Juvenile

Race No. 3 — The Century Dream
Juvenile (1 1/16M)

By Paul Buckley

Not to be outdone by their female counterparts, 14 juvenile
colts strut onto the track, exuding class and competitive fire.
Some will go on to greater glory while others fade from view, but
today they’re all ready to roll. Here’s the princely field in
post position order:

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

Now, for the race:

And they’re off! DEVIL’S BAG explodes out of the gate and
takes command, with HOLY BULL a length back in second and COLIN
to his outside in third. FAVORITE TRICK assumes a stalking
position in fourth along the rail, while BIMELECH tracks COLIN on
the extreme outside in fifth and NASHUA settles into sixth
position between horses. FIRST LANDING and ALSAB travel a bit
wide into the first turn and NEVER BEND hugs the rail, with EASY
GOER angling in to save ground. SECRETARIAT, who walked out of
the gate, as is his custom, lopes along behind EASY GOER, while
ARAZI, BOLD LAD and WHIRLAWAY bide their time at the back of the
pack.

After an opening quarter in :22 3/5 and a half in :45 3/5,
DEVIL’S BAG maintains his one-length advantage, with COLIN edging
past HOLY BULL into second and BIMELECH taking over fourth on the
outside. FAVORITE TRICK skims the rail in fifth and NASHUA stalks
the leaders in sixth. In the next flight, from the inside out, we
find NEVER BEND, FIRST LANDING and ALSAB necks apart, while EASY
GOER and SECRETARIAT remain unhurried about seven lengths off the
lead. ARAZI, BOLD LAD and WHIRLAWAY continue to trail down the
backside.

Heading into the far turn, DEVIL’S BAG clings to a half-length
lead over COLIN, with BIMELECH another half-length back in third
to their outside. Jockey Mike Smith asks HOLY BULL for his run as
the leaders charge past the six-furlong mark in a grueling 1:09
3/5, and FIRST LANDING ranges up to stick a head in front of
NASHUA, who is being ridden confidently by Eddie Arcaro.
Meanwhile, SECRETARIAT is launching his bid on the outside,
leaving NEVER BEND, FAVORITE TRICK, ALSAB and the rest in his
wake.

At the top of the stretch, the legendary COLIN sticks a neck
in front of a determined DEVIL’S BAG with NASHUA looming boldly
in third and SECRETARIAT flying past a tiring BIMELECH into
fourth. EASY GOER is mounting a challenge in sixth and BOLD LAD
finds running room inside for his late bid. WHIRLAWAY is gaining
ground with every stride while drifting toward the outside fence,
despite Johnny Longden’s persistent right-handed whipping. They
hit the sixteenth pole in 1:35, with COLIN extending his lead
over DEVIL’S BAG to one length, but SECRETARIAT is in full flight
and NASHUA has dead aim on the leaders.

With 50 yards to go, SECRETARIAT surges past a valiant COLIN
and draws off to a handy one-length win, stopping the clock in
1:41 2/5.

Following is the complete order of finish: