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Winter 06/07



Racing Into History

Silver Charm is inducted into racing's Hall of Fame.

By Angie Bryant


A jet-black colt by Silver Buck, out of an unremarkable mare named Bonnie’s Poker, would have more than one thing in common with providence, and he was taking all those around him to the dance of a lifetime. In Thoroughbred breeding, as in life, nothing is coincidence. Meticulously planned matings and early foaling dates are critical, as Thoroughbreds turn one year older every January 1. The stallion’s strong points must ideally complement the shortcomings of the mare, including conformation, performance and pedigree.

 Photo by Mark Wyville
Silver Charm with Gary Stevens aboard.

Owners, breeders and trainers look for any advantage, whether real or imaginary, including obscure occurrences or crosses in family lines. Nicking is a common term used exclusively by Thoroughbred breeders to determine that best statistical combination of genetics, even inbreeding, that will possibly produce a super-freak of the racing world, one that can outrun their pedigree and actually earns their own way.


View Silver Charm winning the 1997 Kentucky Derby.

Silver Charm’s family history reveals those mysterious super-freaks of racing excellence with distinguishing names like War Admiral, Princequillo, Nasrullah, Tom Fool, Buckpasser and Round Table, but another name stands out, Poker. Owned by Kentucky royalty, Ogden Phipps, Poker was a finely bred and iron-willed stallion who made a splash in racing history. Not only was he the sire of Silver Charm’s dam, Bonnie’s Poker, he was also the sire of Seattle Slew’s dam, and later, more similarities between these two horses would be revealed.
The hopes and dreams of every Thoroughbred farm begin anew every spring. In large, warm stalls lusciously lined with sweet smelling, golden straw; heavily laden broodmares impatiently pace and roll, they sweat profusely seeking comfort from the intense contractions of impending birth. A gush of amniotic fluid signals the moment when that foal with legs-up-to-there will soon emerge from the warm cocoon it has benefitted from the last eleven months. New generations of dreams begin once he takes his first gasp of that chilly winter air, stands on those wobbly legs, and finds mother’s milk on his own. All with exceedingly high anticipation of him being that one horse with the drive and resilience to make it to the holy grail of horseracing, the Triple Crown.

In the late evening of February 22, 1994, at the historic Dudley Farm in Ocala, Florida, owned by longtime Thoroughbred owners and breeders, Scott and Diane Dudley, Bonnie’s Poker was heavily sweating and pacing in her stall…it was almost time. “Scott loved this time of the year, he loved the babies, and, he loved the opportunity to deliver a new life into the world,” stated Diane. On this night, he would help Bonnie’s Poker through an uneventful birth, to deliver a physically mature looking, jet-black colt, who had flecks of grey throughout his coat causing his hair to look like shimmering diamonds. Could this foal’s birth begin the adventure every breeder dreams? He was born at the right time, and he was big and strong. Could this foal be that one? 		Photo by Mark Wyville
Trained by Bob Baffert, Florida-bred Silver Charm is the seventh richest North American Thoroughbred of all time.


Diane recalls, “At birth, Silver Charm, was the size of a 30-day-old foal, he was physically and mentally more mature than other babies at the farm.” She remembers Scott telling her that on Silver Charm’s first day for turn out, he bolted through the stall door and ran out of the barn and down the lane between the paddocks…all without mama at his side. He never panicked; he just turned and walked back to her. “He was not aggressive as some colts can get, which made him a pleasure to be around, he did everything right and was very cooperative. Although he did not have to be first into the barn and was not pushy, the funny thing was he certainly did not let anyone push him around.” Diane remembers. Even into his yearling year Silver Charm was nothing extraordinary, in fact, he was not exhibiting any of the excellence that his physique or ancestors’ success had promised. Due to a bad run of the ever-fickle racing and breeding luck, his breeder, Mary Lou Wootton consigned him to the 1995 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s August yearling sale. Purchased for $16,500 by the buy low-sell high pinhooker duo of Randy Hartley and Dean De Renzo, Silver Charm was broken and trained at their Ocala training facility. Another clue as to what was yet to come, twenty years earlier, a little horse named Seattle Slew set the pinhookers’ world in motion by being auctioned and sold for a paltry $17,500. What could they possibly have in common? Sometimes the good ones do get away.

