almost looked like a dress rehearsal for the Derby. He overcame a terrible start, severe traffic problems and a fairly accomplished field to gut out a last-to-first win in the $750,000 race.
Reportedly spooked by another horse, Revenge’s front feet were in the air when the gates opened and the rest of the field just ran away.
With patient speed, young Joe Talamo guided the horse to just between two others at the back of the pack on the backstretch and started picking them off.
Looking like the ball carrier in the Decatur Staley flying wedge, not a good thing in horse racing, Talamo shot Revenge to a hole that quickly closed, pulled back on the reins and got him to do a little bounce step out one lane.
While avoiding a bump with Atomic Rain, I Want Revenge, his front and face covered in dirt, just shot through the hole and took off for clear running, the finish line and the win.
It was an awesome, teamwork performance by both Revenge and jockey Talamo. West Side Bernie finished second and Just a Coincidence third. Imperial Council, who was fractious before the race, finished fifth and trainer Shug McGaughey has said he’s out of the Derby picture.
*Illinois Derby. Hawthorne Race Course has been accused of being speed favoring: get a good lead and you won’t lose it. The “experts” point to Recapturetheglory last year and Sweetnorthernsaint in 2006 as prime examples.
It was a bit different this year as Musket Man, fresh off victory in the Tampa Bay Derby, bided his time mid-pack, swung out four wide and used the long Hawthorne stretch run to score a two-length win.
Musket Man parceled out his effort and speed in a professional manner, which is just what you want to see leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
Illinois-bred Giant Oak finally had the kind of trip he was looking for, but couldn’t get by Musket Man and finished second, clearly second best by five lengths over His Greatness.
Trainer Chris Block initially said Giant Oak is off the Derby Trail but made rumbles in the past couple of days that he might yet decide to go to Louisville. He should have plenty of stakes earnings to get in.
* Santa Anita Derby. One of the biggest stories about this race was what didn’t happen. Likely favorite The Pamplemousse scratched and is off the Derby Trail after vets found a lesion on a front tendon after noticing the horse stepping gingerly.
As a result, Pioneerof the Nile pretty much had the race to himself.
The rabbit intended to pace out The Pamplemousse also scratched.
Pioneer was under a strong hold by Garret Gomez around the first turn and like kite string, Gomez let some of it out and Pioneer shot up to be just behind the leader Feisty Suances.
Once around the turn and in the open, Pioneerof the Nile popped a three-length lead and had enough to win.
Race reports had Mr. Hot Stuff finishing fast for third, but I was impressed with Chocolate Candy, who was clearly gaining on Pioneerof the Nile just before the wire.
I’ve had my eye on him all year, impressed by the two times I ever saw his old man, Candy Ride, the Argentinian wonder.
That last furlong at Churchill on May 2 represents judgment day for these horses at the classic 11/4-mile distance and I think Chocolate Candy will be ready. Both of these will be going from synthetic to dirt.
Derby Dash
Next week, a bunch of Derby hopefuls and wannabes get together on the Keeneland synthetic for the Blue Grass Stakes. It’s always a fine race, but Derby implications can be thin, with Strike the Gold (1991) the last Derby winner to come out of this race, and that was when it was run on dirt. You’ll have the new darling, Lane’s End winner Hold Me Back as your favorite. Theregoesjojo surprises and comes back just two weeks after the Florida Derby for trainer Kenny McPeek. Makes me wonder if he’s pointing ‘jojo for the Preakness, or perhaps the Derby and then the Belmont or something else.
Charitable Man, Patena and Terrain also look to impress. We’ll also see what’s in store for General Quarters, a mild sensation in Florida who had a week’s worth of his own buzz at one point. And step right up Mafaaz, winner of a non-Group, synthetic course race at Kempton in England that the Churchill Downs marketing geniuses dubbed the Kentucky Derby Challenge Stakes. It smacks of the NFL in Europe and that World thing in baseball, but it’s also a clear effort to boost betting handle. The one good point is that he’s trained by John Gosden, a worthy sort who invaded Santa Anita last October and won the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf with Donativum and the Classic with Raven’s Pass!
Another great race will be the Arkansas Derby Saturday at Oaklawn, the climax of the Racing Festival of the South. Old Fashioned returns from the Rebel Stakes as the favorite here, and will face Win Willy, the 56-1 wonder who actually beat him in the Rebel. Terry Thompson takes over Old Fashioned from Ramon Dominguez and will try to teach him to pace himself through the race. Papa Clem and Danger to Society are also entered. I will be watching Flat Out very closely. I was impressed with his win in the Smarty Jones and a game fourth place finish after a horrible start in the Southwest Stakes, both at Oaklawn. Always looking for a wiseguy for Derby Day, right?
Note: Quality Road is suffering from a quarter (hoof) crack suffered in the Florida Derby. Why didn’t they say anything before allowing him to go all the way through the Kentucky Derby Futures Pool III last weekend?! That’s one reason I don’t bet the futures pool. Remember the patching they did with Big Brown’s feet last year? Same guy working on this horse. Some say it’s not serious/no big deal, while others say it’s a big damn deal. Let’s keep an eye out to see if he misses a workout or any training.
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Thomas Chambers is the Beachwood’s man on the rail. He brings you TrackNotes every Friday. You can reach him here.
Posted on April 10, 2009