By Brian M. Rafferty
With the 134th running of the Belmont Stakes set for this Saturday, expectations are high that War Emblem, winner of this year’s Preakness and Kentucky Derby, will be the first Triple Crown winner since Seattle Slew and Affirmed won it back-to-back years in 1977 and 1978.
As of press time, the competition seemed mixed. Some of the horses have never run at Belmont, and neither have some of their riders. Nancy H. Alberts, who owns, bred and trained Magic Weisner has never started a horse in the Belmont Stakes. In fact, she has never run at horse at or even visited Belmont Park.
But there are contenders in the race as well, like Wiseman’s Ferry, who won his last two races.
The following is a list of the tentative card for the Saturday race.
Artax Too
Bay colt.
Broke his maiden on April 28, 2002 at Aqueduct.
Has been conditioned by three different trainers: Jennifer Pedersen, Richard Lundy and now Joseph Aquilino.
Notes:
Breeding: Marquetry—Done With Pleasure (Foolish Pleasure).
Bred by Audley Farm Inc. in Virginia.
Sire: Marquetry.
Dam: Done With Pleasure.
Career Record:
2-0-1 from five starts with earnings of $59,830.
Stakes Victories:
None.
Owner – Paraneck Stable
Nom de course for Ernie Paragallo.
Has run one horse in the Belmont Stakes: Adonis finished 12th in 1999.
Jockey – Norberto Arroyo Jr.
Has never ridden in the Belmont Stakes.
Trainer – Joseph Aquilino
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Essence of Dubai
Dark bay or brown colt.
Finished ninth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2002.
Prepared for the Triple Crown by winning two stakes races — the UAE Derby (Group 2) and the UAE 2000 Guineas (Group 3) — at Nad al Sheba in the United Arab Emirates. The UAE Derby was 1* miles long.
Trained as a 2-year-old by Eoin Harty in Southern California. He was 2-0-1 from three starts, including a victory in the Norfolk Stakes (Grade 2), before he finished 12th and last in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Oct. 27, 2001 at Belmont Park.
Ridden by Alex Solis in all four starts as a 2-year-old.
Ridden by Lanfranco Dettori in Dubai.
Ridden by David Flores to ninth place in the 2002 Kentucky Derby.
Notes:
Breeding: Pulpit — Epitome (Summing).
Bred by Jonabell Farm in Kentucky.
Foaled on March 7, 1999.
Sire: Pulpit raced one year, six starts, four wins, $728,200 in earnings. Sired one crop, 47 foals, 18 starters, seven winners, one stakes winner.
Pulpit stands at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.
Dam: Epitome raced two years, 14 starts, five wins and $631,755 in earnings. Dam of eight named foals, seven starters, six winners, three stakes winners.
Sold for $2.3 million at the Keeneland September yearling sale in 2000.
Career Record:
4-0-1 from seven starts with earnings of $1,543,200.
Stakes Victories:
UAE Derby (Group 2) — March 23, 2002 at Nad Al Sheba (UAE)
UAE 2000 Guineas (Group 3) — Feb. 28, 2002 at Nad Al Sheba (UAE)
Norfolk Stakes (Gr. 2) — Sept. 29, 2001 at Santa Anita
Owner – Godolphin Racing Inc.
Godolphin Racing Inc. is the Dubai arm of Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum’s and Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum’s racing empire. The sheikhs are members of the ruling family of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Sheikh Mohammed was the one who wanted to take some of the best horses away from natural pasture areas in England to the desert of Dubai in order to create a racing nation, and to eventually gain acceptance for Dubai racing when bringing the horses back for success in England.
The Godolphin operation is based at Moulton Paddocks in Newmarket, England during the flat racing season.
Godolphin purchased Del Mar Futurity winner Worldly Manner from John and Betty Mabee’s Golden Eagle Farm in 1998 for a reported $5 million. They later purchased Comonmon for a reported $1 million. Worldly Manner was Godolphin’s first Triple Crown attempt; he ran in the 1999 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes without success. Nevertheless, Godolphin has vowed to someday win a Derby. In the 2000 Derby, China Visit was sixth and Curule was seventh.
Have had one starter in the Belmont Stakes: Curule did not finish in 2000.
Jockey – Jerry Bailey
Has won the Belmont Stakes once: Hansel in 1991. He is 1-1-1 from 16 Belmont Stakes starts.
Trainer – Saeed bin Suroor
Leading trainer in Britian in 1996 and 1999. He was second in 1995.
