The fact that the last Kentucky Derby winner who didn’t race at age 2 was Apollo in 1882 doesn’t daunt Dell Hancock.
“Everybody says that we’re bucking history. Well, we’re trying to make history,” Hancock said Tuesday at Churchill Downs where Pulpit, the lightly raced bay colt who carries her family’s Claiborne Farm orange silks, is preparing for Saturday’s 123rd Kentucky Derby.
“There’s a reason for that streak,” said Pulpit’s trainer, Frank Brothers. “But if you’d have asked me about it a year ago, I’d have said the same thing I’m saying now: In my lifetime, I think you will see a horse win the Derby without racing at 2.
“It’s going to take a tough son of a gun to do it. I hope it will be this horse.”
Churchill Downs linemaker Mike Battaglia thinks the betting public will give Pulpit a vote of confidence. Battaglia said he expects to make him the morning-line favorite Wednesday when entries will be taken and post positions drawn.
If it weren’t for his second-place finish behind Captain Bodgit in the Florida Derby, Pulpit would have gone into the Derby touted as the heir apparent to the retired Cigar in the role of thoroughbred racing’s superstar.
But that 2 1/2-length loss at Gulfstream Park took away many vocal members of Pulpit’s congregation, and now he is looked upon as one of the many talented members of what seems to be a vintage Kentucky Derby crop. Pulpit rebounded from his defeat in his next start, decisively winning another of the Derby’s traditional preps par excellence, the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
“Red flag went up, and everyone jumped off his bandwagon when he lost in Florida,” said jockey Shane Sellers. “In the Florida Derby he broke slowly, and when I tapped on him he didn’t get into the game. When I asked him for a kick, it just wasn’t the same as in other races. Within the second or third jump in the Blue Grass, I knew he was his old self.”
The victory was the fourth in Pulpit’s five-race career, which began Jan. 11 at Gulfstream after a stress fracture prompted Brothers to refrain from running him last year.
Pulpit’s heredity and environment are the stuff that classic horses are made of. He was born and raised on Claiborne Farm, a 3,182-acre thoroughbred nursery of world renown near Paris, Ky.
Claiborne Farm is owned by Waddell Hancock, widow of the legendary breeder Bull Hancock, and three of their children–Seth, the farm’s president; Dell, who is acting as spokesperson; and Clay. Claiborne has been North America’s leading breeder in the money-won category five times, and the farm has owned six North American champions, including 1984 Derby and Belmont winner Swale.
Brothers has been Claiborne’s trainer since Jan. 1, 1996. The accomplished 49-year-old New Orleans native has trained two previous Kentucky Derby starters: Dansil was fourth in 1989 and Hansel was 10th as the favorite in 1991. Hansel made amends by winning the Preakness and Belmont.
Pulpit’s pedigree is steeped in blue blood. His sire, A.P. Indy, had to miss the 1992 Derby because of an injury that was discovered on the day of the race but recovered to win the Belmont and the Breeders’ Cup Classic. His grandfathers are 1977 Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew on dad’s side and the much esteemed Mr. Prospector on mom’s side.
“He didn’t race at 2,” said Dell Hancock, “but it wasn’t because he wasn’t precocious. It was because of the injury. He has been a very exciting horse. Even in defeat he was exciting, because he was so determined.”
But Pulpit also is excitable, and some think the Derby day crowd will make him hyper. The tendency toward tension runs in the family. Seattle Slew was notorious for becoming lathered with perspiration in the paddock in nervous anticipation of the task at hand. But he overcame his anxiety to win the Derby, Preakness and Belmont in spectacular style.
Last year’s beaten Derby favorite, Unbridled’s Song, was another who became emotionally unraveled before his races. Unlike Seattle Slew, he sometimes couldn’t cope with the stress factor.
“Most horses who break out like that don’t run well,” said Danny Hutt, trainer and co-owner of Celtic Warrior, another grandson of Seattle Slew and a Derby long shot. “Pulpit’s only problem is he gets excited before the race.”
