"I would like to be like Shoemaker and keep riding a long, long time."
-The then twenty-five year old Laffit Pincay, Jr. in a 1971 interview.
Last year when ESPN selected its 100 top athletes of the twentieth century, ex-jocks and sports fans of motley dimension (including your editor) debated the proper hierarchy of our most exalted performers. What sport best-exhibited athleticism? Must the best athlete be fast afoot, Herculean in strength, or gifted with precise coordination of hand and eye? Must the best athlete be male, or even human? Should the ranking be based on a contemporaneous comparison (i.e. McGwire vs. Sosa or McGwire vs. Ruth)? Is it just the performance on the field or should a Greek formula of the whole person be applied (Cobb, Rose, Simpson)? Fun stuff, to be sure.
While we are in awe of the protuberant-tummied Brits that can thrust a dart seemingly in whatever spot they fancy, the sub-aerobic golfer that can will a ball into an arc of flight to his liking, or the endomorphic bowler that repeatedly levels ten pins in a single roll, we would exclude them from the upper-reaches of these rankings. Also excluded would be the syntax-encumbered good old boys that sit with their pedal to the metal around NASCAR circuits (we will long remember Sterling Marlin wolfing down his pre-Daytona breakfast of jelly doughnuts and fried chicken). Much as we love the Babe (Ruth not Didrickson), his poor conditioning and carousing would cost him points here.
Now consider this: ESPN ranked three horses (Citation, 97; Man O´War, 84; Secretariat, 35) and two jockeys (Eddie Arcaro, 66; Bill Shoemaker, 57) amongst the greatest. So horse racing got a five per cent weighting in this mythical ranking; the sport should have gotten at least a digit higher. The exclusion of Laffit Pincay, Jr. should have made the ESPN blooper highlights.
Here is the case. On December 10, 1999 Bill Shoemaker´s 29 -year-old record of most wins finally fell. Laffit Pincay, Jr. roused Irish Nip to a win at Hollywood Park notching the rider´s long-awaited 8,834th victory as a professional race rider. To observers of the sport, the accomplishment was a more impressive marker than Ripken´s nod over Gehrig or Rose´s topping Cobb. This record was a 35- year work in progress, which, as many of his predecessors and contemporaries sadly proved, could have ended with one ill-found step. The champagne coursed for Pincay at an age when AARP cards begin arriving uninvited in the mail and sunset specials at dining chains beckon.
The bookend win at the advent of his career was May 19,1964. The then seventeen-year-old Panamanian was far removed from any champagne being sipped at the Presidente Ramon venue in his native country. A few years earlier, he dreamed of a major league baseball career. Panama´s Little League, Central American Championship team featured young Laffit at second base. But at an inch over five feet in height, reality ruled the best avenue for his athletic gift would be the racetrack. The only influence from his father was genetic. Laffit Pincay, Sr., champion Panamanian jockey, abandoned his family when junior was a child. In interviews, this is the only topic barred from discussion by the son.
His talent and dedication were so obvious that, by age nineteen, Laffit was riding at major U.S. tracks against names like Shoemaker, Hartack, Baeza, and Cordero. But almost on arrival he commenced a career-long battle with the jockey´s bane: weight.
U.S. racing weight rules are based on 18th century physical structure, and force riders into hellish practices to comply. For Laffit, the problem was exacerbated by an enviable physique built to handle 140 pounds at dead fitness. Making the required 115 weight necessitated a boot camp workout schedule and a diet seldom exceeding 700 calories daily.
By 1970, he was top money winning jockey; a title he rattled off for five consecutive years culminating in a Hall of Fame induction in 1975 (retirement is not a prerequisite in the racing game). He would become the only human to receive five Eclipse awards, racing´s Oscar.
Remember that old footage of Secretariat being chased home in the ´73 Derby by Sham? That was a frustrated young Laffit aboard the runner-up. He would have two more Derby seconds in General Assembly,´79 and Rumbo,´80 (the pick in our first letter) before the ill-fated Swale took him to the winner´s circle in ´84. After an easy win in the Belmont, horse and rider were en route to that championship season, when the apparently robust Swale died suddenly after a routine gallop five days after the race. The peaks and valleys that accompany the human existence seem greatly magnified on the racetrack. The fragility of its key participants dictates so.