The 34-year-old native of Dubai is the private trainer for Godolphin Racing Inc.
He is a former policeman who took out his training license in 1994. He became the private trainer for Godolphin in April 1995.
Won his first North American race for Godolphin with Red Bishop in the 1995 San Juan Capistrano at Santa Anita.
Has won the Breeders’ Cup Turf twice: with Daylami in 1999 and Fantastic Light in 2001.
Won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies with Tempera at Belmont Park in 2001.
Has had one starter in the Belmont Stakes: Curule did not finish in 2000.
Like a Hero
Dark bay or brown colt.
Broke his maiden in his second start on March 24, 2002 at Santa Anita.
Has been ridden exclusively by Laffit Pincay Jr.
Notes:
Breeding: Pleasant Colony—Like a Hawk (Silver Hawk).
Bred by Andrea Singer Pollack Revocable Trust in Kentucky.
Sire: Pleasant Colony.
Dam: Like a Hawk.
Career Record:
3-1-0 from four starts with earnings of $118,910.
Stakes Victories:
Alydar Stakes — May 23, 2002 at Hollywood Park
Owner – Columbine Stable
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – Laffit Pincay Jr.
Has won the Belmont Stakes three times: Conquistador Cielo (1982); Caveat (1983); and Swale (1984). He is 3-3-0 from 13 Belmont Stakes starts.
Is one of only two jockeys to win three consecutive Belmont Stakes. James McLaughlin won the Belmont Stakes three consecutive times twice.
Finished fourth with Medaglia d’Oro in the Kentucky Derby on May 4, 2002 at Churchill Downs. Did not ride in the Preakness Stakes.
Trainer – Craig Dollase
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Won the Metropolitan Mile (Grade 1) with Swept Overboard on Memorial Day Monday, May 27, 2002 at Belmont.
Magic Weisner
Bay colt.
Finished second in the Preakness Stakes on May 18, 2002.
Maryland-bred has never raced outside of his native state.
Ridden by Phil Teator to five consecutive victories and a second-place finish (behind Smoked Em) in the Frederico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on April 20, 2002.
Ridden by Richard Migliore to a second-place finish in the 2002 Preakness Stakes.
Notes:
Breeding: Ameri Valay — Jazema (Bold Forbes).
Bred by Nancy H. Alberts in Maryland.
Foaled on May 3, 1999.
Sire: Ameri Valay raced six years, 68 starts, 16 wins and $743,529 in earnings. Sired four crops, 73 foals, 40 starters, 25 winners, one stakes winner. Ameri Valay stands at Shamrock Farms in Woodbine, Md.
Dam: Jazema raced five years, 68 starts, 14 wins and $89,199 in earnings. Dam of four foals, two starters, two winners, one stakes winner.
Jazema, a crooked legged 2-year-old, cost Alberts $1. She went on to run for five years, racking up 14 victories from 68 outings. Alberts raced
Jazema as a 2-year-old then lost her in a claiming race to King Leatherbury. She later bought Jazema privately for breeding purposes. Magic Weisner is her second foal.
Career Record:
6-3-0 from 11 starts with earnings of $433,110.
Stakes Victories:
Private Terms Stakes — March 30, 2002 at Laurel Race Course.
Deputed Testimony — March 2, 2002 at Laurel Race Course.
Goss Stryker — Feb. 9, 2002 at Laurel Race Course.
Maryland Juvenile Championship — Dec. 31, 2001 at Laurel Race Course.
Owner – Nancy H. Alberts
Bred, owns and trains Magic Weisner.
Has never started a horse in the Belmont Stakes. In fact, she has never run at horse at or even visited Belmont Park.
Jockey – Richard Migliore
Rode Magic Weisner for the first time in the Preakness Stakes on May 18, 2002. Finished second.
Has never hit the board in five Belmont Stakes starts.
Trainer – Nancy H. Alberts
Bred, owns and trains Magic Weisner.
Has never started a horse in the Belmont Stakes. In fact, she has never run at horse at or even visited Belmont Park.
Medaglia d'Oro
Dark bay or brown colt.
Eighth in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on May 18, 2002 under Jerry Bailey.
Fourth in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2002 under Laffit Pincay Jr.
Laffit Pincay, Jr. rode Medaglia d’Oro three times: victory in the San Felipe (Gr. 2) on March 17 at Santa Anita; second in the Wood Memorial (Gr. 1) on April 13 at Aqueduct; and fourth in the Kentucky Derby (Gr. 1) on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
Name means Gold Medal in Italian. It is also the brand name of an Italian espresso company.
