Bud Morton
Bud Morton Photography
I began photographing scenic images when driving charter buses in the early eighty’s and quickly became interested in photographing horse racing and action sports. During the last thirty years I have been able to photograph many historic events in the sport of horse racing and have had images published in many national magazines and several books. An avid runner I have also have had published images in several running books and ran The Boston Marathon. I’ve won many awards for my images at local camera clubs.
Photos can be seen on my website at
www.budmortonphotography.com.
The Triple Crown
Spring is here and if you are a fan of thoroughbred racing that can only mean one thing. It’s Triple Crown time. So what is The Triple Crown? Who has won it? What about this year?
The Triple Crown consists of three races run each spring for horses that are three-year-olds. To become a Triple Crown winner you have to win all three. The series starts at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May with perhaps the most famous of the three races, The Kentucky Derby. The Derby distance is a mile and a quarter and this is really the first time that the horses have been asked to go that distance. The horses earn their right to enter the starting gate on Derby Day based on the amount of money that they have won in graded stakes prep races leading up to the Derby. Major prep races along the way include The Florida Derby, The Louisiana Derby, The Arkansas Derby, and, in New York, The Gotham and The Wood Memorial.
Two weeks after the Derby the action moves to The Preakness Stakes which is run at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The distance of a mile and a sixteenth is a tad shorter, but not much. If the Derby winner doesn’t win this one, then it’s wait until next year for a Triple Crown. The last race of the series, The Belmont Stakes, follows three weeks after The Preakness and is at Belmont Park in New York. The distance is lengthened to a mile and a half, and it’s probably the only time in their racing careers that these horses will be asked to go that distance.
Only 11 horses have been able to achieve Triple Crown status. In the ‘30’s and ‘40’s it was accomplished seven times with winners such as Gallant Fox, Whirlaway and Citation. A” Triple Crown” drought followed until the 70’s when it was achieved three times by Secretariat, Seattle Slew and in 1978 Affirmed became the last horse to gain the honor. In the last 34 years, although some have managed to arrive at Belmont Park with hopes of becoming a Triple Crown winner, none have been able to win the ‘marathon’ Belmont Stakes. Between 1997 and 2008 seven horses came into The Belmont Stakes with a chance at the golden prize. The closest of these attempts was in 1998 when Real Quiet could not hold on and was passed by Victory Gallop in the final strides, missing the win by a nose. Silver Charm, Charismatic, Funny Cide, and Smarty Jones also made valiant attempts during that period.
As we head into this year’s run at The Triple Crown, a few names appear as early favorites to gain the prize this year. These include Union Rags, Gemologist, Alpha, and Hanson. Good luck to all the horses as they try to make history and become the first Triple Crown winner in three decades.
Wood Memorial Day
The Wood Memorial
New York racing’s final major prep for this year’s Kentucky Derby, The Wood Memorial, produced an exciting finish and the top two finishers appear to be on their way to The Kentucky Derby. Winstar Farm’s Gemologist held off Godolphin Stable’s Alpha at the wire to remain undefeated. Gemologist, ridden by Javier Castellano, gained the lead at the top of the stretch then held off a late charge from Alpha to gain a hard fought win by a neck. Look for both of these fine three-year-old colts to be in the gate for The Kentucky Derby in May.
The Carter Handicap
A stellar field lined up in the gate for the running of The Carter Handicap, including Preakness winner Shackleford, Caleb’s Posse and Jackson Bend, all of whom have over $1,000,000 in earnings. In the day’s most exciting finish Jackson Bend who had gained the lead from Shackleford mid stretch held off the furious rally of Caleb’s Posse for a nose win. An exciting rematch of this fine field looks to be in the works for The Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park in late May.
The Comely
Broadway’s Alibi made every step a winning one and drew off at the end to record her second straight stakes win in impressive fashion. The three-year-old Vindication filly, who was ridden by Javier Castellano and trained by Todd Pletcher, is being considered for The Kentucky Oaks on Derby weekend, but The Acorn and Prioress Stakes are also options for this well bred filly.
Silk Spinner John Kirby Stakes
Adel Salim’s Silk Spinner took over at the turn and went on to a six length win in The John Kirby Stakes at Suffolk Downs on October 22nd . Silk Spinner was ridden to victory by Gary Wales. The three-year-old Mass Bred colt also won The African Prince Stakes earlier in the year.
Saratoga Notes
Coaching Club American Oaks
Acorn Stakes winner It’s Tricky successfully continued her quest of The Triple Tiara by winning The Coaching Club American Oaks. It’s Tricky defeated a fine field which included Plum Pretty, Royal Delta and Joyful Victory. The last leg of the three race series, The Alabama, will be run on August 19th at Saratoga.
A.P. Smithwick Memorial
Divine Fortune rallied after the final fence to get up catch Decoy Daddy and win The A.P. Smithwick for the second straight year. The eight-year-old gelding was ridden by Brian Crowley and trained by Hall of Fame trainer Jonathan Sheppard.
The Test Stakes
Heavily favored West Coast shipper Turbulent Descent shipped to Saratoga and lived up to expectations with an easy victory in the seven furlong Test Stakes. The Mike Puype trainee accelerated in the stretch and went on to a near four length win. Regular jockey David Flores was aboard. Turbulent Descent will race next in The Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
The Whitney
Tizway stamped himself as divisional leader of the handicap division with his easy win in The Whitney Handicap, Saratoga’s premiere race for older horses. Along with his win in The Metropolitan Handicap Tizway looks to go for his third grade I win as he aims for his next start in The Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont in October. Regular rider Rajiv Maragh was in the saddle for the win.
The Bay Shore
Like the Wood Memorial, the Bay Shore is restricted to three-year-olds but at the shorter seven-furlongs this race attracts sophomores who favor the shorter distance. In an exciting finish J J’s Lucky Train came from off the pace and caught Vengeful Wildcat by a neck. Ridden by Jose Ferrer the son of Vindication recorded his first graded stakes win. Look for J J’s Lucky Train to be headed for The Woody Stephens on Belmont Stakes Day.
The Carter Handicap
The Nick Zito trained Morning Line caught Apriority mid stretch and surged ahead to win The 111th Carter Handicap. The Carter was the fifth straight stakes race in which the Tiznow colt has finished in the money, including a win in The Pennsylvania Derby and a near miss in The Breeders’ Cup mile. Morning Line is now being aimed at The Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park over The Memorial Day weekend.
The Wood Memorial
The Kentucky Derby picture was turned upside down as the early Derby favorite Uncle Mo yielded in the final furlong and was passed by Arthur’s Tale, then eventual winner Toby’s Corner in a very exciting edition of The Wood Memorial. At the line Toby’s Corner finished a neck ahead and earned himself a ticket to Kentucky.
The Preakness Stakes
Hopes for a Triple Crown winner were dashed for another year when Shackleford held off a late charge by The Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and won The Preakness Stakes by half a length. The Forestry colt was ridden by Jesus Castanon. Shackleford is listed as probable for The Belmont Stakes which is the final race in The Triple Crown series.
Belmont Stakes Day
The Belmont Stakes
As Ruler On Ice crossed the finish in The Belmont Stakes this year’s Triple Crown series came to an end with a common thread. With Animal Kingdom’s win in The Derby at 21 to 1 and Shackleford’s 12 to 1 Preakness win, the 25 to 1 odds made Ruler on Ice’s Belmont win the year of the Triple Crown Long shot. Derby winner Animal Kingdom got off to a troubled start and lost all chances and, as expected ,Shackleford led into the stretch, but as the muddy finish approached Ruler on Ice fought off Stay Thirsty’s bid to win by less than a length.
The Manhattan
The Grade I Manhattan, always run just before The Belmont Stakes, produced another long shot winner as Mission Approved took the lead from the gate and held off favorite Gio Ponte near the finish to gain the win. Mission Approved was ridden by Jose Espinoza and trained by Naipaul Chatterpaul.
The Acorn
The Acorn is the first race in what is known as The Triple Tiara, a series of races for three-year-old fillies. California shipper Turbulent Decent went to post as the heavy favorite, but in a day full of upsets was not able to live up to expectations. Darley Stables It’s Tricky stalked the early pace then drew ahead mid -stretch and went on to an easy three length win. The Coaching Club American Oaks in July is the next race in The Triple Tiara series.
The Woody Stephens
The Woody Stephens is for three-year-olds, but unlike the Belmont is for sprinters and is nearly half the distance. Zayat Stable’s Justin Philips gained the win in a light rain, holding off the late charge of JJ’s Lucky Train. Justin Philip was ridden by Ramon Dominguez and is trained by Steve Asmussen.