Lately, most racing followers acknowledge Sweet Journey as a famend stallion, the sire of champions resembling Gun Runner, Shared Perception, and Sport Winner.
However earlier than Sweet Journey made his mark at stud, he left an indelible impression as a racehorse. Though he raced simply six instances, Sweet Journey by no means tasted defeat whereas demonstrating the expertise and energy of a very elite racehorse. By no means was his capacity extra obvious than within the $1 million Pacific Basic in 2003 at Del Mar, the place he trounced three proficient rivals in a record-setting efficiency unequaled to at the present time.
The saga started when the Argentine-bred colt dominated three races in his residence nation by a mixed margin of 28 lengths. The Gran Premio San Isidro and the Gran Premio Joaquin de Anchorena – each top-level races in opposition to older rivals – went his means by eight lengths apiece. Nobody may match Sweet Journey’s velocity and stamina.
This show of domination caught the attention of Corridor of Fame coach Ron McAnally. Finest recognized for conditioning the two-time Horse of the Yr John Henry, McAnally had loved ample success with South American imports, plucking Bayakoa, Paseana, Festin, Ibero, and Completely different from Argentina to win championships and Grade 1 races in North America.
In Sweet Journey, McAnally noticed one other star within the making, and so he satisfied house owners Sidney and Jenny Craig to buy the colt for $900,000.
The Aug. 25, 2003 version of Louisville’s The Courier-Journal reported: “On the time, McAnally predicted Sweet Journey could be the horse to offer the Craigs a victory within the race they most needed to win – the Pacific Basic.”
McAnally took his time with Sweet Journey, letting him acclimate to his new residence earlier than getting into him in a 1 1/16-mile allowance/optional-claiming race at Hollywood Park on June 7. Though Sweet Journey’s massive victories in Argentina had come on turf, he dealt with dust simply high-quality to win his North American debut by three lengths.
One month later, McAnally switched Sweet Journey again to turf and watched as his star colt – not but 4 years outdated – outduel older rivals to win the 1 1/8-mile, Grade 2 American Handicap in a brisk 1:46.20 seconds.
With these prep runs beneath his belt, Sweet Journey arrived at Del Mar for the Pacific Basic. The 1 ¼-mile race would mark his stiffest take a look at. Not solely would he be stretching out in distance, he could be going through a small however elite area led by the Whitney Handicap and Travers Stakes winner Medaglia d’Oro, the 3-5 betting favourite. The 2-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew and the longer term Japan Cup Dust winner Fleetstreet Dancer added much more firepower to the aggressive area.
Sadly, prerace preparations didn’t go fairly as deliberate. Sweet Journey was scheduled to be ridden by Corridor of Fame jockey Gary Stevens, however per week earlier than the race, Stevens was injured in a spill at Arlington Park. Out of the blue, Sweet Journey was with no jockey for the most important race of his life.
McAnally was left looking for a substitute rider on quick discover, and whereas he had loads of choices, he finally assigned the mount to Julie Krone, one other Corridor of Fame inductee who was on the comeback path after taking two years off from driving.
“Julie is pretty much as good a rider as there’s in California proper now,” defined McAnally within the Aug. 21, 2003 version of the Oceanside, Calif. North County Occasions. “We may have had any variety of riders, however we’ve had loads of luck with Julie … ”
Earlier than the Pacific Basic, Krone obtained considerate recommendation and insights from Stevens concerning one of the simplest ways to journey Sweet Journey.
“He stated you’ll by no means get on a horse like this. This horse is so push-button,” Krone revealed within the North County Occasions. “He stated take it to Medaglia d’Oro and so they gained’t know what occurred turning for residence.”
Krone adopted Stevens’ recommendation to the letter. On a sunny day at Del Mar, 30,458 racing followers turned out to witness the showdown within the 2003 Pacific Basic. When the beginning gates opened, Sweet Journey got here out a bit awkwardly, however as the sphere got here previous the stands for the primary time, Krone allowed Sweet Journey to race up alongside the pace-setting Medaglia d’Oro, pushing the favourite via a gap quarter-mile in :23.40.
Medaglia d’Oro, with Jerry Bailey within the saddle, continued to guide into the primary flip and down the backstretch, however Sweet Journey was all the time a menacing presence, looming simply off the tempo via more and more testing fractions of :46.82 and 1:10.95.
Lastly, the 2 favorites connected on the ultimate flip. Sweet Journey threw down the gauntlet, reaching even phrases with Medaglia d’Oro via a stiff mile in 1:34.78. By operating the fourth quarter in :23.83, Sweet Journey issued a problem his rival couldn’t match.
“When [Candy Ride] glided by, I knew I used to be cooked as a result of Julie nonetheless had a ton of horse and my horse was giving all he was price,” Bailey stated within the the Courier-Journal.
By means of the Del Mar stretch, Krone requested Sweet Journey for his greatest, and the son of Journey the Rails regularly cast away from Medaglia d’Oro. One size, two lengths, and at last 3 ¼ lengths separated the 2 runners on the end line, with Sweet Journey flying residence within the track-record time of 1:59.11.
Sweet Journey’s efficiency was broadly applauded by horseman and handicappers alike.
“It is a phenomenal horse,” marveled McAnally within the Courier-Journal. “He’s pretty much as good as any horse I’ve ever skilled.”
“How good of a horse is he? Wow! That’s how good a horse he’s,” stated Julie Krone, who made historical past as the primary feminine jockey to win a $1 million race. “Wonderful. He’s a rocket ship.”
“I really like his motion,” added McAnally. “He has such an extended, fluid stride.”
The workforce producing the ever-popular Beyer Velocity Figures agreed, assigning Sweet Journey a formidable determine of 123, the best variety of 2003 and one of many quickest figures posted by any horse because the figures have been launched to the Each day Racing Kind in 1992.
Sadly, the Pacific Basic marked Sweet Journey’s final hurrah as a racehorse. Little points prevented him from operating once more, and his retirement was introduced in August 2004. Racing’s loss was breeding’s achieve, since Sweet Journey proved to be an outstanding success at stud, main all stallions in North America by 2017 progeny earnings.
However typically it’s a must to assume again and marvel “what might need been.” Twenty-one years later, Sweet Journey’s monitor file nonetheless stands, an unmatched testomony to his velocity, stamina, and expertise.
And what of McAnally’s insightful proclamation – eight months earlier than the good race unfolded – that Sweet Journey would win the Pacific Basic? He casually shrugged it off within the North County Occasions of Aug. 27, 2003:
“I’m glad I didn’t need to eat my phrases.”
Be aware: This story was initially revealed in July 2019 and has been up to date.
