The true measure of a horse is not found in how many hands tall he is nor how fast he runs. There is an elusive quality called 'heart' that is the most important factor in any horse. Favorite Trick is small in stature, but as he strives to attain the ultimate goal of winning the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), he has proven that he has heart.

Favorite Trick is among those that were born to burn up the track with their brilliant speed. The 1-1/4 mile distance of the Kentucky Derby is usually too much to ask of a horse sired by a sprinter. Somebody needs to tell Favorite Trick, because in 1997, this small, dark bay son of Phone Trick broke all the rules as he raced his way into history.

On May 3, 1997, with only eight days of rest from his easy maiden win at 4-1/2 furlongs at Keeneland, Favorite Trick got his first preview of what being in the Kentucky Derby would be like. This 2-year-old who had only one race under his belt, entered the paddock at Churchill Downs with 144,000 pairs of eyes watching his every move. This was Derby day and the crowd had come to watch one of the most exciting Derbies in history; however, Favorite Trick handled the circus-like events as if he had been racing for years.

Going off as the fifth choice in a field of fourteen, Favorite Trick broke from the gate for the five furlong WHAS-11 Stakes slowly. He pressed the pace on the backside and began moving up on the turn for home. Cowboy Dan gave Favorite Trick the biggest challenge of his career. Neither colt wanted to give up as they thundered down the stretch with the crowd going wild. Slowly, it became clear that the tenacious little son of Phone Trick would prevail. His winning margin was an official neck, but the margin of victory was actually closer than that. Favorite Trick had now been challenged and put away a challenger. He was learning quickly.

Favorite Trick raced two more times at Churchill Downs under the only jockey he has ever known, Pat Day. The pair won the 5-1/2 furlong Kentucky Breeders' Cup by a spectacular 8 lengths and the six furlong Bashford Manor Stakes (gr. III) by 4-1/2 lengths. In the latter race he equaled the stakes record and left previous rival Cowboy Dan in his wake. With these wins, the media marked him as a horse to watch with four wins in four starts, but they questioned his ability to get the longer distance. Favorite Trick had plenty left in his bag of tricks for the media.

Trainer Pat Byrne began thinking about the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) as the ultimate goal for his star 2-year-old. Byrne decided to by-pass the $1 Million Kentucky bonus option and sent his charge to the traditional Saratoga meet in Saratoga Springs, New York. Favorite Trick wasted no time getting down to business, rattling off an easy win in the 6-1/2 furlong Saratoga Special Stakes (gr. II) over highly regarded D. Wayne Lukas-trained K.O. Punch.

With his fifth win in five tries, Favorite Trick was the overwhelming favorite for the seven furlong Hopeful Stakes (gr. I) on August 30th. Chasing fast fractions set by K.O. Punch and Hitech, Favorite Trick overtook his tiring rivals in the stretch and hit the wire 1-1/2 lengths in front of K.O. Punch. With this win, the two-year-old colt had proven to the doubters that he was a contender. The only lingering question was how far could Favorite Trick run?

The most traditional step for two-year-olds heading for the Breeders' Cup after running at Saratoga is Belmont Park and the Champagne Stakes (gr. I). The only problem Pat Byrne saw with that race was it was only run around one turn. Byrne felt strongly that his colt needed to have the experience of a two-turn race before he shipped him to Hollywood Park. So, Favorite Trick was sent back to Kentucky to start in the 1-1/16 mile Lane's End Breeders' Futurity (gr. II) at Keeneland after a seven week freshener.

With nice horses like Laydown and Time Limit to face along with the added distance factor, this race proved to be the biggest test of Favorite Trick's career. There was notable concern when Time Limit and Laydown had a three length advantage as the horses raced along the turn for home. The doubts were quickly extinguished when Pat Day tapped Favorite Trick a few times and the colt accelerated with ease, overtaking Time Limit and winning by an easy three lengths.

A surprise guest greeted the exuberant Day and Byrne in the winner's circle to present the trophy and wish them luck in the Breeders' Cup. Former President George Bush stopped by to watch the future champion race before he flew home to Texas. Mr. Bush is a personal friend of Will Farish, owner of Lane's End farm, the sponsor of the race. Favorite Trick received the first of many standing ovations from the capacity crowd of over 24,000 as Favorite Trick received his trophy from the former President.

The stage was now set. Favorite Trick had proven he could make two turns and the distance of the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, however, he had never raced on the west coast. In the past Breeders' Cups run at Hollywood Park, west coast horses dominated their competition--even when the winners were considered inferior at times. There were many that still did not believe that Favorite Trick was the real deal. The familiar cry, "Who has he beaten?" came from many handicappers. Many were on Lukas trained Grand Slam's bandwagon, winner of the Champagne Stakes, a more proven race to judge ability. Still there were other very nice horses running, such as Bob Baffert trainees Souvenir Copy and Johnbill, Lukas trained Double Honor and Time Limit, and newcomer Dawson's Legacy.

Favorite Trick entered the beautiful Hollywood Park paddock with all the excitement of a Basset hound on valium. He was smaller than any of the other horses and could not come close to competing with Grand Slam, Souvenir Copy or Double Honor in looks. He walked around the paddock with his head low, doing each thing asked of him with no fuss. However, something happened each time he would pass beside Souvenir Copy, who was being saddled next to him. Favorite Trick's eyes showed the look of an eagle as he stared at his foe. Then he would move along quietly about his business as he was asked to pay attention to his handler. It was time for the race to begin.

There have been only two other Breeders' Cup years when a horse was putting an undefeated streak on the line. Cigar faced that challenge in 1995 in the Breeders' Cup Classic and Personal Ensign made the final start of her undefeated career in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Distaff. Never has there been a two-year-old colt to load in the starting gate of the Juvenile with a record such as Favorite Trick's. The last 2-year-old colt to have an undefeated full season was Native Dancer in 1952. The gates sprang open with the racing world wondering: could Favorite Trick beat the odds and win the biggest race of his career?

Time Limit grabbed the early lead setting quick fractions with Dawson's Legacy and Favorite Trick sitting off his quarters. Midway through the backstretch Pat Day made the decision to send Favorite Trick along the rail and rushed past Time Limit as he reached the point of the far turn. Tom Durkin's call echoed through the grandstand in an excited staccato rhythm, "Undefeated Favorite Trick in front"!

The crowd was on their feet as they cheered for Favorite Trick and Pat Day spinning out of the turn with a length advantage. The duo pulled away from Time Limit and Dawson's Legacy and raced to the wire winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile by the widest margin in history and setting a new stakes record.

After the win, the little bay colt pranced down the track heading toward the barns with the crowd cheering his every move. There were no more questions to be asked of him, no more worries. It was time to get some well deserved rest.

As the saying goes, "The joy of a goal is in the journey before you reach it." Favorite Trick has taken us on one heck of a ride so far.