Notes:
Breeding: El Prado (IRE) — Cappucino Bay (Bailjumper).
Bred by Albert Bell & Joyce Bell in Kentucky.
Foaled on April 11, 1999.
Sire: El Prado raced two years in England, France and Ireland, nine starts, four wins and $236,987 in earnings. Sired seven crops, 398 foals, 260 starters, 193 winners, 32 stakes winners. El Prado stands at Adena Springs Kentucky near Midway, Ky.
Dam: Cappucino Bay raced four years, 24 starts, five wins and $164,433 in earnings. Dam of four named foals, four starters, four winners, one stakes winner.
Career Record:
2-2-0 from six starts with earnings of $364,720.
Stakes Victories:
San Felipe (Gr. 2) — March 17, 2002 at Santa Anita
Owner – Edmund A. Gann
Purchased Medaglia d’Oro privately after he broke his maiden on Feb. 9, 2002 at Oaklawn Park. The horse had been owned by breeders Albert and Joyce Bell. Medaglia d’Oro was 1-1-0 from two starts for the Bells under the supervision of trainer David Vance.
Has not started a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – TBA
Trainer – Robert Frankel
Has started only one horse in the Belmont Stakes: Aptitude finished second in 2000.
Perfect Drift
Bay gelding.
Finished third in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2002.
Has never failed to hit the board in seven career starts.
Notes:
Breeding: Dynaformer — Nice Gal (Naskra).
Bred by Stonecrest Farm and Dr. William A. Reed in Kentucky.
Foaled on April 29, 1999
Sire: Dynaformer raced three years, 30 starts, seven wins and $671,207 in earnings. Sired 10 crops, 543 foals, 423 starters, 318 winners, 43 stakes winners. Dynaformer stands at Three Chimneys Farm near Midway, Ky.
Dam: Nice Gal raced three years, 44 starts, 12 wins and $168,989 in earnings. Dam of seven named foals, seven starters, six winners, one stakes winner.
Career Record:
3-3-1 from seven starts with earnings of $467,160.
Stakes Victories:
Spiral Stakes (Gr. 2) — March 23, 2002 at Turfway Park.
Prevue — Jan. 5, 2002 at Turfway Park.
Owner – Stonecrest Farm
Nom de course for Dr. William A. Reed. He races under the name Stonecrest Farm and breeds as Dr. William A. Reed and Stonecrest Farm.
Lives in Kansas City, Mo.
Works as a cardiac surgeon at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan.
Has never run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – Eddie Delahoussaye
Has won the Belmont Stakes twice with Risen Star in 1988 and A.P. Indy in 1992. He finished second with Gato Del Sol in 1982. He is 2-1-0 from three Belmont Stakes starts.
Trainer – Murray Johnson
Only Belmont Stakes starter was Green Alligator; he finished 10th in 1991.
Proud Citizen
Bay colt.
Third in the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18, 2002.
Second in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2002.
Won the Lexington Stakes at odds of 8.3-1 to earn a spot in the Kentucky Derby and a role in the Visa Triple Crown.
Sheila Cornstein, who is a tournament bridge player, named the horse after a bridge occurance in which all 13 tricks are taken by the bidder.
Notes:
Breeding: Gone West — Drums Of Freedom (Green Forest).
Bred by Edmund J. Loder in Kentucky.
Foaled on March 3, 1999.
Sire: Gone West raced two years, 17 starts, six wins and $682,215 in earnings. Sired 12 crops, 710 foals, 492 starters, 359 winners, 64 stakes winners. Gone West stands at Mill Ridge Farm in Lexington, Ky.
Dam: Drums of Freedom raced two years in France and Ireland, seven starts, zero wins and $18,733 in earnings. Dam of five foals, three starters, two winners, one stakes winner.
Sold at the 2000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale (Sept. 11-23) for $425,000.
Career Record:
2-2-1 from eight starts with earnings of $532,117.
Stakes Victories:
Lexington (Gr. 2) — April 20, 2002 at Keeneland
Owner – Robert Baker, David Cornstein, etc.
Robert Baker and his wife, Christina, live in Greenwich, Conn.; David Cornstein and his wife, Sheila, live in the New York City area; and William Mack and his wife, Phyllis, also live in the greater New York City area.
Proud Citizen was the first Derby or Preakness starter for the partnership.
Grand Slam represented the partnership in the 1998 Belmont Stakes. He finished seventh.
