American Pharoah & Saratoga success highlight the 2015 season ........ hard act to follow for next year

With this being the second to last column of 2015, I thought we would look back at this banner year for the sport and if the year can be duplicated in 2016. Needless to say, the world of thoroughbred racing in 2015 was one for the record books. We had the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. The excitement started in March when the two year old champion of 2014; American Pharoah made his three year old debut at Oaklawn Park. It began a journey that would have the racing world mesmerized straight through the end of summer.

Winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes was one thing that several other horses had accomplished since the last Triple Crown winner. But, none had done the "hat trick" of winning all three. The first leg was the toughest and most impressive of his quest for the crown, the Kentucky Derby. In this race, he proved to be the goods with a workman like victory in the toughest of the Triple Crown races. In Preakness, he got the sloppy track he loves and relished it with a impressive victory. Two down, one to go and thirty seven years in the waiting!

The Belmont Stakes , the "test of champions" was just that with a tour de force and a unchallenged victory. It couldn't be easier for this son of Pioneer of the Nile, completing the three race test. After a minor hiccup at Saratoga in the Travers Stakes, he ended his racing career much like he won the Triple Crown. A uncontested win in the Breeder's Cup Classic and becoming the first "Grand Slam" winner of thoroughbred racing.

American Pharoah will be a very tough act to follow for this year and years to come. There isn't a stick out two year old so far this season and a runner will need to get on a roll to match American Pharoah. But then again, American Pharoah had it easy from early Fall to late winter and still pulled off history. It will take a lot to capture the masses who do not follow thoroughbred racing if the Kentucky Derby winner of 2016, doesn't win the second leg of the Triple Crown. I think it's a longshot if any horse comes even close to what American Pharoah accomplished in 2015, this upcoming year.

With what American Pharoah achieved on track and his appearance at the greatest racing venue in the world; Saratoga, it made it a banner season for NYRA's crown jewel track. The 40 days of Saratoga in 2015 may have been the best ever. The anticipation of a Triple Crown winner appearing there and great stakes racing were just two of the keys in Saratoga being the place to be this summer. But more so, the beautiful summer weather we endured here in upstate New York played a huge part. This was the biggest factor of success that may put the association in the "black" this year.

But, this year's home run for NYRA may not be duplicated if the weather and lack of any real thoroughbred superstar doesn't materialize in 2016. The golden goose is always the Saratoga meet. But the numbers from 2015 may be a once in a lifetime thing. Racing needed a year like this year for the sport. Whether it brought new fans to the sport or not is debatable. I wonder sometimes if thoroughbred racing didn't have the story of American Pharoah this year, would we just go through a year where the sport was carried by the hardcore, everyday players. After all, from now until early spring, horse racing will be regulated to just that; the everyday, hardcore players. I know I'll be doing my part in supporting the sport until the Triple Crown races this spring...... will you?

On top of the world, one moment ...... out the door the next.

Next to American Pharoah, the biggest story from this year's Breeder's Cup was the feel good story of trainer Maria Borell and her horse; Runhappy. The story began in mid August and the colt's rise to prominence two weeks ago was tempered only 24 hours later, when the fairytale story took an abrupt change.

When handicapping the Travers day race card during Saratoga, I saw an entry in the grade I - King's Bishop Stakes that got my attention. This three year old sprint race was loaded with many interesting runners and while going over the past performances, I recognized a name. There was a lightly raced colt who ran two huge races at Indiana Downs and Ellis Park and he earned two monster Beyer speed figures. I saw the name of the trainer and it rang a bell with me. Six year's ago when I first joined Facebook, I received a friend request from racing fan from the Syracuse area, who was also involved breeding horses and training them. That person was Maria Borell, the trainer of this impressive runner.

While stepping up in class, Runhappy showed his brilliant speed and was victorious in the grade I race at 11-1. Not only did his win give Maria her first stakes victory, it was the only runner in her barn. Maria, who has been a licensed trainer since 2013 had never had a victory, that was until Runhappy. This son of Super Saver has been everything to Maria, which has been chronicled on her Facebook page and throughout the thoroughbred world on the internet. After winning the King's Bishop, he followed that up at Keeneland with another sprint stakes victory and it was on to the Breeder's Cup Sprint.

Maria had made the "big time" with this horse and even was highlighted with an interview piece on NBC just before the race. In the race, Runhappy was made the favorite and he did not disappoint. While not showing his usual front end speed, he came slightly off the pace and found the winner's circle and giving Maria Borell the biggest day of her life. This thirty two year old naive of Syracuse, that relocated to Kentucky did something few trainers have ever achieved, take one horse and become a household name.

