James Scully reflects on 30 runnings of the Travers Stakes: Runaway with the rock star
I’ve been fortunate to attend 30 runnings of the Travers Stakes at Saratoga beginning with General Assembly’s track record-setting romp in 1979 and am excited to get back to the Spa on August 24.
Over the next couple of weeks, I’ll take a look back at some of my favorite memories.
1982 Travers
Conquistador Cielo entered the 1982 Travers like a rock star. Syndicated for a world-record $36.4 million 11 days earlier, the Woody Stephens-trained colt brought a seven-race win streak to the Midsummer Derby including sensational triumphs in the Met Mile (fastest mile ever in New York) and Belmont Stakes (14-length win featured on cover of Sports Illustrated) that came only five days apart.
There may have been rumors circulating about his health but in the eyes of this young racing fan, Conquistador Cielo was invincible and poised to run the competition into the ground with another dynamic display of speed and stamina. The 1970s were a golden age for Thoroughbred racing and Conquistador Cielo appeared cut from the same cloth as so many notable performers a decade earlier. His young sire, Mr. Prospector, was starting to make a serious impact at stud and the Florida-bred Conquistador Cielo was his first son to win an American classic race.
Nobody saw Canadian invader Runaway Groom coming. When it was over, esteemed columnist Steve Crist described it as “one of the most spectacular upsets in the upset-filled history of Saratoga Race Track” in the New York Times.
For the first time in 35 years, the 1982 Travers brought together three winners of the American Triple Crown races and NYRA billed it as an epic showdown between Gate Del Sol (Kentucky Derby), Aloma’s Ruler (Preakness) and Conquistador Cielo. It was a noteworthy gathering but the pre-race spotlight shone upon Conquistador Cielo, who bettors hammered down as the 2-5 favorite by post time.
The racing office had to work to attract others to the 1 1/4-mile event. Only a pair of presumed hopeless longshots, Runaway Groom and Lejoli, could be raised to face the three main principals in the 113th running of the Travers and both were around 15-1 due to the short field size.
Runaway Groom
Runaway Groom, an Ontario-bred son of Blushing Groom, looked like a turf horse. He was exiting a turf win in the restricted Prince of Wales at Fort Erie and had never won a two-turn dirt race. In his most recent dirt performance, the John DiMario-trained colt finished a non-threatening second at 38-1 in the restricted Queen’s Plate.
A thrilling race-long duel ensued between Conquistador Cielo and Aloma’s Ruler, who took turns sticking a head in front during a back-and-forth battle, and Angel Cordero Jr.’s ride aboard Aloma’s Ruler is a testament to the Hall of Famer’s genius in the saddle. Eddie Maple repeatedly tries to settle Conquistador Cielo so he can take him back and get to the outside of Aloma’s Ruler. Cordero wasn’t playing that game and had complete control of his mount, easing back at times to keep Conquistador Cielo pinned on the rail while pressuring the heavy favorite every step of the way.
Conquistador Cielo surged to a short lead entering the stretch and appeared to be getting the better of Aloma’s Ruler, but a gray bomber had suddenly appeared on the scene and was rallying fast into contention on the far outside. After racing far back for the opening three-quarters of a mile, Runaway Groom got rolling on the far turn beneath jockey Jeffrey Fell and carried a dynamic late kick all the way to the wire.
Runaway Groom swept past the front-runners in deep stretch to score by a half-length, with Aloma’s Ruler re-rallying in the final strides to edge Conquistador Cielo for second. Gato Del Sol never fired and exited a last-place effort with a bone chip that cost him the rest of his three-year-old season.
Aloma’s Ruler and Conquistador Cielo never raced again. After stealing the Preakness on a slow pace, Aloma’s Ruler ran his best race in defeat but exited the runner-up effort with a career-ending ankle injury. Conquistador Cielo was retired to stud for business reasons.
Runaway Groom came back two weeks later to win the grassy Breeders’ Stakes at Woodbine, the third leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, but concluded 1982 with unplaced efforts in the Lawrence Realization and Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont Park. He was named Canada’s champion three-year-old.
Sent to California in 1983, Runaway Groom lost all six starts at age 4 and the three-time stakes victor retired to stud with an 18-6-5-1 record. He’ll be remembered for his Travers upset.
SCULLY: Travers Memories — Will’s Way upsets fancied foes
SCULLY: Travers Memories — Coronado’s Quest holds Victory Gallop by a nose