The partnership has had promising 2-year-olds in the past: Grand Slam finished eighth in the 1997 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and Scorpion finished ninth in the 2000 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. (Grand Slam came back to finish second in the 1998 Breeders’ Cup Sprint.)
In 1997, the partners entered into an agreement to sell Coolmore Stud an option to buy half of Grand Slam, and Coolmore exercised the option for $5 million.
Baker, who deals in real estate, and his wife attended the 1996 Keeneland September yearling sale. They met trainer D. Wayne Lukas and inspected eight colts that he picked out. Christina Baker, who is an accomplished rider, especially liked Grand Slam. The Bakers have been in racing for 25 years and have raced several stakes winners in partnership, including some with New York owner-breeder Howard Kaskel. Those stakes winners include Sir Harry Lewis, who won the 1987 Irish Derby, and New York graded-stakes winner Champagneforashley.
Mack, who also deals in real estate, has raced horses for several years and has several stakes winners to his credit.
Jockey – Mike Smith
Has a record of 0-1-3 from eight Belmont Stakes starts.
Trainer – D. Wayne Lukas
Won the Belmont Stakes four times: Tabasco Cat (1994); Thunder Gulch (1995), Editor’s Note (1996); and Commendable (2000). He is 4-0-1 from 16 Belmont Stakes starts.
Won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes with Charismatic in 1999. Charismatic failed to win the Triple Crown when he finished third in the Belmont Stakes behind winner Lemon Drop Kid.
Puzzlement
Bay colt.
Finished second in the Peter Pan (Grade 2) on May 25, 2002 at Belmont Park. He was a length behind winner Sunday Break.
Ran three times in maiden races in March at Gulfstream Park. Finished third twice then broke his maiden on March 30 at 1 mile, 70 yards.
Notes:
Breeding: Pine Bluff—Taine (Sir Ivor).
Bred by Joseph V. Shields Jr. in Florida
Sire: Pine Bluff
Dam: Taine
Career Record:
2-1-2 from five starts with earnings of $92,640.
Stakes Victories:
None.
Owner – Joseph V. Shields Jr.
Vice Chairman, Board of Trustees of the New York Racing Association.
Has had only one starter in the Belmont Stakes: Limit Out finished ninth in 1998.
Jockey – Jean-Luc Samyn
Has not hit the board in five Belmont Stakes starts.
Trainer – H. Allen Jerkens
Has startered three horses in the Belmont Stakes: Best of Luck was fourth in 1999; Limit Out was ninth in 1998; and Virginia Rapids was fifth in 1993.
Sarava
Thursday, May 30, 2002: Sarava Means Good Luck.
Dark bay or brown colt.
Won the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness Stakes Day undercard on May 18, 2002 to earn a spot in the Belmont Stakes.
Started career with three also-ran performances as a 2-year-old in England.
Broke his maiden in his first North American start at Churchill Downs on Nov. 21, 2001.
Has never finished out of the exacta in North America; he is 2-3-0 from five starts.
Running style: Off the pace.
Notes:
Breeding: Wild Again — Rhythm of Life (Deputy Minister).
Bred by Timber Bay Farm in Kentucky.
Sire: Wild Again.
Dam: Rhythm of Life.
Career Record:
2-3-0 from eight starts with earnings of $96,851.
Stakes Victories:
Sir Barton Stakes — May 18, 2002 at Pimlico Race Course.
Owner – New Phoenix Stable
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – Edgar Prado
Has finished off the board in both of his Belmont Stakes starts: seventh with Postponed in 2000 and ninth with Dr Greenfield in 2001.
Rode Harlan’s Holiday to a seventh-place finish in the 2002 Kentucky Derby.
Rode Harlan’s Holiday to a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Preakness Stakes.
Trainer – Ken McPeek
Finished ninth with Pineaff in 1999 in his only Belmont Stakes start.
Saddled Harlan’s Holiday for a seventh-place finish in the 2002 Kentucky Derby.
Saddled Harlan’s Holiday for a fourth-place finish in the 2002 Preakness Stakes.
Sunday Break (JPN)
Bay colt.
Has never finished out of the money in seven career starts.
Followed the New York route into the Triple Crown: he won an allowance race at Aqueduct on March 27, 2002 then finished third in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 13, 2002.
Did not make the Kentucky Derby field because his earnings in the graded-stakes races did not qualify him for the oversubscribed field.
Skipped the Preakness Stakes to train for the Peter Pan and the Belmont Stakes.
Has been ridden exclusively by Gary Stevens.
Notes:
Breeding: Forty Niner—Catequil (Storm Cat).
