Turf

Race No. 6 — The Century Dream Turf (1
1/2M)

By Paul Buckley

Hailing from such faraway places as Gilltown Stud (Ireland),
Razza Dormello (Italy), Chez Ternynck (France), Seadown Stud (New
Zealand) and Meadow Stable (USA), 14 legends of the turf converge
upon Churchill Downs, ready to lay it on the line …one last
time. Here they are, in post position order:

Following are race records (year chosen and lifetime) for each
horse, as well as notable accomplishments and other tidbits:

Now, for the race:

The field breaks in good order, with the undefeated RIBOT
assuming command, pursued by ALLEGED to his outside and the
venerable JOHN HENRY to his inside. ROUND TABLE takes up the
chase in fourth, flanked by DAYLAMI along the fence and the giant
PHAR LAP in the three-path. MILL REEF settles into seventh, while
Liam Ward aboard NIJINSKY II elects to save ground into the first
turn in eighth. ALL ALONG tracks PHAR LAP in ninth and
SECRETARIAT races widest of all in 10th. SEA BIRD glides along in
11th, followed by EXCELLER, ALLEZ FRANCE and DAHLIA.

There are few position changes as the field passes the stands
for the first time, with RIBOT clicking off his first half-mile
in a solid :47 2/5. Heading into the clubhouse turn, ALLEGED and
JOHN HENRY appear content to stalk in second and third
respectively, with ROUND TABLE a comfortable fourth and PHAR LAP
to his outside in fifth. DAYLAMI, NIJINSKY II and EXCELLER manage
to save ground, while ALL ALONG, SECRETARIAT and DAHLIA take the
overland route.

As they race down the backside, RIBOT continues to lead by a
length over ALLEGED, with JOHN HENRY a half-length farther back
in third. After six furlongs in 1:11 2/5 and a mile in 1:35 3/5,
the field remains tightly bunched, with DAHLIA trailing by less
than 10 lengths. Around the far turn, RIBOT extends his advantage
over ALLEGED to two lengths, and JOHN HENRY is unable to respond
in third. Meanwhile PHAR LAP, known ‘down under’ as the “Red
Terror”, launches a wide bid in fourth, quickly passing the
stalkers. DAYLAMI is pinned on the rail behind JOHN HENRY, with
ROUND TABLE to his outside. MILL REEF follows PHAR LAP, but can’t
quite match that rival’s acceleration. SEA BIRD begins to weave
his way through traffic from the back of the pack, while
SECRETARIAT uncorks his rally on the extreme outside.

RIBOT accomplishes the first 1 1/4 miles in a superb 1:59 4/5,
with a 2 1/2-length lead over PHAR LAP. ALLEGED, JOHN HENRY and
ROUND TABLE press on gamely, but the unrelenting pace is taking
its toll. At the top of the stretch, SECRETARIAT is gaining
ground, and jockey Pat Glennon steers the mighty SEA BIRD to the
outside for his final charge. With less than a furlong to go,
RIBOT maintains his 2 1/2-length advantage over PHAR LAP, with
SECRETARIAT moving into third and SEA BIRD traveling fastest of
all in fourth. Approaching the wire, it’s all RIBOT, as he
cruises home to a three-length victory over a fast-closing SEA
BIRD. Time for the race is 2:23 4/5, shattering the track record
by 2 3/5 seconds. PHAR LAP holds off SECRETARIAT for third, and
MILL REEF checks in a very respectable fifth.

Following is the complete order of finish: