Word: cauthen
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...horses and their riders. But the 103rd Preakness was as thrilling and cannily run a race as any in the history of this Triple Crown classic. Harbor View Farm's Affirmed, a splendid chestnut colt that can win from the front or the field, was masterfully paced by Steve Cauthen, who showed once again that, at 18, he already has the incandescence of greatness...
Harbor View Farm's Affirmed was the class of the two-year-olds last season, dueling his top rival, Calumet Farm's Alydar, in half a dozen rousing battles and winning four. Cauthen was up in four of the matches, and came away the victor three times. Affirmed was a lot of horse to put in the hands of a youth who was then not yet old enough to vote, but Trainer Laz Barrera had no qualms about the boy from Kentucky. Said Barrera: "I'm not worried. As a rider, Cauthen...
...quite. But the wonder boy had been riding long enough to develop that special link between man and mount. Says Cauthen: "I've got a good rapport with my horse. I know him well, and he knows me. He does everything right. He's by far the smartest horse I've ever been on. He's never burned out, and always has had something left. I knew from the start he would be a fine Derby prospect...
...Affirmed responded with intelligence and alertness to each challenge during the race. When Believe It began to challenge on the outside, Affirmed moved away on his own, sweeping into the lead with a burst of speed. Said Cauthen later: "I didn't have to make a move at all. He saw Believe It come alongside and took care of things himself...
From then on, Affirmed ran as though he knew the race was his. Cauthen was not so sure: "I was waiting for the other horse [Alydar] to come, but he never did, so I started riding my horse. His ears pricked up and he picked up. It went real smooth." After a perfect ride from his jockey and a few flicks of the whip, Affirmed eased home the winner in as relaxed and smart a race as Derby fans have seen in years...