Awsi as a fan of Secretariat I feel the same way about his loss to Prove Out in the Woodward. Another thing you have to consider in Slew's loss here is the outside post. Cruguet hits Slew as soon as he comes out of the gate. That, the weight spread, and a really good Dr. Patches were enough to run down Slew, barely.
Hell of a race, a classic that I enjoy here from time to time. Interstingly it is a son of Dr. Fager that runs Slew down, though I rate Slew as a greater horse than Dr. Fager. At the track in Heaven, I imagine Secretariat runs down Slew in a similar scenario.
Poor ride from Cruguet. Seattle Slew runs a quick first half, and more critically, Cruguet urges Seattle Slew much too early. Probably should have waited another furlong or two to make his move.
In the end the jockey asked Seattle Slew to make two separate moves after running a quick half and that was too much for him to handle.
In regards to Hoist the Flag- Cruguet also cried after the Champagne "Because this is the only race this horse will ever lose." HTF never ran beyond a mile. He had great talent, speed and class, but you just never know what would have been-THAT is racing.
Slew had only run one 7 fur race in the 3 1/2 months before the Paterson, but the story here was also how badly shaken Cordero had Cruguet in the jocks quarters before the race- not long after- Cruguet was dumped for Cordero. As to Cruguet stating that Hoist the Flag was his best- LMFAO! When Seattle Slew won the Champagne it was then the fastest mile ever run as a two year old.
There is no doubt he was short,I mean he ran fractions much quicker than that(with way more weight) and would just keep rolling. But hey thats racing,sometimes those things happen.
Gotta agree with awsi, Slew was a bit short that day, and Dr. Patches had been running well and in training for awhile when they met that year. I don't know if you can say Cruguet was the problem but it sure didn't hurt having Cordero on afterwards.
I'd not seen this before, but I remember it...1:09:3? Same thing that got him beat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Cordero was perfect for Slew, they just unloaded Cruget too late
Cruguet was an idiot! Talking badly about his best mount ever. If he thought Hoist the Flag was his best ever, he needs to take a look at his '77 checkbook deposits, I'm sure it speaks volumes.
What I always thought was interesting was when Jean Cruguet was posed the question - and his reply given on video - "what was the best horse you ever rode", the reply wasn't Seattle Slew.
Rather it was Hoist the Flag, the colt injured in March 1971 and destined for that year's TC chase. He clearly knew Slew was talented and then some maybe, just maybe, he never thought he was the best.
That's fairly typical, to assign superhuman feats to a young athlete who was deprived of his prime. Greg Cook in football, Mark Fidrych in baseball, many others.
Hoist the Flag was a terrific horse. That certainly would have changed history if he had stayed healthy. Canonero was the star of the Triple Crown series that year and Hoist the Flag would have been hard pressed to defeat him, particularly the very fast time in the Preakness.
I love Cruguet, but he gave Slew a poor ride here. Notice at the top of the stretch, he jerks Slew's head awkwardly toward the rail. This cost Slew two full strides and pinned Slew along the rail, where the Meadowlands track was soft. Had he continued down the center of the track, he would have held Patches off.
Slew gave his usual game performance here, but unfortunately Dr. Patches was just a bit better on the day. No shame in that. He wasn't quite ready.
I think Cruguet had an insight into Slew that was very valuable, he knew the horse extremely well. He might have seemed a bit arrogant or negative to Peterson and the owners, but he was just being brutally honest. Turns out he was right on the money.
The only positive was that Slew was PRIMED and ready for bear after this test.
Awsi as a fan of Secretariat I feel the same way about his loss to Prove Out in the Woodward. Another thing you have to consider in Slew's loss here is the outside post. Cruguet hits Slew as soon as he comes out of the gate. That, the weight spread, and a really good Dr. Patches were enough to run down Slew, barely.
brunoaltimino 8 months ago
Hell of a race, a classic that I enjoy here from time to time. Interstingly it is a son of Dr. Fager that runs Slew down, though I rate Slew as a greater horse than Dr. Fager. At the track in Heaven, I imagine Secretariat runs down Slew in a similar scenario.
brunoaltimino 11 months ago
Ah, now I see what got Seattle Slew beat.
Poor ride from Cruguet. Seattle Slew runs a quick first half, and more critically, Cruguet urges Seattle Slew much too early. Probably should have waited another furlong or two to make his move.
In the end the jockey asked Seattle Slew to make two separate moves after running a quick half and that was too much for him to handle.
