Sim Trainer Stats
Sim Race Stats
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BUDA WITH THE SLEW
1998 horse, (Danzig x Seattle Slew x Night Invader)
Owner/Trainer: capeside
Record: 35-10-1-7; $3,898,251
Win: Bluegrass Derby-G1, Middle Jewel S-G1, Breeders' Bowl Juvenile-G1, Corkscrew S-G1, The Santa Clara Derby-G1, High Flyer S-G1, San Valenzuela Breeders' Bowl S-G2, Buckeye Derby-G2
Place: Rantofan H-G3
Show: Sand Castle Classic-G1, Michael-Strike S-G1, VideoLand Colt Division-G1, Manofjunk S-G2, Risen Star S-G3, Sprinklers Are Broke Again S
Buda With The Slew had a habit of stepping it up on racing's biggest days. The handsome colt, who looked as good as his breeding, began his racing days in Kentucky, where he would later record some of his greatest victories. It was a promising third place effort on the dirt, The Buda surging from 10th to 3rd in the late going of a baby sprint. But capeside thought the long striding juvenile might fair better on turf, and so the colt would next appear in the entries in a turf sprint. This time, the son of Danzig was able to carry his late surge all the way to victory. Capeside knew he had a promising colt, and wasted no time, striking while the proverbial iron was hot. And so, Buda With the Slew would make his next start in the Sprinklers Are Broke Again Stakes. He would finish a respectable third behind Sal Is Gone, who was already a G3 winner and would go on to win the Sydney and Adelaide Derbies, both G1, the following season. Dropped down to an allowance, The Buda blew by the field in the final quarter, with a sharp time of 1:36 3/5. He came bouncing back from that effort, and so the decision was made to go for the glory in the upcoming High Flyer S-G1. The big colt once again rated patiently early before making an eyepopping move at the top of the stretch, and earned his first G1 victory in style. Next stop was the Manofjunk S-G2, which had attracted a high quality field, including Kings Millennium, who had been impressing handicappers and fans alike, and the stout filly Her Ballots, who had already beaten the boys (and would go on to become a G1 winner). Buda With the Slew gained with every stride down the stretch, from eight lengths back, to six lengths back, gobbling up ground with every stride, but fell just 3/4 of a length of Kings Millennium and Her Ballots, who would finish just noses apart in a finish that left fans hoarse. The question became, would there be a rematch in the Juvenile Turf? In a bold move, Capeside decided to bypass the race, and send his colt to the Breeders' Bowl Juvenile-G1, instead. It was not as much of a gamble as it might have otherwise appeared. The colt had showed ability in his first start, and many of his opponents were sprinters stretching out, or horses that had looked good at a mile, but had yet to prove themselves at the 1 1/16 mile distance. Buda With the Slew had grown and filled out since his debut, and looked much more likely to handle the surface. The bettors collectively threw up their hands, somewhat inexplicably making Nereus the tepid favorite at 6/1, with six other horses in the 12 horse field at odds of less than 8/1. Danger Zone had looked good winning the Sparkling Wine. Those who bet on Buda With the Slew would prove rewarded (rumor has it that one of the hotwalkers in capeside's barn bet his entire bank account on Buda WIth the Slew), as the colt simply dazzled. Under the ride of top jockey Fred Gosset, the colt rated patiently in the early going, and at the right moment, made one sweeping move past the field. He would score by 2 3/4 lengths with a final time of 1:42 3/5. A star was born. The decision to try the dirt was clearly the correct one, and King Millennium captured the Breeders' Bowl Juvenile Turf in fast time. With the big win over the Derby surface, the colt was instantly one of the early talking horses for the big dance. Capeside would give his colt one more start that year, the 9 furlong VideoLand Colt Division-G1. Buda With the Slew would face some familiar faces, but there was also a new colt on the horizon - godmother's The Sting, who was a free running, late blooming colt coming off of a two race win streak, including a sharp score in the G2 Club Stakes. As it turned out, The Sting got loose on a long, lonely lead, opening up by more than five lengths, and never looked back. The Buda made up some ground late, but clearly was still feeling the effects of his big win seven weeks prior. The colt would wrap up an unusual juvenile campaign with G1 wins on both dirt and turf, and was rewarded with championship honors by the voters.
