The Greatest Racing Coups of All-Time

[Silver Charm]

What do the following Champions all have in common?

Dr. Fager
Affirmed
Big Brown
Open Mind
Moms Command

Give Up???

They all paid BIG BALLOONS in their first career starts. You think I\'m kidding? Here are the facts.

Dr. Fager: 10.80 to 1 going five and half at two with a five pound bug boy up.
Affirmed: 14.30 to 1 going five and a half at two out of the ten hole at Bel.
Big Brown: 14.70 to 1 going mile and a sixteenth at two on turf.
Open Mind: 10.90 to 1 going six at two in a NJ-Bred maiden race from the 11 hole.
Moms Command: 44.70 to 1 going last to first at two in a 10K Rkm Stake.

Keep in mind three of those horses were trained by Nerud, Barrera and Lukas. Not exactly Moe, Larry and Curley we are talking about here.  

The above mentioned runners make horse like Ruffian a 15 length winner at 4.20 to 1 and Spectacular Bid with five pound bug Franklin up at 6.30 to 1 look like odds on chalk.

So the next time somebody next to you says, \"Word is this 6-5 favorite in the baby race at Saratoga might be the next Triple Crown winner\".

Tell him you like the 14.50 to 1 shot better........

[ronwar]

That\'s interesting Silver.  I could have never played BB in his first start.  First time starter, going two turns, on the turf, breaking from the rail is usually a toss for me.

[TGJB]

You can add Bold Forbes to that list. 35-1 in a 6 horse field in Puerto Rico, won by 17 lengths.

[Silver Charm]

I hope the boys who scored on that one made it out of the parking lot alive that day. And people think Aqueduct is tough.

Ghostzapper at 11.50 to 1 by 9 was no disgrace. But certainly not 35-1 in a Puerto Rico Wagering Pool.

[richiebee]

Hate to redboard nearly 20+ years later, but I cashed a huge bet on Open Mind
that day-- an NJ bred sired by Deputy Minister, saddled by DWL, running against
a bunch of slow NJ bred rats sired  by \"backyard\" stallions. Last race on the
card at Mth that day.

[Edit--looking back, I think OM broke her maiden v colts that day, may have
contributed to the generous price].

Missed out on the other 4.

Am enjoying reading the back and forth on BB\'s chances of winning the TC. Every
bit as compelling as \"Tastes Great\" v.\"Less Filling\". And if anyone can remember
this far back, Leroy Jolley did a TV commercial pitching the 3 pleasures in
life-- Honest Pleasure, Foolish Pleasure and Lite Beer from Miller.

I am also enjoying that a couple of posters are talking about taking a huge
position v BB in the Belmont. In the upcoming Oliver Stone movie, \"W\", our
current President is heard to admonish General Tommy Franks regarding the
accuracy of intelligence regarding enemy positions:

\"I dont want to fire a 2 million dollar missile to take out a $10 tent and
knock a camel on his ass\"

[jimbo66]

Richie B,

Your score that day wasn\'t bad, but nothing to brag about either.

In the same race, Chuckles had the triple cold and hit the super, playing just two combinations.

All told, got 18,000 to 1 on his money in that race.  ONe of his above average hits....

[Silver Charm]

I went back in the Board archives and there is no string where CtC boasts about the Open Mind score. So it must not have ever happened.

However I did see one where he claimed he engineered the Bold Forbes score TGJB eluded to without having to pay off a single clocker.....and doesn\'t speak a word of spanish to boot.........

[Boscar Obarra]

I once got a tip on a horse from a cab driver (no kidding) and that might have been the only time I ever got a tip away from the track from a stranger.

 Six months later it won at 15-1 first out.

 No big deal but the name was Triple Crown

 Nope, didn\'t have it.

[EJXD2]

I would add Madcap Escapade, who paid $34.60 after she won by ten lengths in her debut to that list.

[Uncle Buck]

My biggest coup at the track was a boldly stated $40 straight trifecta in the 1996 Donn Handicap. Cigar/Weikiva Springs/Heavenly Prize.

Some old codger sitting next to me, who couldn;t hit water if he fell out of a boat, said \"there was no way in a million years it would come in the way I played it.\" I think I ended up buying him a beer post race after screaming louder than I ever have in the stretch

[smalltimer]

I can\'t wait for the conclusion of the Belmont Stakes.