Just two years after his arrival here, the rider met the love of his life, Linda, to whom he was soon wed. She was the daughter of a prominent west-coast owner and well knew the game and business of racing. In spite of interludes of severe depression, Linda was Laffit´s constant booster, watchdog, and blind loyalist. She guided him through his own battle to meet those unreasonable weight requirements. After accompanying the rider to ten unsuccessful trips to Louisville, her emotionally withdrawn state kept her at home in California on Swale´s Derby Day. Six months later, Laffit was relaxing in the jock´s room at Santa Anita waiting to join his mount for the last race. He received an urgent call from his fifteen- year- old daughter, Lisa. "Dad, my Mom has shot herself." After several fruitless days on life support, Lisa Pincay died and with her went Laffit´s desire to ride ever again.
Backstretch wisdom had it that he was so dependent on her, he couldn´t come back even if he wanted to. The widower, with two children of critical parenting age, said it himself. But Lisa and Laffit III would have nothing of retirement. Weeks later when he returned, a roar followed him from the jock´s room to the paddock; a standing ovation greeted him as he jogged his mount onto the Santa Anita track. Within a month, he became only the third jockey to win 6000 races.
Every racing sicko has a favorite Pincay ride and mine is the ´83 Belmont on Caveat. Laying behind Au Point and Slew 0´ Gold well into the stretch, Pincay had committed to the inside path. Chris McCarron´s older brother, Greg, had Au Point tiring on the lead, precisely one horse width from the rail. An advancing Slew 0´ Gold with Angel Cordero was lapped outside Au Point. Just as Caveat moved to the narrow opening, Cordero (as crafty as they ever came) crowded Au Point hoping to close Caveat´s lane. Laffit pushed on just as Au Point bore in, bouncing Caveat off the fence like a tennis ball. What could have been a disaster, with the largest field in Belmont history behind them, merely became another score for Laffit Pincay, Jr. Not one to be intimidated, he and Caveat galloped to an easy three-length victory. Truth be told: Pincay´s best ride was probably on some low-level claimer in the last race on a weekday. He rode them all the same. His approach was the same as the great Bill Hartack who came under great criticism when asked about his Derby strategy on Northern Dancer in 1964. "It´s just another race," was the quote. What he meant by the remark was that he rode every race like the Derby and so has Laffit.
Pincay´s signature skill is his ability to finish; his tremendous upper body strength makes the last sixteenth of a mile his home court. Often he can be seen winning a drive to the wire without the aid of the whip. Such is the rhythm with his partner that he almost appears to carry his mount to victory with an arm thrust.
With the 90´s came newfound happiness in a new marriage and a second son, but also a riding slump. The prime riding calls stopped coming and there was talk that he was only hanging on to shoot at Shoemaker´s record. Briefly, Laffit considered moving out of the tough Southern California circuit to lesser tracks where wins would come more easily. No one would have criticized him if he had, but he would have borne a personal asterisk had he done it that way.
So he rededicated himself to an even stricter fitness regimen. He changed his diet to a higher protein 850-calorie daily ration. The team physician for several of the Los Angeles professional sports franchises pronounced him "the greatest physical specimen I have ever seen." I guess so: after eleven broken collarbones, ten broken ribs two spinal fractures, two punctured lungs and assorted hickeys of lesser denomination, he persisted. Fear stops man, but it also impels him, wrote Homer (the blind Greek, not Simpson). And in this, actuarially the most dangerous occupation, whatever fear Pincay knew certainly impelled him.
When the big win finally came last winter at Hollywood Park, the record will show that the leading rider for the meet was Laffit Pincay, Jr., age 52. The greatest testimony to his talent, grit, and decency were the looks of genuine joy on his competitors that day: especially Bill Shoemaker. "He´s been a credit to racing," opined the Shoe. "He conducted himself with dignity all through his career. He rode in rain, hail, sleet, and snow. He wouldn´t take off like most jocks would. I´m extremely proud of him."
Sadly he won´t be riding in this year´s edition of the Derby (his last mount was in 1994). But neither he nor we should be downcast. Laffit Pincay, Jr. will have his commitments at home in California, and each one will get ridden like he´s in Louisville. And after all, there´s always next year.
THIS YEAR´S RACE- You heard it here first. When the history is written on this year´s crop of three-year-old colts, it will be writ large. We see a half-dozen first class sire prospects, none of which may even win the race. Now that´s class. Let´s take a look at the probable field. As we are going to press before the draw, we are speculating on which horses the track handicapper will place in the mutual field.
