Monday, May 17, 1999
Cauthen rooting for another Triple Crown winner
BY BRUCE SCHREINER
The Associated Press
VERONA — Steve Cauthen, who rode the last Triple Crown winner 21 years ago, has climbed aboard the Charismatic bandwagon.
Cauthen said he'll root for the Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner to win the Belmont and become the 12th Triple Crown champion — and the first since he and Affirmed outdueled Alydar and Jorge Velasquez in 1978.
“If it's meant to happen, and if the whole thing falls together, it would be great,” Cauthen said Sunday from his home in Verona. “Seeing stars being made — and Charismatic would be a genuine thoroughbred star — that's what racing needs.”
Charismatic snuck up on him with his long-shot victory in the Derby. But the one-time teen riding sensation has a growing respect for the colt.
“He's dug in and worked hard to win his races and looks like he may even have a little more left in the tank,” Caut
Hen said.
He was a mere 18 when he guided Affirmed to a Triple Crown sweep over archrival Alydar, culminated by a head victory as the two great rivals charged head-to-head down the stretch at Belmont.
“Each one got closer and more exciting, and the Belmont being the epitome of the way you'd love to win the race that was for everything, which it was,” Cauthen said.
He said it's difficult to predict how a 3-year-old thoroughbred will respond to the longer distance at Belmont.
“A mile and a half is a different distance than they have ever run before, and probably ever will run again,” he said.
“You never know until you get there. I didn't know with Affirmed until the day of the race.”
Cauthen praised jockey Chris Antley for his handling of Charismatic in the Derby and Preakness. He said all the attention before the Belmont and a possible Triple Crown can be a jarring ride for a jockey.
“I'm sure he'll give him a good ride in the Belmont,” Caut
Hen said. “I just know that the next three weeks are going to be awful tense for him. It's a long three weeks.
“I'm sure once he gets on the horse on Belmont day, he'll be glad that he's ready to fire it and take his chance.”
Now retired from riding, Cauthen has moved on to other roles in the sport.
He has a horse-breeding operation in Northern Kentucky and is an executive at Turfway Park Race Course in Florence.
He's part owner of a filly sired by Affirmed that was born this spring.
“I'm excited about her,” Cauthen said.
Triple Crown coverage from Associated Press
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