Bred by North Hills Management in Japan
Foaled on April 19, 1999
Sire: Forty Niner raced two years, 19 starts, 11 wins and $2,726,000 in earnings. Sired 12 crops, 543 foals, 414 starters, 294 winners, 42 stakes winners. Forty Niner stands in Japan, where he has been since 1995.
Dam: Catequil raced one year, two starts, zero wins and $1,168 in earnings. Dam of three named foals, three starters, three winners and one stakes winner.
Career Record:
4-1-2 from seven starts with earnings of $305,220.
Stakes Victories:
Peter Pan — May 25, 2002 at Belmont Park.
Owner – Koji Maeda
Maeda is the Chief Executive Officer of six enterprises, including Aitec Corp., an outsourcing company based in Osaka, Japan. He employs 1,500 people in his enterprises.
Owns and manages North Hills Farm at Nikappu, on Hokkaido Island.
Has about 120 horses in training.
Jockey – Gary Stevens
Has won the Belmont Stakes three times: Thunder Gulch in 1995; Victory Gallop in 1998; and Point Given in 2001. His record is 3-1-0 from six Belmont Stakes starts.
Was part of two of the recent failed Triple Crown attempts. He failed to win the Triple Crown with Silver Charm when he lost to Touch Gold in 997. And he ended Real Quiet’s bid for a Triple Crown when he won the 1998 Belmont Stakes with Victory Gallop.
Trainer – Neil Drysdale
Won the 1992 Belmont Stakes with A.P. Indy. It is his only start in the Belmont Stakes.
Drysale used the Peter Pan as a prep race for A.P. Indy to win the 1992 Belmont Stakes. It is the same route Sunday Break (JPN) is following.
Tracemark
Dark bay or brown gelding.
Finished second in the Lone Star Derby (Grade 3) on May 11, 2002.
Ran 11 times before he broke his maiden. He ran in three stakes races as a maiden: second in the Haggin Stakes at Hollywood Park on June 17, 2001; fourth in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship (Gr. 3) at Hollywood Park on July 15, 2001; and fifth in the Norfok Stakes (Gr. 2) at Santa Anita on Sept. 29, 2001.
Notes:
Breeding: Conquistador Cielo—Juta’s Fame (Danzig).
Bred by Russell S. Davis in Kentucky.
Sire: Conquistador Cielo raced two years, 13 starts, nine wins and $474,328 in earnings. Sired 17 crops, 809 foals, 621 starters, 476 winners, 59 stakes winners. Conquistador Cielo stands at Claiborne Farm near Paris, Ky.
Dam: Juta’s Fame.
Career Record:
2-3-2 from 14 starts with earnings of $270,544.
Stakes Victories:
California Derby — April 13, 2002 at Bay Meadows.
Owner – Edward T. McGrath
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – Alex Solis
Is 0-1-1 from four starts in the Belmont Stakes. Finished second with Aptitutde in 2000.
Trainer – Craig Dollase
Has not run a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
War Emblem
Dark bay or brown colt.
Won the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 18, 2002.
Won the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2002.
Would become the 12th Triple Crown winner if he wins the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 8, 2002.
Baffert, after the Preakness Stakes victory: “This horse is for real.”
Baffert, about shooting for the Visa Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes: “The pressure is on now. I am sure there will be more new shooters and some rabbits. But we will be prepared for them. We have gone through this before. The main thing is to keep this horse healthy and fresh. It is going to be fun.”
Stalked the pace in the Preakness Stakes. He was anxious to take the lead, but jockey Victor Espinoza held him back until the far turn. He withstood challenges from third-place Proud Citizen at the top of the stretch and second-place Magic Weisner at the finish line.
Espinoza, after the Preakness Stakes: “He always wants to be in the lead. I think he got a lot of experience out of this race. To me, he was much he best.”
Baffert: “Those Belmont fans love it. They have been waiting for a Triple Crown for years. They keep buying their tickets and they want to see it. I would love to win one for them.”
Breeding:
Breeding: Our Emblem — Sweetest Lady (Lord At War*ARG).
Bred by Charles Nuckolus Jr. & Sons in Kentucky.
Foaled on Feb. 20, 1999.
Sire: Our Emblem raced four years, 27 starts, five wins and $366,013 in earnings. Sired three crops, 111 foals, 54 starters, 27 winners, three stakes winners. Our Emblem stands at Murmur Farm near Darlington, Md.