Early in the colt’s two-year-old training, he sold privately to Canadian horseman C.J. Grey for $30,000, where Grey, in turn, entered him in the 1996 OBS April 2-year-olds-in-training sale. Failing to bring the expected reserve of $100,000, Grey bought him back. Examining the sales catalogs prior to auction, top Thoroughbred trainer Bob Baffert liked Silver Charm’s name as it likened a perfect reference to his own silver (hair), but was absent from the sale because of a spring snowstorm and a missed plane connection.		 Photo by Mark Wyville
Silver Charm, winner of 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, was elected to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2007.

As luck would have it, he had recently teamed up with Ocala brothers, J.B. and Kevin McKathan, who were successful and well-known horsemen in their own right. The McKathans’ were well aware of Baffert’s interest and the buy back by Grey. In urgency to notify Baffert, a pre-sale works tape quickly arrived for his inspection. Soon after, Baffert signed a sales slip for a modest $85,000 on behalf of Bob and Beverly Lewis. They were owners of such great horses as Timber Country (Breeder’s Cup Juvenile and ’95 Preakness winner), and later BC Juvenile Fillies ’95 winner Folklore, and now, they owned the striking grey colt by Silver Buck, affectionately referred to as “a ham sandwich” because of the horse’s humble beginnings and bargain-basement price. With the conductor and orchestra now assembled in Baffert and Lewis, the Grand Ball dreams began.
Virtually unnoticed, Silver Charm made his racing debut in Southern California in a maiden special weight on August 10, 1996. He was running on the most historic day at Del Mar. Entered in an undercard race that would take place the same day Cigar failed to make it to seventeen straight wins, Silver Charm finished second to Deeds Not Words. It took one more race just 14 days later for him to win for the first time. Scarcely 18 days after that first win, ever the master planner and risk taker, Baffert sent his young and inexperienced colt to the Del Mar Futurity (gr.II), and pulled off a thrilling fight-to-the-finish; win by a head, over Gold Tribute. Photo couresey of Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association's Shizunai Stallion Station
Now, fans began to take notice. Unlike most trainers, Baffert plotted a patient course and allowed Silver Charm, the rest he deserved, five months worth. This rest intended to give Silver Charm a chance to grow, mature, and be ready for his three-year-old campaign, the year in which Thoroughbred breeders place all of their racing hopes and dreams.


To his fans dismay, Silver Charm did not race until February 8, 1997, and he did not disappoint. He smoked the competition in the San Vicente Stakes(gr.III), causing rumors to abound, which included the words Kentucky Derby...the first dance of the Grand Ball. Following such high expectations, Silver Charm finished second in his next two races, the San Felipe Stakes (gr. I) and the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I). Strong competition and stronger finishes kept Baffert aiming toward the Derby. It would take more than a few second place finishes to sidetrack Baffert and the Lewises. With less than a month before the Kentucky Derby, the grey colt that sold three times was now living up to his name…he was a charm, a Silver Charm. He unknowingly became a part of racing history, finally exhibiting the style of running of his ancestors; and Ogden Phipps would be proud.
Silver Charm came into the Derby the 4-1 second choice behind another Florida-bred, Captain Bodgit, and with names like Baffert, Stevens and Lewis behind it all, it was no surprise. The witty trainer’s impromptu showing of Silver Charm’s rump to the media mob earlier that week, explaining, “This is what I want the other horses to see Saturday afternoon,” got a laugh and made for great media buzz, but on that historic first Saturday in May, the focus for Baffert was on his grey colt. Seattle Slew was the highlight of his sire’s career. Soon, Silver Charm would have the same chance to prove likewise.

