Word: rivas
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Many a young thoroughbred speeds to a performance that starts his owner dreaming of the Kentucky Derby. All too often, that kind of early foot fades long before the call to the post at Churchill Downs. Not so with Riva Ridge. The handsome bay colt was the logical favorite in everyone's winter book, and he has remained the choice of the chalk players ever since. He will make the run for the roses this week as one of the hottest favorites in the Derby's 98-year history...
Bred by Meadow Stable of Virginia, Riva Ridge has been beaten only three times in his spectacular career; on each occasion there were extenuating circumstances. His first time out he raced without blinkers; the second time he lost, he cast a shoe; the last time, when he ran fourth in the Everglades Stakes a few weeks ago, he was bumped into the rail and got a disappointing ride from Jockey Ron Turcotte...
...Riva Ridge's nine victories are all the more impressive because most of them have been won against top competition. As a two-year-old, he took the Flash, the Futurity, the Champagne Stakes, the Pimlico-Laurel Futurity and the Garden State, collecting a total of $503,263 in prize money. In his first trial as a three-year-old, following a long winter's rest, he ran away with the Hibiscus Stakes. After missing out in the Everglades, he returned to the winner's circle last week with a coasting four-length victory over ten other...
...Riva Ridge has any real challengers as a top three-year-old, they could be two colts who showed their speed too late to be entered in the Derby. One is his stablemate Upper Case, who recently trounced a bunch of Derby hopefuls in the Florida Derby and the Wood Memorial; the other is Quack, who forced two erstwhile top contenders out of the race at Churchill Downs by whipping them in the California Derby...
...best horse to race Riva Ridge in Louisville may be No Le Hace (Spanish for "It makes no difference"), unbeaten this year in four races, including the Louisiana and Arkansas derbies. A sentimental choice may be the Arkansas Derby's runner-up, Hassi's Image, trained by Venezuelan Juan Arias. Last year Arias prepared Canonero II, surprise winner of both the Derby and Preakness. Canonero threatened to become the first horse in 25 years to take the Triple Crown, but he confounded the odds makers and finished fourth in the Belmont. Now it is Riva Ridge...