SEATTLE SLEW 1977

Dk. b. or br. c., 1974, by Bold Reasoning—My Charmer, by Poker OWNERS: Mickey and Karen Taylor, Dr. Jim and Sally Hill BREEDER: Ben S. Castleman (Ky.) TRAINERS: William H. Turner (1976-77), Doug Peterson (1978) JOCKEY: Jean Cruguet RACE RECORD: 17 starts ages 2-4, 14 wins, 2 seconds, 0 third, $1,208,726. AT 2: Won Champagne. AT 3: Won Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont, Flamingo, Wood Memorial. AT 4: Won Woodward, Marlboro Cup H., Stuyvesant H.

Questioned for the company he had kept as a 3-year-old and plagued by assorted misfortunes that limited him to just 17 career starts, Seattle Slew never put together a lengthy campaign in any of his three seasons and struggled somewhat for his share of acclaim. Minor injury delayed his 2-year-old debut, but when he reached the races, he won all three of his starts at 2, being named champion, and he swept his way through the Belmont to become, to that point, the only horse to win the Triple Crown undefeated. A debacle in the Swaps at Hollywood Park followed, and his 3-yearold season ended on a sour note.

Early in 1978, he became ill and nearly died, and later missed several months due to a stall accident. That year, he defeated Affirmed in an epic Marlboro Cup, the first meeting of Triple Crown winners. To many of his harshest critics, his finest moment was in gallant defeat in the 1978 Jockey Club Gold Cup.

Seattle Slew cemented his greatness by becoming one of the most prominent sires of the latter part of the 20th century, siring 113 stakes winners and eight champions, including the classic winners A.P. Indy and Swale. He died May 7, 2002.

NYRA