Photo couresey of Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association's Shizunai Stallion Station
Silver Charm enjoys free time in his paddock from 5 a.m. to noon daily, his regimen also includes daily riding to keep him in top condition.
Breaking from the fifth post position, jockey Gary Stevens, wearing the famous green and yellow stripes of Bob and Beverly Lewis, guided Silver Charm into sixth place, tracking leaders Free House and Pulpit. Stevens expertly guided Silver Charm through traffic and held off fast charging and Seminole fed, Captain Bodgit. Stevens later commented “I had them anytime I wanted them…he gave me more than I needed. We could have gone around again and nobody was going to get by him.” That day against thirteen starters, Silver Charm won the Kentucky Derby. He earned $700,000 of the $1 million total purse and joined the distinguished company of the few Florida-breds, the last being the unforgettable Unbridled in 1990. As an added bonus, Seminole Feed had the distinction and honor of supplying the high quality nutrition, which made them all champions. Silver Charm won it with grit, endurance, drive and stamina, and he was now that super-freak in his own right…he out-ran his pedigree.

In Ocala, at Dudley Farm, they enjoyed a post-win ham sandwich in honor of the “ham sandwich” that ran like a million bucks, or actually $5,000,000, as he was the only horse eligible for the for the Triple Crown bonus in 1997. Diane Dudley said later, “A good ham sandwich is better than a bad steak any day.”

Recovering strong from the mile and a quarter Derby, Baffert entered the darling of his barn in the Preakness. Silver Charm possessed an unmistakable appeal that drew innumerable crowds, he raced in dramatic fashion against the toughest competition in the country, and he was now a Kentucky Derby Champion, with heart and effort that made a hoof print in at least one chapter of racing history. The Preakness was a different test, but he survived, by a gritty head over Free House and a fast closing Captain Bodgit, in an unforgettable stretch duel. Secretariat was officially clocked at 1:54 2/5 for the mile-and-three-sixteenths, just two-fifths faster than Silver Charm, although the timing has long been disputed.

1997 Preakness
Silver Charm delivered a show again, setting the horse world on fire for a mere chance at racing immortality. No one had been able to do it since 1978. Could 1997 be the year? Could he be the one to do it?

The Belmont was the final test for Stevens, the Hall-of-Fame jockey, Baffert, the popular trainer from Nogales, Arizona and his Prince Charming, Silver Charm. For the first time since 1989, there was a three-year-old with a chance on making Triple Crown history; a trainer who had his first ever Derby and Preakness wins behind him, and a jockey with history on his side. “The hard part is behind us,” Baffert commented.

The seven-horse race was a nail-biter from the start. Silver Charm went to the lead immediately. Entering the first turn, Silver Charm came off the rail into third. The first ¼ was run in: 23 3/5, while the half-mile went at a comfortable :49 1/5. After 6 1/2 furlongs, Silver Charm took the lead by one length, while Wild Rush challenged. With five furlongs to go, the ¾ mile run in 1:13 4/5, and coming out of the far turn for home, Wild Rush had a short lead. At ½ mile remaining, Free House quickly moved up into contention while Wild Rush and Silver Charm were busy fighting for the lead. Silver Charm gained that lead and Free House then moved up strongly. On the far outside, deep in the stretch, Touch Gold appeared, and as Free House and Silver Charm were exchanging stride for stride, Touch Gold scurried by on the outside to deny Silver Charm true racing history, stunning everyone. The Triple Crown was lost by ½ a length, just half a horse.

Silver Charm became another champion denied in the Belmont, but not denied the attention of his heroic efforts. He became the Eclipse Award Outstanding Three-Year-Old Male while securing Baffert’s win as Eclipse Award Outstanding Trainer of 1997.

