Trainer D. Wayne Lukas’ sky-high hopes of becoming the first trainer to sweep the Triple Crown with two horses hit severe turbulence Friday evening.
Timber Country, the projected 6-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday’s Belmont after winning the Preakness and running third in the Kentucky Derby, had to be withdrawn because of a fever.
The fever was discovered when Lukas returned to the barn following the decisive victory by stable starlet Serena’s Song in the Grade I Mother Goose Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
“After waiting about an hour to see if the temperature would come down and it didn’t, a decision was made to medicate,” said Lukas. “There was no other recourse.
“He’s fine now. It may be a small virus that may be over in 24 hours.”
The loss of Timber Country leaves Thunder Gulch as Lukas’ hope to make racing history. Although Thunder Gulch won the Kentucky Derby, showed in the Preakness and has a record comparable to that of Timber Country, he was the 6-1 third choice on the early-line.
The second choice at 2-1 was Star Standard, son of 1988 Preakness and Belmont winner Risen Star and grandson of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. Star Standard’s trainer is Nick Zito, who has saddled the runners-up in three Belmonts–Thirty Six Red (1990), Strike the Gold (1991) and Go for Gin (1994).
But Star Standard didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby and finished a fading fourth in the Preakness.
So, it’s conceivable horseplayers will have reservations about making him the favorite and instead will give the role to Thunder Gulch in what now looks like a wide-open 11-horse race.
One of the most intriguing longshots is Irish invader Off’N’Away, full brother to Go and Go, who in the 1990 Belmont became the only European-based horse to win an American Triple Crown race.
“Definitely, he will be first of many,” predicted his trainer, Dermot Weld, after that race. “I’ve always believed it’s possible to bring a horse from Europe if you have the right horse.”
Since Weld also is the trainer of Off’N’Away he obviously believes the chestnut colt is “the right horse.”
If Off’N’Away, who is strikingly similar in looks and demeanor, follows in Go and Go’s footsteps it will be the first time that brothers have won the Belmont.
The main difference between the Irish siblings is the breadth of their experience.
Go and Go went into the Belmont with three triumphs in six starts with two of the races in the United States.
For Off’N’Away, this is the first trip overseas. Running three times in Ireland and once in England, he has won twice and showed twice. One of the thirds came in a rare European race on the dirt. All of the other races were on grass.
Both the dirt race and his next (and last) start–a 1-length victory in a May 1 allowance race–were 1 1/4-mile tests.
Thus, the 1 1/2-mile Belmont distance shouldn’t be a problem. The same can be said for his 126-pound weight assignment; last time he won carrying 133 pounds.
Go and Go’s jockey was perennial Irish champion Michael Kinane, but Off’N’Away will have New York’s top rider, Mike Smith, introducing him to racing American style.
Two other contestants have foreign backgrounds.
Citadeed ran his first six races in England and France before finishing ninth in the Kentucky Derby. Then, he moved to New York and rebounded for a 1/2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan, traditional Belmont prep. Although the effort was impressive, he carried only 112 pounds.
Also with foreign racing roots is Pana Brass, who compiled a five-race resume consisting of three wins and a place in Panama before running 10th in the Preakness.
Warmup act: The Early Times Manhattan, a major American prep for the Aug. 27 Arlington Million, will precede the Belmont during the 90-minute ABC telecast.
