The 207th chef-de-race

[LC]

Steve Cauthen?

[FOS]

hi Rokeby Forever...hi horsenuts

Here's a trivia question for ya...which rider was on Woody Stephens trained Danzig when he broke his maiden?

Respectfully

[CA Michael]

Eddie Maple?

[Rokeby Forever]

I also thought it was Eddie Maple.

The Affirmed answer: Bernie Gonzalez.

[FOS]

hi Rokeby Forever...hello CA Michael

Eddie Maple rode a lot of Woody Stephens' runners, but in the case of Danzig, EM wasn't on board when the colt broke his maiden (which by the way was at first asking). EM was ready, willing and able...but the mount was given to another rider.

Let's wait a while and see if horsenuts (or someone else) gets it right...and knows why another rider got the call.

If not, I'll post the answer later.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[Rokeby Forever]

Roger Shelton was a bug rider that rode for Stephens around that time...was it him, maybe?

Shelton wound up at Rockingham Park, but I don't know whatever happened to him after that.

[horsenuts]

hi Rokeby Forever...hello CA Michael

Eddie Maple rode a lot of Woody Stephens' runners, but in the case of Danzig, EM wasn't on board when the colt broke his maiden (which by the way was at first asking). EM was ready, willing and able...but the mount was given to another rider.

Let's wait a while and see if horsenuts (or someone else) gets it right...and knows why another rider got the call.

If not, I'll post the answer later.

Best to you.

Respectfully

I'll guess either Eddie Belemonte or Jean Lac Samyn. I've seen Danzig's race record a few times but forget the riders.

[FOS]

hi horsenuts...hi Rokeby Forever...hi CA Michael...hi all

horsenuts, good guess...but not the right answer.

Joe Brocklebank rode Danzig to victory in the colt's maiden voyage.

Joe B had galloped and worked Danzig, and felt that he was on a potentially VERY good horse. With that in mind (and in an effort to be diplomatic) let's just say that Joe B knew how really good Danzig felt (when he worked him) and how much horse he thought he had under him. Regardless, JB might have understated his opinion (of Danzig) when talking with the colt's trainer Woody Stephens. After all Joe B wanted to ride Danzig on raceday, but a glowing report (re Danzig) would likely have led to Eddie Maple getting the mount.

Brocklebank got the call on Danzig for the colt's first career start...but that turned out to be his first and last call on the colt. Hmmm...do you think Woody might have been a bit upset (or disappointed or whatever) with Joe's understatements? After all...Danzig broke his maiden going 5 1/2 furlongs at Belmont Park in 1:03 3/5...destroying the field by MANY MANY lengths.

Let's just say that Joe was honest, but (in this case) might have been a master of understatement.

Best to you.

Respectfully

[Rokeby Forever]

Hi FOS (and others),

He used to be called "Joe Brokenback" around the backstretch. I think Mary Cotter was the only trainer to use him on a regular basis.

Thanks for that bit of trivia.

Rokeby Forever