The steel grey colt, continued his winning ways into his four-year-old year. He won back-to-back (gr. II), the San Fernando and Strub Stakes, then went to the sands of Saudi Arabia for the (gr. I) Dubai World Cup. Silver Charm desperately hung on by a nose to defeat European star, Swain, and was later named Champion Horse in Dubai.


1997 Belmont

He dead-heated with Wild Rush for a win in the (gr. III) Kentucky Cup Classic, won the (gr. I) Goodwood Breeders’ Cup Handicap, realized a second place finish to Awesome Again in the (gr. I) Breeders’ Cup Classic, and completed the year with a victory in the (gr. II) Clark Handicap. To race into his five-year-old-year, unheard of for modern-day Thoroughbreds, he had only five starts. Beginning with a win in the (gr.II) San Pasqual, the next race was the (gr. I) Donn Handicap. Finishing third, it was not the same Silver Charm, and after four consecutive losses, the Lewises and Baffert, decided to call it quits. He had nothing further to prove, except in the breeding shed.
He arrived at Three Chimneys Farm in July 1999, the home of his historic, although imaginary competitor, Seattle Slew. The two horses, separated by two decades, yet joined by Ogden Phipps’ horse Poker, and the memories of their Triple Crown attempts, were now neighbors. Slew taking the short cut to fame, while Charm endured the long and winding road. Saddled and galloped daily, as it is customary with every stallion at Three Chimneys, Silver Charm, was settling in nicely. He became quite the popular fellow, with visitors coming from all over the world. He had the girls, too. His book filled year after year, garnering $25,000 for each breeding.
In 2004, Silver Charm made the move of his life. Sold by the Lewises, to the Japan Breeders Association, the popular stallion said goodbye to America and moved to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association's Shizunai Stallion Station on the island of Hokkaido. The sales contract included a “buy-back clause which allows the Lewises first rights to buy back Charm to return him to the states once his breeding life has concluded. This stems from the tragic death of Ferdinand, who was sent to a slaughterhouse in Japan when his services were no longer needed.

In his first full year in Japan, he garnered strong interest and covered more than 100 mares. The years since have been as popular and productive, standing for $1,500,000 yen, ($12,169 US), Silver Charm has numerous winners in Japan and abroad. At a recent sale, he had a yearling filly sell for a top price of 11,000,000 Yen (US $100,000). As for his pewter-like good looks, he now resembles a grey ghost, losing those steel-grey dapples, but he retains all the charm, personality and charisma that made him such an endearing athlete.

Elected recently to the National Museum of Racing’s Hall of Fame, class of 2007, Silver Charm will receive the honors he so richly deserves. Winning 12 of 24 starts, Silver Charm retired as the fifth richest racehorse in North American history with earnings of $6,944,369, and winning 11 graded/group victories, not bad for a “ham sandwich.” He is now truly a horse that has raced into history.		 Photo couresey of Japan Bloodhorse Breeders Association's Shizunai Stallion Station
Currently standing at stud in Japan, Silver Charm might have lost his dark grey coat, but he still retains all of the charm and charisma that made him a champion.

Fed Gold Chance 14, the mares and foals at Scott and Diane Dudley’s Farm benefitted from the right combination of protein, vitamins and minerals, which gave Champion Silver Charm his strong start, as he was born ready to race. Later, as his regimen turned from growing and playing to training workouts, he bloomed on Blue Ribbon 12+. Diane Dudley recalled the lyrics of a song by Dan Fogelberg, Run For the Roses, “It’s a chance of a lifetime and a lifetime of chance.” “Even if we never go again (to the Derby) we will always be able to say we were there…once in a lifetime.”

Silver Charm is not only racing’s champion; he is our Champion, too. He epitomizes Seminole Feed's motto “Ingredients of a Winner”.



Angie Bryant is an Equine Nutrition Consultant for Seminole Feed in Ocala, FL. Angie is graduate of Auburn University.
 
335 Northeast Watula Ave., Ocala, FL 34470, editor@ecmagazine.net
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