DanielSong39 1 year ago
In regards to Hoist the Flag- Cruguet also cried after the Champagne "Because this is the only race this horse will ever lose." HTF never ran beyond a mile. He had great talent, speed and class, but you just never know what would have been-THAT is racing.
HollywoodParkSteward 1 year ago
Slew had only run one 7 fur race in the 3 1/2 months before the Paterson, but the story here was also how badly shaken Cordero had Cruguet in the jocks quarters before the race- not long after- Cruguet was dumped for Cordero. As to Cruguet stating that Hoist the Flag was his best- LMFAO! When Seattle Slew won the Champagne it was then the fastest mile ever run as a two year old.
HollywoodParkSteward 1 year ago
There is no doubt he was short,I mean he ran fractions much quicker than that(with way more weight) and would just keep rolling. But hey thats racing,sometimes those things happen.
BE109 3 years ago
Gotta agree with awsi, Slew was a bit short that day, and Dr. Patches had been running well and in training for awhile when they met that year. I don't know if you can say Cruguet was the problem but it sure didn't hurt having Cordero on afterwards.
all66books 4 years ago 2
I was at the rail that night.I wonder if any other Triple Crown winner raced on a Tuesday night?
rentslave 4 years ago
I was there that night too...got some pictures of Slew from the rail and one just as Dr. Patches went by Slew.....hard to believe it's 30 years
JimSpoor 4 years ago 3
You meant a Thursday Night.
Skoshi33 3 years ago
Weight got Seattle Slew beat; he ran well but 14 pounds was too much to overcome.
DanielSong39 4 years ago
I don't think the weight had anything to do with it. He toted 134 in his final race and won easily.
IMO, he was hopelessly short for this race, somewhat understandable since it was his first race beyond 7 furlongs in 14 months.
AwsiDooger 4 years ago
Are you sure? He gives 14 pounds and loses by a neck. That pretty much speaks for itself.
DanielSong39 4 years ago
I'd not seen this before, but I remember it...1:09:3? Same thing that got him beat in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. Cordero was perfect for Slew, they just unloaded Cruget too late
bigroan 4 years ago
1) Cordero rode Slew in Gold Cup
2)Cruget did NOTHING wrong in this race
3) Meadowlnads is a hard track that ALWAYS has fast fractions
televin 4 years ago 2
1) I didn't say Cruget rode Slew in the JCGC
2) Cruget took Slew out too fast in this race, and was a terrible selection of rider for the horse to begin with.
3) Meadowlands DOES NOT have 1:09:3 every time they go 1 1/8 miles. You are wrong.
bigroan 4 years ago
Cruguet was an idiot! Talking badly about his best mount ever. If he thought Hoist the Flag was his best ever, he needs to take a look at his '77 checkbook deposits, I'm sure it speaks volumes.
jess4metoo 4 years ago
What I always thought was interesting was when Jean Cruguet was posed the question - and his reply given on video - "what was the best horse you ever rode", the reply wasn't Seattle Slew.
Rather it was Hoist the Flag, the colt injured in March 1971 and destined for that year's TC chase. He clearly knew Slew was talented and then some maybe, just maybe, he never thought he was the best.
jumptheoxer 4 years ago
That's fairly typical, to assign superhuman feats to a young athlete who was deprived of his prime. Greg Cook in football, Mark Fidrych in baseball, many others.
Hoist the Flag was a terrific horse. That certainly would have changed history if he had stayed healthy. Canonero was the star of the Triple Crown series that year and Hoist the Flag would have been hard pressed to defeat him, particularly the very fast time in the Preakness.
AwsiDooger 4 years ago
I love Cruguet, but he gave Slew a poor ride here. Notice at the top of the stretch, he jerks Slew's head awkwardly toward the rail. This cost Slew two full strides and pinned Slew along the rail, where the Meadowlands track was soft. Had he continued down the center of the track, he would have held Patches off.
SWALE1984 4 years ago
Slew gave his usual game performance here, but unfortunately Dr. Patches was just a bit better on the day. No shame in that. He wasn't quite ready.
I think Cruguet had an insight into Slew that was very valuable, he knew the horse extremely well. He might have seemed a bit arrogant or negative to Peterson and the owners, but he was just being brutally honest. Turns out he was right on the money.
The only positive was that Slew was PRIMED and ready for bear after this test.
Great post. Thanks.
cf1970 4 years ago