FUSAICHI PEGASUS- Any discussion of this year´s addition has to begin (and possibly end) with this most extraordinary animal. A four million-dollar yearling, this son of Mr. Prospector and the Danzig mare, Angel Fever (this is the family of Ruffian, Pine Bluff, Clever Trick, et al.), may prove a bargain. After losing by a neck in his debut to the since forgotten, David Copperfield, he has won four in a row with increasing dominance. His gallop in the Wood Memorial conjured ghosts of the greatest. His trainer, Neil Drysdale, was voted into the Hall of Fame this week and honed his craft as chief assistant to the sainted Charlie Whittingham. Drysdale should be going for his second Derby win, but had to scratch future champion A.P. Indy with a sore foot on raceday in ´92. So technically he´s still a Derby rookie. F.P. is certain to deservedly be post-time fav, but there are questions. Although Mr. Prospector (along with Northern Dancer) will go down as the greatest genetic influence of the 2Oth century, it is interesting to note that the total number of Derby winners sired by him remains zero. The Mister was a speed horse and a mile and a quarter, early in their third year, has proved too demanding for his offspring...so far. Another question is his erratic behavior during training hours and before, after, but not during his races. Call it no controlling legal authority or a free spirit but he is likely to buck, wheel, flip, prop, or otherwise torment the poor soul on his back when least expected. After his Wood win, he refused (refused, I tell ya!) to go to the Winner´s Circle. The bull case is that he is a very smart horse who gets bored when not asked to perform his best; the bear case is that a noisy crowd in a mint julep-induced bacchanalia will cause him to come apart. Don´t count on it. If he gets a clean trip, they´ll all be running for the place. But this letter is a search for value and a likely 8/5 price tempts us not at all.
THE DEPUTY- If Pegasus is deigned to lose his wings, this is the popular choice to crop them. And why not? A very professional dusting of War Chant, Captain Steve, and Anees in the Santa Anita Derby followed his driving second to the favorite in the San Felipe. Owned by the Team Valor Syndicate, whose tactic is to buy horses of modest pedigree, which have already demonstrated athleticism, this colt has proven the business model (as did their Captain Bodgit who was two heads away from winning the ´97 Derby and Preakness). The accomplished Jenine Sahadi tries to become the first woman to train a Derby winner and Chris McCarron (Alysheba, ´87 and Go for Gin, ´94) goes for a hat trick. Not surprisingly, this Irish-bred likes Zinfandel in his feed bucket. Well if Eric Clapton shot the sheriff, it´s up to us to shoot the Deputy. He is a very tough racehorse and loves life in Louisville. Our problem is the additional eighth of a mile. Dep´s sire, Petardia, if not a deadbeat dad, was strictly a sprinter. There are a few routers on his mom´s side but we are not swayed. Like so many things in life, Bob Dylan has lyrics to apply. By the sixteenth pole, The Deputy will sing: "Mama, take this badge off of me, I can´t use it anymore. It´s getting dark, too dark to see. Feels like I´m knockin´ on heaven´s door."
FOUR HORSE ENTRY, WHAT? - Because of arcane rules involving cross-ownership that are too boring to relate, Trippi, Impeachment, High Yield, and Commendable will run as a single betting entry. Likely to be a pretty short price.
HIGH YIELD- Strongest part of the entry; probably this year´s Cat Thief. Speed merchant whose big efforts have all been on tracks that favored that. Caught the golden rail at Keeneland to win a head bob over More Than Ready in the Blue Grass and ruin the weekend for us. Ole D. Wayne always winds ´em tighter than Dick´s hatband and we expect no less here. Gets Pat Day and the Almighty, which can´t hurt. Still think we´ve seen his best; any yield will be back end of a superfecta.
TRIPPI- Named for legendary University of Georgia halfback, Charlie Trippi, this colt tries to become the first undefeated entrant to emerge thusly since Seattle Slew in 1977. Seems a tall order for this son of precocious sire, End Sweep. Didn´t really draw away from an ordinary field in the Flamingo; and here he goes farther against better. May share the lead with Hal´s Hope until the quarter pole and then it´s bye-bye. Sorry Charlie.
IMPEACHMENT- Completes the four-horse entry. Trained by Todd Pletcher, he was an unimpressive third in the weakest of the Derby preps, the Arkansas Derby. Should like the extra distance but he is no Starr. This colt figures to pass tiring horses when they begin feeling their pain.
COMMENDABLE- Coupled with the above and has same connections as last year´s winner, Charismatic. Troubled fourth in the Lexington, probably should have been second. Would take a huge jump to get the job done here. For our purposes, Commendable is expendable.
CAPTAIN STEVE- Same connections as Real Quiet, and named for a Louisville cop who sprung the owner after he got busted for packing heat at the airport after Quiet´s win. The Captain keeps hanging around with three consecutive thirds this year. Owns a big win over the course (Kentucky Jockey Club) last year and has been working very impressively at the Downs. Definitely set up to run his best race thus far in ´00 but will that be enough? No Captain, My Captain!
