There was no scarcity of superlatives tossed round earlier than, throughout, and after the 1998 version of the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, and for good motive.
“Greatest discipline I’ve ever seen,” Seth Hancock, president of Claiborne Farm on co-owner of one of many 10 Traditional runners (Arch), advised BloodHorse earlier than the race. “You set up the cash and you’ll get one of the best of one of the best.”
The cash Hancock referred to was the $5.12 million Traditional purse that made it, on the time, the richest race ever run, and the deep forged of standout racehorses despatched to publish was worthy of the “All-Star Discipline” designation bestowed upon it.
There was a lot hype to reside as much as Nov. 7, 1998, at Churchill Downs, and the World Championships delivered then-record deal with and attendance (80,452). The star-studded forged for the Traditional adopted go well with and served up a heck of a grand finale.
The 1998 Traditional discipline was headlined by two-time Eclipse Award winner Skip Away making his closing profession begin and Silver Allure, winner of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes and the 1998 Dubai World Cup. The previous was bidding to repeat within the Traditional, however regardless of an uncharacteristically boring efficiency in his closing race, he nonetheless received the Eclipse Award because the 1998 Horse of the Yr and was inducted into the Racing Corridor of Fame in 2004; Silver Allure’s Corridor of Fame induction got here three years later in 2007.
European star Swain, a four-time Group 1 winner in Europe making the ultimate begin of his profession, shipped over for the 1998 Traditional, which additionally drew 1997 Belmont Stakes winner Contact Gold, 1998 Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop, and 1998 Haskell and Travers winner Coronado’s Quest.
Then, there was Superior Once more, who had received the Queens’ Plate and Grade 2 Jim Dandy Stakes whereas posting three victories in six begins in 1997. Coach Patrick Byrne and owner-breeder Frank Stronach took a affected person strategy to his 4-year-old season, giving him an prolonged break of greater than 5 months earlier than resuming coaching in March 2018.
Superior Once more opened the yr with an allowance win Might 22 at Churchill Downs and have become a critical participant within the division with back-to-back clear victories within the Grade 2 Stephen Foster and Grade 1 Whitney Handicaps, utilizing a 14-pound break in weight assignments to beat Silver Allure by a size within the Foster. He remained unbeaten in 1998 by including open-length wins within the Grade 2 Saratoga Breeders’ Cup Handicap and Grade 3 Hawthorne Gold Cup Handicap in August and October, respectively.
All advised, the 10-horse discipline had amassed just below $30 million in mixed purse earnings and 31 Group or Grade 1 wins coming into that yr’s Breeders’ Cup Traditional – and the race wouldn’t disappoint.
Coronado’s Quest obtained off to an alert begin and went proper to the entrance, whereas Skip Away was shuffled again a bit however moved as much as third as the sector handed the end line for the primary time. Skip Away settled into second, simply behind Coronado’s Quest coming into the backstretch, however Corridor of Fame jockey Jerry Bailey had a robust feeling this was not his day.
“I knew 50 yards into the race I used to be in bother,” Bailey advised BloodHorse. “He simply couldn’t deal with the monitor.”
As Coronado’s Quest led the sector by means of a half-mile in a :47.69 – an trustworthy however not particularly taxing tempo – Silver Allure was loaded below Gary Stevens whereas stalking from fourth on the surface, only a size behind by means of the primary three-quarters of a mile. Swain tucked in behind Skip Away early earlier than jockey Frankie Dettori angled him a number of paths out on the backstretch, and the European invader additionally was in ultimate place just some lengths again coming into the ultimate flip. In the meantime, Superior Once more and Contact Gold have been rated close to the again of the sector forward of solely deep nearer Victory Gallop.
As the sector changed into the stretch, Silver Allure swept to the entrance with an explosive rally as Swain, too, unfurled a strong bid to his exterior. Swain started lugging out noticeably whereas nonetheless ending determinedly by means of the stretch and Silver Allure appeared to observe him out into the center of the racetrack whereas Coronado’s Quest fought on gamely from the rail.
Dettori aboard Swain (after being tossed twice within the publish parade) stated his horse veered out towards the lights arrange close to the winner’s circle for the NBC tv crew.
A gaping gap about 5 paths extensive thus opened up for closers Superior Once more and Victory Gallop, with each surging into rivalry with loads of momentum.
Whereas Victory Gallop couldn’t maintain his rally, Superior Once more leveled off powerfully and reeled within the high two with ground-devouring strides below Pat Day to win by three-quarters of a size.
“He was up to now down inside, I don’t assume Silver Allure ever noticed him,” Stevens advised BloodHorse. “I by no means even noticed him till it was too late.”
Silver Allure edged the wandering Swain by a neck for second with Victory Gallop one other nostril again in fourth, whereas 3-year-old Coronado’s Quest ran a monster race in opposition to older horses and needed to accept fifth, overwhelmed by solely two lengths. Skip Away pale to sixth in his closing begin.
Superior Once more accomplished an ideal 6-for-6 season, capped by a win within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional, however he didn’t take residence a single Eclipse Award when Skip Away swept the older male and Horse of the Yr championships. Superior Once more additionally closed out his profession within the Traditional and went on to a terrific second profession as a stallion for Stronach, together with siring 2004 Traditional winner and Horse of the Yr Ghostzapper.
Be aware: This story was first printed in 2020 and has been up to date.
