|
|
VICTORY GALLOP
Owner: Prestonwood Farm
Trainer: Elliott Walden
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Career Earnings: $869,880
Barn: 5 at Belmont Park
- The son of Cryptoclearance-Victorious Lil, by Vice Regent was purchased by Pug and Susie Hart for $25,000 at the 1996 Keeneland September yearling sale.
- The Hart's, whom usually pinhook the yearlings they purchase as two-year-olds, held on to Victory Gallop, who was a late May foal, instead.
- Following the colt's runner-up finish in the Laurel Futurity last fall he was privately purchased by brothers Art, Jack and J.R. Preston. He was then moved from trainer Mary Eppler's barn in Maryland to Elliott Walden.
- Sire Cryptoclearance, a late runner like Victory Gallop, finished second to runaway 1987 Belmont Stakes winner, Bet Twice.
- Won three of five starts last year, including the New Kent and Chenery stakes at Colonial Downs.
- Victory Gallop got off to a later start this year than Walden would have preferred due to a lung infection.
- He won his 1998 debut on March 21 in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn.
- The colt made a bit of racing history when he handed the previously undefeated (9-9) Horse of the Year Favorite Trick a loss in the Arkansas Derby on April 11. Victory Gallop won the race by a head over Hanuman Highway while Favorite Trick was a head behind the runner-up.
- Like Alydar who had to settle for second to Affirmed in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before finishing second again in the Belmont Stakes 20 years ago, Victory Gallop enters the third leg of the Triple Crown with two runner-up finishes.
- It's the ninth time in Triple Crown history that the same horses finished one-two in the Derby and Preakness. Last time this happened was in 1989 when Sunday Silence's quest to become the next Triple Crown hero was squashed when Easy Goer won the Belmont Stakes.
- Unlucky post 13 didn't help Victory Gallop in the Kentucky Derby. He was six-wide around the final turn and was gaining on Real Quiet as the wire neared. His late rally fell a half-length short of Derby glory.
- Walden originally was going to pass the Preakness with the Canadian-bred with an eye on the Belmont Stakes or the Queen's Plate at Woodbine later in June. With the defection of Halory Hunter, Indian Charlie, and Coronado's Quest the trainer had a change of heart.
- Received a change in riders following the Derby when Alex Solis was replaced with Hall of Fame rider Gary Stevens, who rode Silver Charm last year to wins in the Derby and Preakness.
- Victory Gallop suffered from a rash on his left side that surfaced about two weeks before the Belmont Stakes. Walden said there were a few bumps on his horse's right side as well. He was treated with antibiotics and Walden said he didn't anticipate the rash would effect the colt's performance in the Belmont Stakes.
|
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
Belmont
Video of Triple Crown Winners