WAR CHANT- By the esteemed Danzig and out of the monster race mare Hollywood Wildcat; this is pedigree that makes breeders drool. Won his first three before being turned back by the Deputy in the Santa Anita Derby. The apparent second stringer in Drysdale´s barn (he trained mom and pop) has absolutely unlimited upside. Still learning and definitely figures to get better, a lot better. Trainer will add blinkers to increase focus. Scary.
ANEES- Who loves ya´ baby? Son of ´90 winner, Unbridled (picked here), Anees saved us on Breeders´ Cup Day with a 30-1 bomb in the Juvenile. Missed a lot of winter conditioning with a foot abscess, but we suspect deeper problems. Made a huge middle move from dead last in the Santa Anita Derby only to hang in the stretch while failing to change leads (often a sign of soreness). His retired rider, Gary Stevens (bad nees) worked him at the Downs and the colt seemed to need more than a little encouragement to get the job done. Got a real soft spot for this guy, but business is business. Anees, adieu.
MORE THAN READY- Very precocious at two but appeared to have distance limitations. Runner-up in Louisiana Derby and the Blue Grass seems to be catching on to the route game. Lots of experience and a win over the course. If he stretches it out, who knows?
HAL ´S HOPE- By miles the story of the year. Hal Rose, his 88-year-old owner and trainer, didn´t get in the game until retirement. H.H. won the Florida Derby gate to wire before stopping badly in the Blue Grass. Word was he burned his heels on the surface. Certainly belongs and has taken to the Church surface; but running style bodes poorly for the conditions. The only Roses around this guy after the race will be his owners.
GLOBALIZE- Shares a father (Summer Squall) with last year´s winner, Charismatic. Northern Cal invader was an impressive winner of the Spiral Stakes, but rest of that field didn´t go on. Trainer Hollendorfer looked the goods a couple years ago when Event of the Year took the Spiral (Jim Beam in those days), but got hurt before the big one. Ran a nice second in the Lexington, but looks like lower echelon here. Name bound to be unpopular with militia- men and the end-timers.
APTITUDE- Son of the awesome A.P. Indy. Trainer Bobby Frankel, never known to hold a grudge, had this to say after rider Corey Nakatani defected to Anees for the Derby: "there´s nothing to sort out. He´ll never ride for me again." Rumors around that Nakitani has been begging to be readmitted to Chez Frankel. Colt loses nothing with Solis up; he just missed in ´97 with Captain Bodgit and ´98 with Victory Gallop. Certified closer narrowed the gap on Fusiachi in the Wood after getting bumped around pretty good. Doing very well in Louisville preparation. "Changes in attitudes, changes in latitudes," as Jimmy Buffet sang. If he gets the latitude, Aptitude will handle the longitude.
GODOLPHIN ENTRY-
CHINA VISIT- Carries the pale blue colors of Godolphin Racing, Inc a.k.a. the United Arab Emirates. If you don´t think these guys go first class, they sponsored a contest on their website this year in which participants were asked to pick, from the Sheik´s string, the most successful runners. First prize is a Rolls. More impressive is their training facility in Dubai, part of which has duplicated Churchill Downs to every detail save middle-aged rednecks in feed-caps toting 18 Oz. Budweisers. These guys have the best collection of thoroughbred stock around. They took their first shot at the Derby last year with Worldly Manner which didn´t run badly at all. China comes to Louisville with a maiden win in France and two virtual walkovers in Dubai. Pedigree is flawless (if a bit tilted to grass): by Red Ransom from a lovely daughter of The Minstrel. Gets top European jock, Lanfranco Dettori and no preps in U .S. It won´t be long before these guys get the roses and it could be this year.
CURULE- Along for the ride with China; main point is he gives Marlon St. Julien a Derby mount raising the number of Louisiana jockeys in the race to seven.
EXCHANGE RATE- Not long ago we thought this was Lukas´ best shot. Didn´t show much in Louisiana Derby, then really disappointed in the Wood. Owner has written blank checks for D. Wayne at yearling sales and sense he is ready for the Derby even if his horse is not.
GRAEME HALL- Very nice colt wired the field in the Arkansas Derby, which appears to have been the weakest of the Derby preps. Can´t blame connections for taking a shot but would be better placed in the Ohio or Illinois Derbies.
THE THREE HORSE MUTUEL FIELD-
WHEELAWAY -Horses like this one drive us mad. Lightly raced son of Unbridled cruised in the minor Tampa Bay Derby, then closed to be a strong third in the speed favoring Blue Grass. Figures to love the distance and to improve. Trainer Kimmel, a former vet, is solid as is unheralded rider Migliore. We thought his Saturday work was awful; really seemed to struggle with the surface. We opt to stealaway from Wheelaway.