Happy smiles were all in the winner's circle from the connections, especially Maria. But there was one face that didn't look that joyful. That was from the sister in-law and former trainer of Runhappy; Laura Wohlers. Wohlers trained Runhappy in his first two career starts and then the horse was transferred to Maria. It was Maria who took this horse to the top of his game. But less than 24 hours later, Runhappy was no longer under the care of Maria Borell.

Owner James McIngvale informed Maria that Runhappy would be turned over to Wohlers immediately and the joy of less than 24 hours would turn into sadness. No reason was given for the change in trainers and rumors were abound. The racing world was shocked as much as Maria, having Runhappy taken away from her. A few days later, Maria made a statement to the press and at first echoed the sentiments that McIingvale said; it was a mutual agreement that she would part ways with the horse. But, soon the truth would come out and it was anything but mutual.

She has filed a lawsuit against McIngvales's stable for money owed to her from Runhappy's victory in the Sprint, breach of contract and defamation of character. As of the writing of this column, she has not been paid any of the money from Runhappy's Breeder's Cup victory. The feel good story of Runhappy and Maria Borell didn't have a happy ending. The racing world has embraced Maria Borell and defended her, while the villains are the McIngvales for their actions. This story is far from over and the unfortunate thing is that the bond between Runhappy and Maria Borell is no more. This is the sad result of owners who don't know when they have it good, with winning results. Unfortunately, blood is thicker than water.

The perfect Hollywood script ........ and can't make this stuff up!

Some may call it a "fairytale ending", a glimpse of greatness we have not seen in decades. A thoroughbred who captured the minds and hearts of the American public. One horse who accomplished something no other has done since the heyday of the sport over 35+ years ago. Yes, it's been that type of season for one, American Pharoah. And the masses have been pumped up!

I cannot added much more than what this horse has done the past six months. Revitalizing horse racing to new levels. Other than his little "hiccup" in the Travers at Saratoga, he did everything right. All the people around him, also did everything right with campaign of this animal. But most of all, the racing gods were on this horse's side in two of his "life alternating" races that changed the face of the sport. Those were the Belmont Stakes and Breeder's Cup Classic. There is no doubt in my mind that, these two races had a perfect scripted Hollywood ending.

You can't deny what this horse has done on the track, his efforts and results speak for them self. But, you also can't deny that American Pharoah had it his own way not once, but twice in the two biggest races of his career. He worked hard to earn his Kentucky Derby win, he relished the "off going" in the Preakness Stakes and was victorious. But in the Travers Stakes, he was pushed and came up short. The key word here is; "pushed", made to work in his effort that day. But, when it came to completing his Triple Crown bid in the Belmont Stakes, everything went his way. Once again this past Saturday afternoon in the Breeder's Cup Classic, it was " Deja Vu all over again!"

If a horse with the talent of American Pharoah is allowed to set his own race fractions and not be pushed by other runners, 99% of the time that horse will win! There is no denying that in the Belmont Stakes, he had everything his way going the marathon distance of a mile and a half. No other three year old male has been in the same class as he this year. In the Travers though, Frosted made him work just a wee bit and the results showed it was just enough for him to be defeated.

But, in the Breeder's Cup Classic it wasn't going to happen again. The whole completion of the race, set up for him to show his greatness. Here are the examples; the choice of the speedy Liam's Map to race in the Breeder's Cup Mile the day before. Yes, this older more seasoned runner at the top of his game would have given American Pharoah a target to chase and just may have made him work more going the mile and quarter. The mare; Beholder who has a similar racing style to American Pharoah, would have added to the mix if she didn't declare from the race a few days before. These two major defections from this race, gave the green light for American Pharoah to do his thing without any competition.

And we know, the rest is history and the fairytale ending is completed. But, I truly believe that if things were different in both races and the competition engaged Pharaoh like he was in the Travers, this great horse possibly would not be dubbed the "greatest" horse in our lifetime. Only speculation on my part and I've taken a lot of heat for my stance. American Pharoah came along at the right time and was the right horse. His talents showed that on the track. But we as handicappers and students of the sport, tend to analysis things more. We do it with horses that win races. American Pharaoh is no different in my opinion. While I agree that he changed the sport in 2015, it would have been interesting if his two biggest races of his career, which altered history, were more like his Travers race and he had to work for that victory. That we'll never know!