a rabbit with shades of Hedevar

[stancaris]

To all: Palace Malice raced the first six furlongs in a blazing 109 4/5 which was just way too fast and that set up the race for closers like Orb, Golden Soul and Revolutionary who raced from behind and gained noticeably down the stretch to pass the tiring frontrunners and fill out a big trifecta.

This reminds me of one of the greatest Woodwards of all time, the 1967 running. Often called the race of the century it was a race that included three runners that became Horses of the Year: Damascus, Dr. Fager and Buckpasser. In this race, Whitley, the trainer of Damascus entered a rabbit called Hedevar who was used as a sacrificial lamb to blaze along early to goad Dr. Fager into setting a fast pace. It worked because The good Dr. could not stand to be behind horses for too long and he went the first six furlongs of this 10 furlong stake in approximately 109 1/5 and opened up a 3 length lead around the far turn, but gave way to Damascus and Buckpasser in the final quarter mile. He tired noticeably from his early efforts to arrest the lead from Hedevar. Subsequently, Dr. Fager as a 4 year old beat Damascus in the 10 furlong Suburban handicap while carrying 132 pounds. However, Hedevar was not in this race to be used as the pacesetter and Damascus could do no better than third.

The above three horses interestingly are found in Orb's pedigree: Orbs broodmare sire, Unbridled traces back to Buckpasser by way of Magic in the fifth generation. Orbs broodmare sire, Unbridled, also traces back to Dr. Fager by way of Killaloe and Orbs 3rd damsire is Damascus.

For Shug, the Phipps' and Orb this years Hedevar was a horse by the name of Palace Malice. 6 furlongs in 109 4/5 was like the good old days when Hedevar set up the Woodward for Damascus.