No Sweat For Slew In The Wood

Secretariat was knocked out for the first time as a 3-year-old in the Wood, finishing third that day to Angle Light. Traditionally, the race draws a fine field, and in the last two years it served as a major prep for Derby winners Bold Forbes and Foolish Pleasure. But Slew's toughest potential foes, Clev Er Tell (winner of the Louisiana and Arkansas Derbies) and Cormorant (victor in six of seven races) dropped out in the days preceding the Wood. Clev Er Tell fractured his knee in his final workout, and Cormorant developed a fever. He will not face Slew until the Preakness.

Even with minor competition, Turner said the Wood was an excellent prep for his colt. "He needed it," the young trainer said. "The Flamingo was too easy. He hardly worked enough to get wet. He cooled out in 10 minutes."

Neither of the last two undefeated colts to start in the Derby—Majestic Prince and Native Dancer—had such an easy time of it before Churchill Downs. They had been harder pressed by their rivals, though Majestic Prince had won seven straight by Derby Day and Native Dancer 11. Majestic Prince started five times as a 3-year-old before winning his Derby; Native Dancer ran only twice before finishing second to Dark Star.

A Derby favorite always puts pressure on those around him, and an undefeated Derby favorite magnifies it. But Turner, Slew's owner, Karen Taylor, her husband Mickey and veterinarian/advisor Jim Hill are a well-organized team and have plotted their approach carefully. Among other things they have studied the charts of previous Derbies—how they were run and how horses were brought up to the race.

"Around the racetrack," says Turner, "you sure can get a lot of advice. I really was worried about Slew before his first start this year. Many good 2-year-olds lose something when they turn three, and until Slew ran I was apprehensive. I've talked to a lot of people about how to bring a horse up to a Derby, because I've never had a Derby starter. The man who has helped the most is Woody Stephens, who trained Cannonade in 1974. Woody has been down the Derby road many times. I believe in what Horatio Luro called the 'Old Lemon Theory'—you don't squeeze the lemon too hard too early or there won't be any juice left when you need it."

As a 2-year-old Seattle Slew won three times in 27 days, stepping up from a six-furlong maiden race to win the $137,250 Champagne Stakes at a mile. "Although the colt was nominated to several later stakes," says Turner, "we decided to stop him after the Champagne and aim at the Triple Crown races. Sure, we could have picked up more money, but we decided the best way was the slow way." Slew won only $94,350, while being named the outstanding 2-year-old, but he has added $160,990 so far this year. On an investment of $17,500 (the Taylors purchased him at a Kentucky yearling auction), that is splendid. But the big money lies in the three races directly ahead. These are the weeks when the squeeze will be on trainer and horse.

Turner might have been painted by Norman Rockwell. He is tall, thin and rubs his hands together so often one expects them to burst into flames. As a trivia player he has master points. "What very great horse finished next to last in six of his races?" Turner asked a coterie of reporters one day last week. The newsmen hemmed and hawed. "Man o'War," said Turner. "Only one horse faced him on six occasions and he won each time. That's next to last." Turner tried another: "War Admiral and Count Fleet won the Triple Crown, and they have something in common with Seattle Slew," he said. "The silks of all three are black and yellow."

For someone so successful Turner has a peculiar attitude about winner's circles. "I didn't go to the winner's circle when I won my first race," he says, "because I expected the horse to win and it was nothing special. But sometimes I'll go—if the winner has had problems or is a tremendous longshot."

For four or five years Turner was a steeplechase rider; he had only modest success. "It isn't all that tough," he says. "The falling off part isn't too bad, it's hitting the ground that hurts. I had broken ribs and collarbones, things like that. But you can tape up a broken collarbone and ride with it."

Turner received his training apprenticeship from W. Burling Cocks, a leading jumping trainer. "Burley is a perfectionist," Turner says. "No matter what you did, you seldom did it right. There was always something else that could be done to make things better, and he let you know it. There weren't easy ways out. Because of that, he helped me tremendously. I'm grateful."