Shhh...It's Real Quiet

Red carpet rolled out for Triple Crown hopeful

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Posted: Wednesday June 03, 1998 07:11 PM

Real Quiet arrives at Belmont Park after a two-hour plane ride from Louisville, Kentucky (AP)

NEW YORK (AP) -- Real Quiet's eagerly awaited arrival at Belmont Park went off without a hitch on Wednesday.

All that was missing was a brass band for the Triple Crown hopeful as film crews and cameramen jockeyed for position to capture the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner being led out of his van.

After a two-hour plane ride from Louisville, Kentucky, the medium-sized, bay colt, his coat gleaming in the sunlight, was led along the gravel path bordering Count Fleet Road and across Man 'o War Road to his stall in Barn 9.

A few minutes earlier, at about 10:30 a.m., trainer Bob Baffert, owner Mike Pegram and jockey Kent Desormeaux drove up to Barn 9, where trainer Mark Hennig stables his horses. The trio, who accompanied Real Quiet on the flight, proclaimed Real Quiet ready to win Saturday's Belmont Stakes and become racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.

"I think this horse is coming into this race much fresher than Silver Charm did last year," Baffert said, referring to his Derby-Preakness winner of '97 who finished second in the Belmont. "He's looked great and he'll come out there Saturday and not disappoint the fans. He's going to run a big race ... we just need a lot of racing luck."

Where's Walden?: Because of a broken ankle suffered last week in a pickup basketball game, trainer Elliott Walden will be unable to personally saddle Victory Gallop in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

Walden said he hopes Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott will fill in when the time comes for Victory Gallop to challenge Real Quiet and an expected 10 others in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont.

Victory Gallop finished second to Real Quiet in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

"I don't think we're that far apart," said Walden, who discussed his colt's chances from his barn on Wednesday. "In my mind, the first two races should be split. We should have won the Derby, and he beat us hands down in the Preakness. I think the distance of the Belmont could make up some of the differences."

Walden has trained Victory Gallop this week, and promises he'll make it to the winner's circle if his colt pulls an upset.

Wayne's World: Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will have two horses in the Belmont -- Illinois Derby winner Yarrow Brae and Grand Slam, who won the Peter Pan on May 24 in his third race back since his left hind leg injury in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

If both start, Lukas's Belmont starters increases to 12 -- he won three in a row with Tabasco Cat (1994), Thunder Gulch (1995) and Editor's Note (1996).

Day's Triple: Pat Day is set to ride his third different horse in the 1998 Triple Crown races.

Day, who was aboard Favorite Trick in the Kentucky Derby and Baquero in the Preakness, will ride Parade Ground in Saturday's Belmont Stakes.

Favorite Trick was eighth in the Derby and Baquero seventh in the Preakness.

Pegram Hits Mickey D's: Mike Pegram, the owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, and jockey Kent Desormeaux joined several other jockeys Wednesday at the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park, New York, to sign autographs and spend time with children who receive medical care from local hospitals.

Pegram, who owns 22 McDonald's franchises in Washington state, said he will donate all royalties from Real Quiet's merchandising rights to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Other jockeys who pitched in were Jerry Bailey, Diane Nelson and Lean Luc-Samyn.

Dozen Set For Belmont: A field of 12 3-year-olds is expected to contest Saturday's Belmont Stakes, where Real Quiet attempts to becoming racing's 12th Triple Crown winner.

Only two of the challengers have made it to all three Triple Crown races -- Victory Gallop (second in the Derby and Preakness) and Basic Trainee (last in the 15-horse Derby and eighth in the 10-horse Preakness).

The field should be: Real Quiet, Victory Galllop, Classic Cat, Grand Slam, Basic Trainee, Hanuman Highway, Hot Wells, Limit Out, Parade Ground, Raffie's Majesty, Thomas Jo and Yarrow Brae.

Stretch Runs: Trainer Elliott Walden says Victory Gallop's next start could come in the Haskell at Monmouth Park on August 9. Other Haskell possibles include Indian Charlie and Coronado's Quest. ... Allen Jerkens, the 69-year-old New York-based trainer, saddles only his second Belmont starter with Limit Out, who was third in the Withers on May 2. His other starter was Virginia Rapids, fifth in 1993. ... Real Quiet's owner Mike Pegram said plans call for his colt to run as a 4- and 5-year-old before calling it a racing career. ... Hanuman Highway worked four furlongs in 45 3/5 seconds Wednesday and galloped out five furlongs in 58 seconds under jockey Jose Santos.

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