CBS SportsLine Staff Writer
March 15, 1997
HALLANDALE, Fla. -- Saturday's Florida Derby tells us that Pulpit, the crowned prince of horse racing, is not ready to be king just yet ... but all parties involved have a different opinion on whether he will eventually wear that crown.
Trainer Frank Brothers, who watched Captain Bodgit pass his colt in the homestretch, refused to call Pulpit's first loss in four career starts a setback.
"It was probably his best race," Brothers said. "He's a young horse. He's still learning."
That much is true. But the mere fact that Pulpit is beatable surprised most observers in the crowd of nearly 30,000.
IT CERTAINLY SURPRISED THE GULFSTREAM Park crew. Once the featured race was official, they raised a giant banner in the midfield, saluting the winning colt: "Captain Bodget."
Any wonder who they thought was going to win the race?
Barry Irwin, president of Team Valor, the syndicate that bought Bodgit in January for $500,000, was obviously displeased with the lack of respect for his colt.
"What else does he have to do?" Irwin asked, defiantly. "I think we'll win the (Kentucky) Derby ... Anybody that saw this race today knows he looked like a Derby horse."
It did stand to reason Captain Bodgit would play a role in the Florida Derby, the last major East Coast prep for the Triple Crown. After a terrible start in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, which Pulpit won just three weeks back, Bodgit made a huge move in the final quartermile to place third.
Few took that into consideration when placing their bets Saturday, however. Pulpit went off at 2-5, while Captain Bodgit closed at 7-2. Bodgit paid $9.80, $2.60 and $2.20; Pulpit $2.20, $2.10; and Frisk Me Now $2.80.
PULPIT WAS A HEAVY FAVORITE for good reason: He had been so dominant in his first three races, including a decisive victory in the Fountain of Youth, that he quickly became the darling of the sport.
The biggest difference in this race, however, was that Pulpit didn't show the same kick down the stretch at this 1 1/8-mile distance as he did in the Fountain of Youth, which is 1/16 mile shorter.
Pulpit rallied to pass early leader Wrightwood on the final turn, but Captain Bodgit outdueled him down the stretch, eventually cruising to a 2 1/2-length victory.
"At that point, I knew he wasn't himself," said Pulpit's jockey, Shane Sellers. "So I tried to tuck him in to get all the money I could. Fortunately for us, I was able to get second."
Pulpit will get a chance for redemption in the Blue Grass on April 12 at Keeneland, where he'll likely meet Bodgit for the third time. That race also will be run at 1 1/8 miles in preparation for the May 3 Kentucky Derby, which covers 1 1/4.
Irwin was quick to tout his horse as the favorite for Kentucky. At the same time, he took a well-aimed shot at Pulpit's ability to handle these greater distances.
"He ran a good race," Irwin said of Pulpit. "But he might now want to run all that far."
Ira Schoffel is a sportswriter on CBS SportsLine's staff.
Shane Sellers said Pulpit didn't run like normal
Captain Bodgit and Pulpit will meet again