It was assumed, with the usual American bias, that Buda With the Slew would point for the Bluegrass Derby-G1, rather than the Derby De English-G1, and his first start of the year backed up that impression, as capeside elected to send his prize colt postward in the StarHandicapping.com S-G2. Buda stumbled at the start and was never a factor, finishing a dull seventh. Capeside starting having his doubts, and so the colt switched back to the turf for his next race, the Rantofan Handicap-G3. It was a much better effort, as the colt flew home in the late stages to just miss by 3/4 of a length to Hyancinthus. It was tempting to stay with turf, but capeside really wanted a Bluegrass Derby win, so he decided to give the bay one more try. In the Risen Star-G3, the colt was simply left with too much to do, as Epic Conquest, making his first start at a route, led the field a merry chase before finally yielding in the stretch, with Buda WIth the Slew a fast closing third. More distance seemed to be the logical answer, and so the colt would turn to the Corkscrew Stakes-G1, site of his Juvenile score, which has since proven to be one of the more successful Derby prep races. Interestingly enough, he would once again face Kings Millennium. Like The Buda, The King had faltered in his seasonal debut, but then had finished a good third in two Derby preps. Kings Millennium would once again take the lead, but this time, with the extra distance, the big bay inhaled his rival, storming home to win by almost five lengths. Clearly, Buda WIth the Slew liked all things Kentucky. He would race once more before the big day, shipping to California for the Santa Clara Derby-G1. He would be sent off as co-favorite with Biagi's Wranglers, who had won the StarHandicapping.com S-G2 that had gone so disastrously for The Buda, and had since won the Warlock S-G1. Once again, Buda WIth the Slew relished the extra distance, and came home an easy winner in fast time. Somewhat surprisingly, given the colt's obvious love for the Kentucky track, the big bay was sent off at 8/1 odds. Favoritism went to Buckshott, who had grabbed attention with his wins at 1 1/16 miles in the Heat Less S-G2 and Sleepy Fan S-G2, both with a time shading just over 1:42. The race was never in doubt. Buda With the Slew rated well in the early going, stayed clear of traffic under a smart ride by Mike Dorsey, and when asked to go, picked it up in the blink of an eye, drawing away to a three and a half length win over Buckshott.
Next would come the Middle Jewel, and once again the Buckshott faithful were not quite willing to toss in the towel, making him the slight favorite over capeside's Derby hero. DIrty Mat was the newcomer to the party after winning the Consolation Derby-G1 in style in his first start over a route of ground. None of it mattered. Buda With the Slew would once again come home the victor, but this time, the colt had to work much harder, and the margin much narrower, passing a stubborn Dirty Mat in the final 1/16th to get the win, with Buckshott a distant fifth. The time was impressive, 1:54 4/5, but the bay had clearly emptied out the tank in order to get the job done. Capeside had his concerns getting ready for the final leg. The colt was blown after the race and slow to come around. But, it was the Triple Crown on the line, a date with immortality. With misgivings, capeside sent the colt postward, and he simply never fired, finishing a dull seventh. After a brief freshening, he returned in style in the Buckeye Derby-G2, winning the 9 furlong race with a time of 1:48 3/5. The champ was back. But, sadly, that proved not to be. The colt was tired, physically and mentally, and showed little in his final seven starts of the season. Turf, dirt, stakes, allowances, none of it seemed to make a difference. Still it was hard to forget the stellar accomplishments of the first half of the season, and so Buda With the Slew walked away with championship honors for the second straight year, making him the first back to back Eclipse Award winner.
It was a disappointing second half to the year, but capeside hoped for better things, and decided to give the colt another shot at four. The year began on a promising note, as Buda With the Slew absolutely freaked over an off track in the San Valenzuela Breeders Bowl Stakes-G2, earning a 129 SF (which would be even higher under modern day standards), and a final time of 1:40, reeling in the dead game Western Groom in the final sixteenth. Not surprisingly, the colt bounced somewhat in his next outing, settling for a good fifth in the Glenn Handicap. A dull performance in the California Handicap followed, and it was on to Dubai. Buda With the Slew tried to step it up again on a big day, and did manage third against a stellar field, with Pleasant Nijinsky the winner. The rest of the season was largely a wash, and he finished his career in the summer of his four year old season.
Because the colt's rise was so meteoric and short, it is sometimes hard to put his career in perspective. But, for six shining months, Buda With the Slew on his day was the absolute best of the best, with the ability to step it up on racing's biggest day, and the ability to show his talent over both turf and dirt. He won the first two legs of the Triple Crown, won back to back championships and drew quite a fan base in the process. He is a deserving addition to the Hall of Fame, as recognized by the Old Timers Committee.
Buda With the Slew's son, Come Away With Me (by Gone West), was a disappointing runner, and his granddaughter, Summer's Breeze (by Rahy) couldn't break her maiden. But, some talent has come through in the third generation, as Penn Academy (by Lion Heart) is a two time stakes winner sprinting on the lawn. Somewhat curiously, she has yet to try a route of ground.
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