DEPUTY WARLOCK- A really one paced type that will probably run his last eighth as fast as his first which means a lot of horses will be coming his way. Closed willingly in the Blue Grass to be fourth after being out of touch with the field early.
RONTON- Last minute go from Arkansas Derby also ran. Very familiar with the race as unfortunately we bet him. Respect trainer Cerin and entry salvages Derby mount for Brice Blanc who got bumped off of Aptitude.
OUR SELECTION-
One of the biggest questions facing handicappers on Derby Day is how will each horse handle the racing surface and the human circus that awaits them. Many a contender has come unglued from the noise and pomp there. Well for openers on our pick, how about this: our pick not only owns a win over the Churchill Downs course, he did it on Derby Day last year! Yup our pick won the WHAS Stakes for 2yo´s last year. Now admittedly this race does not normally produce Derby horses the following year. The reason is that colts precocious enough to compete this early in their adolescent year tend not to develop into bears as older horses. We hope our guy´s the exception.
By mid-summer last year, our pick was five wins in five starts with two graded stakes wins under his belt. He ran a close third in his first attempt at a mile but concerns about stamina were raised. Then in the mile and a sixteenth Champagne stakes in October he was fifteen lengths behind the winner, seemingly proving those concerns. A very, very nice sprinter, but a sprinter and no more was the wisdom. When he was put away for a winter freshening, few serious handicappers (ourselves included) took him as a legitimate Derby threat. His 3yo debut did nothing to dispel that view as he roared to an easy eight-length victory in the seven-furlong Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream. When he shipped into New Orleans for the Louisiana Derby at a mile and a sixteenth, we began to see a different horse. On the lead early, yes, but more relaxed than before. He opened up daylight on the field, but couldn´t withstand the rush of the since-injured Mighty down the lane: the result was a respectable second, two lengths back. Then came the Blue Grass, an extra one hundred ten yards at a mile and an eighth. Here he was stalking the leaders, not in front. Turning for home he engaged the winner, High Yield, and fought him head to head to the wire; his losing margin was a short head. A very gritty performance, but then comes the question: is their room to improve or is this as good as it gets?
Well, loyal reader, relax. That´s why we are here. Our pick has been an armful since arriving in Louisville. His gallops and works have impressed and he is in great flesh. Obviously we need another step forward and a few breaks, but: he´s got the experience, he´s got the fitness, and he´s got the pedigree. In fact you could say, he´s MORE THAN READY!
PEDIGREE- More Than Ready is a son of the solid Southern Halo. Remember grandsire Halo, begat both Sunny´s Halo,´83 and Sunday Silence,´89. The female family may not socialize with the likes of Fusaichi Pegasus and War Chant but it does include quality routers like Bail Out Becky and Cutlass Reality. There is nothing here that rules out our guy getting a mile and a quarter.
THE TRAINER- Nothing like making your debut one to remember. Long time top D. Wayne Lukas assistant, Todd Pletcher, is making his first trip to the Derby as a head trainer with four starters! If his job with More Than Ready is indicative of his skill, we are in good hands.
THE JOCKEY- John Velasquez is the only rider the colt has had. He has quietly risen to the elite level of New York Riders. His previous two visits were on rank outsiders, but his mentor and agent is the estimable Angel Cordero (Cannonade,´74; Bold Forbes,´76; Spend A Buck,´85). We´ll look for Angel in the infield.
THE BET- We think More Than Ready has become the forgotten horse and expect mid-double digit odds. We´d bet him across the board. We also want to put in a word for Aptitude, a horse we like a lot. His closes in the Gotham and Wood assure an appetite for the long Churchill stretch. Bet him across as well. We would combine these two with War Chant and Fusaichi Pegasus in exactas and trifectas.
THE RACE- Trippi, Graeme Hall, and Hal´s Hope should all be competing for the lead well into the race. By the three-eighths pole, they will begin to feel the heat. Somewhere in here High Yield and The Deputy will take over with More Than Ready and War Chant having dead aim on them. Fusaichi Pegasus is full of run but trapped (please Lord) amongst the tiring speed. A big move by War Chant puts him at the front at the eighth pole with More Than Ready at his throat latch. And down the stretch they come! More Than Ready puts a nose in front and here comes Aptitude, on the outside. At the wire in a photo, it´s More Than Ready, Aptitude, War Chant, and Fusaichi Pegasus.