Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 22, 1994 TAG: 9405220112
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BALTIMORE LENGTH: Long
Tabasco Cat, given a perfect ride by jockey Pat Day, outdueled Kentucky Derby winner Go for Gin in the stretch and won by three-quarters of a length.
The victory came five months and five days after Tabasco Cat got loose in the Santa Anita stable area and ran over Jeff Lukas, his father's assistant, causing serious brain injuries.
Jeff Lukas, 36, watched the race from his home in Glendora, Calif., where he is recovering.
"I know he was watching, and he's a special guy," D. Wayne Lukas said. "My thoughts were with him as the colt went around."
Lukas' third Preakness victory came one year after his Union City broke down in the Preakness and was destroyed.
Tabasco Cat, who finished sixth in the roughly run Kentucky Derby on May 7, had no problems at all negotiating the 1 3/16 miles of the Preakness, finishing in 1:56 2/5.
"We got a picture trip today," said Day, 40, who won his third Preakness. "We had Go for Gin, it seemed like, any time we wanted him."
"This colt [Go for Gin] really ran hard," said jockey Chris McCarron, who rode the Derby winner. "Tabasco Cat got the jump on me at the eighth pole and he wouldn't give it up."
Day kept Tabasco Cat on the rail and in fourth place for much of the race, moved him outside turning for home, and guided him to victory.
The colt drew the No. 1 post, which Lukas bemoaned. Reminded of that after the race, the trainer said, "I have a tendency to cry a little bit."
It was laughter, however, that Lukas shared after his third Preakness victory.
"Any time you get one of these classics, it's special," said the 58-year-old trainer. "This one probably means a little more for several reasons. Jeff is the obvious one."
Another reason it had to be special was the criticism Lukas received after Union City was fatally injured last year.
"We're not going to worry about last year," Lukas said. "If some of you guys have problems with that, so be it. We're here to win races, and we're not going to dwell on last year."
Lukas also said he was pleased for owners-breeders David P. Reynolds, 78, and William T. Young, 76, "who have supported our program for so many years."
Go for Gin's victory in the Kentucky Derby came on a sloppy track, his third first-place finish in five races in sloppy or muddy going, and some observers thought he needed a wet surface to do his best. Go for Gin wasn't beaten by a fast track on this brilliantly sunny day; he was beaten by Tabasco Cat.
"I'm extremely proud of him," said Go for Gin's trainer, Nick Zito. "He's all guts and as gritty as they come. I couldn't be more happy for my horse. Of course, I'm happy for Wayne . . . and, of course, Jeff."
"He ran super," McCarron said of Go for Gin. "He ran his race. . . . The only disappointment was the end."
The loss kept Go for Gin from being the fifth Derby-Preakness winner since Affirmed became the last Triple Crown champion in 1978.
Go for Gin and Tabasco Cat probably will meet again in the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 11 at Belmont Park.
Tabasco Cat paid $9.20, $4.60 and $4.60 in giving Lukas his first Grade I stakes victory since Twilight Agenda won the Meadowlands Cup on Oct. 18, 1991.
Go for Gin, who finished six lengths ahead of stretch-ruinning Concern, returned $4.60 and $4.40.
Pimlico-based Concern, ridden by Garrett Gomez, paid $6.40 as part of an entry with Looming.
Kandaly, the Louisiana Derby winner scratched out of the Kentucky Derby because of the sloppy track, finished fourth, another half-length back. He was followed by Numerous, Blumin Affair, Looming, Silver Goblin, Powis Castle and Polar Expedition.
Each starter carried 126 pounds.
Lukas had said he would let Day play it by ear, and the jockey showed his experience.
He had Tabasco Cat in contention throughout, never worse than fourth, which he was entering the final turn. He was second coming out of the turn when he moved outside for his winning drive before a roaring crowd of 86,343.
The victory was worth $447,720 from a purse of $688,800 and boosted Tabasco Cat's earnings to $930,757 on a record of six firsts, one second and one third in 11 starts.
Day's previous Preakness victories were on Tank's Prospect in 1985 and Summer Squall in 1990. Lukas previously won with Codex in 1980 and Tank's Prospect. It was the first Preakness victory for Reynolds, chairman emeritus of Reynolds Aluminum Corp, and Young, a retired Lexington, Ky., businessman, who also owned Union City.
The only other Derby starters in the field were Blumin Affair, third at Churchill Downs, and Powis Castle, who was eighth. It was the fewest of Derby starters in the Preakness since four ran in 1987.
Jack Van Berg, trainer of Blumin Affair, said jockey Jerry Bailey "got to the eighth pole and stopped. He didn't have [anything] left."
"It's just time to go home," said Rodney Rash, trainer of Powis Castle. "I've got no excuse."
A Derby starter has won the Preakness every year since Maryland-bred Deputed Testamony's victory in 1983.
While it generally was a clean race, Numerous, trained by 81-year-old Charlie Whittingham, broke toward the outside rail after leaving the No. 10 post, much to the anger of the trainer.
"He made a right turn just as he broke," Whittingham said. "You can't make a right turn and win this damn race. Another day."
Whittingham finished second in the Derby with Strodes Creek but held the colt out of the Preakness to point him to the Belmont.
Keywords:
HORSE RACING
by CNB