Dam: Sweetest Lady raced three years, 16 starts, five wins and $89,760 in earnings. Dam of four live foals, three starters, three winners, one stakes winner.
Sold at the 2000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale (Sept. 11-23) for $20,000.
Career Record:
6-0-0 from nine starts with earnings of $2,891,000.
Stakes Victories:
Preakness Stakes (Gr. 1) — May 18, 2002 at Pimlico Race Course.
Kentucky Derby (Gr. 1) — May 4, 2002 at Churchill Downs.
Illinois Derby (Gr. 2) — April 6, 2002 at Sportsman’s Park.
Owner – The Thoroughbred Corporation
The Thoroughbred Corporation is the nom de course for Prince Ahmed bin Salman.
Would receive the $5 million Visa Triple Crown Bonus if War Emblem can win the Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 8, 2002.
Purchased 90 percent of War Emblem privately for a reported $900,000 in mid-April. Previous owner Russell Reineman retained 10 percent ownership. The Thoroughbred Corp. is the listed owner.
Has won four consecutive Triple Crown races: War Emblem has won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and Point Given won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 2001. (Point Given was later named the Horse of the Year and Top 3-Year-Old of 2001.)
Won his first Belmont Stakes with Point Given in 2001. It was his first Belmont Stakes starter.
Preakness Stakes:
Won the 2001 Preakness Stakes with Point Given, his only previous Preakness starter.
Kentucky Derby:
Won his first Kentucky Derby with War Emblem. Had previously started three also-ran runners: Point Given (fifth in 2001); Anees (13th in 2000); and Desert Hero (13th in 1999).
Jockey – Victor Espinoza
Has ridden in the Belmont Stakes only once; he finished second with A P Valentine in 2001.
Preakness Stakes:
Won his first Preakness Stakes with War Emblem in 2002. Had ridden in the Preakness twice before: second with A P Valentine in 2001 and sixth with Hugh Hefner in 2000.
Kentucky Derby:
Won his first Kentucky Derby with War Emblem in 2002. Finished third with Congaree in 2001 with his only other Derby mount.
Trainer – Bob Baffert
Won the 2001 Belmont Stakes with Point Given. He is 1-2-0 from five starts in the Belmont Stakes. Real Quiet was second by a nose to winner Victory Gallop in 1998; and Silver Charm was second by three-quarters of a length to winner Touch Gold in 1997.
Has won four consecutive Triple Crown races: War Emblem has won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and Point Given won the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes in 2001. (Point Given was later named the Horse of the Year and Top 3-Year-Old of 2001.)
Preakness Stakes:
Has won the Preakness Stakes with War Emblem (2002), Point Given (2001), Real Quiet (1998) and Silver Charm (1997).
Has a record of 4-0-1 from eight Preakness starts.
All three times Baffert won the Kentucky Derby he added victory in the Preakness Stakes: War Emblem (2002), Real Quiet (1998) and Silver Charm (1997). Real Quiet and Silver Charm both failed to win the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes: Real Quiet was second by a nose to winner Victory Gallop in 1998; and Silver Charm was second by three-quarters of a length to winner Touch Gold in 1997.
Kentucky Derby:
Won his third Kentucky Derby with War Emblem in 2002. Previously won the Derby with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.
Has a record of 3-1-2 from 12 Derby starts.
One of six trainers two win the Kentucky Derby three or more times. The others are: Ben A. Jones, six; H.J. Dick Thompson, four; D. Wayne Lukas, four; “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons, three; and Max Hirsch, three.
Wiseman's Ferry
Chestnut colt.
Has won his last two races in frontrunning style: an allowance race at Keeneland on April 14, 2002 and the Lone Star Derby (Grade 3) at Lone Star Park on May 11, 2002.
Started his career in England. He was 1-1-0 from six starts, all at age 2, in England.
Is 2-0-1 from three starts in North America.
Has been ridden exclusively by Jorge Chavez in North America.
Notes:
Breeding (click for complete pedigree): Hennessy—Emmaus (Silver Deputy).
Bred by Nursery Place and Robert T. Manfuso in Kentucky.
Career Record:
3-1-2 from nine starts with earnings of $366,867.
Stakes Victories:
Lone Star Derby (Gr. 3) — May 11, 2002 at Lone Star Park.
Owner – Morton Fink, Lee Sacks and Swifty Farm
Have not started a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
Jockey – Jorge Chavez
Has hit the board only once with eight Belmont Stakes mounts: Monarchos finished third in 2001.
Trainer – Niall O’Callaghan
Has not started a horse in the Belmont Stakes.
