Flashback
Silver Charm Two decades ago, he made his run under the twin spires to win the 123rd edition of the Kentucky Derby. Five weeks later, he found himself at Belmont Park with a chance to make history, an experience trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Gary Stevens recall vividly. By: Ryan Dickey
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t was a time when tech-savvy business professionals were entering their colleagues’ contact information into their PalmPilot Personal Digital Assistants. Seinfeld and E.R. ruled the airwaves on NBC. Moviegoers flocked to see James Cameron’s epic Titanic. Hanson’s “MMMBop” was played on the radio more times than it probably should have. And twenty years ago, Silver Charm nearly became the 12th horse to win the Triple Crown – winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness before being upset by Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes. Eighteen years later, trainer Bob Baffert would stand triumphantly in the Belmont winner’s circle with Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. But in 1997, his run with Bob and Beverly Lewis’ gray son of Silver Buck caught the attention of even the less-than-casual fans of horse racing. “We were very high on him going into his maiden race,” trainer Bob Baffert recalled. “I was really shocked when he got beat, but he came back and won his next race and then ran a great race in the Del Mar Futurity. I was going to take him to the Breeders’ Cup, but it turned out he wasn’t eligible, and that was fine. At the time, I knew he was going to be my Derby horse, so I just focused on getting him ready.” Silver Charm exited his two-year-old season with two wins in three starts and went on to beat Free House and seven others in his sophomore debut in the Grade 3 San Vicente at Santa Anita Park. “I remember he broke through the gate before the start,” Baffert said. “They don’t win when they do that. But he ran huge and won in a really fast time. I was just so impressed with him that day.” Five weeks later, Free House would turn the tables, besting Silver Charm in the Grade 2 San Felipe, setting up what would become one of the top rivalries of the late twentieth century.
In the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, Free House would come out on top once again. But, despite the loss, Baffert recalls the day as one of the most exciting of his career. “[D. Wayne] Lukas had a filly in there, Sharp Cat, who was really big and fast. Chris McCarron was on another horse that day and I had picked up Gary Stevens. I told him, ‘Whatever you do, don’t let the filly get away.’ I wish he hadn’t listened to me, because they went so fast it was ridiculous.” They ran the half in :45.15 and six-furlongs in a blistering 1:09.15. When they turned for home, Sharp Cat gave it up and Free House came on like he was going to win with ease. That’s when Silver Charm jumped back in and fought hard. He finished second to Free House by a head. “I’ve never been so excited getting beat in a race. I ran down there thinking, ‘Wow, I can’t believe what he just did. That’s when I knew we had a chance to win the Kentucky Derby.” And so, Silver Charm and Free House found themselves sharing the same gate one
month later – the gate of the 1997 Kentucky Derby. With jockey Gary Stevens up, the gates swung open, and the race put Silver Charm in position to become Baffert’s first Derby winner. Free House got out fast, and was quickly joined by the Grade 2 Toyota Bluegrass-winner and Grade 1 Florida Derby runner-up, Pulpit. Silver Charm was running fourth at first call, just a few lengths behind the leaders. While Pulpit and Free House tangled in an early pace duel, Silver Charm stayed just behind the two until the second turn. That’s when Stevens asked, and the colt made his move at the top of the stretch. The tenth furlong of the Kentucky Derby is where champions are made, and Silver Charm did not disappoint. The wire loomed and Silver Charm battled ferociously, holding off the late charge of Captain Bodgit. On May 3, 1997, Silver Charm and Gary Stevens stood tall in the winner’s circle in front of a
Above: Silver Charm, with jockey Chris Antley up, jogs back after running fourth in the 1999 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. The race marked the Baffert-trainee’s final career start. Photo courtesy: Laura Battles.
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