The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

futurefoal — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 21:11:37 GMT

Steve, thank you so very much for this article on Canonero II. What a joy that someone remembered this awesome horse. I might be the only one that had him picked to win in 71, and I have an AFFIDAVID attesting that! I had him for my only Derby pick that year two weeks before the Derby! I was galloping thoroughbreds for Harold Humphries in the Central California Valley (15 head a day) when I found out his training and racing schedule was far more vigorous than anything training in the country. So I was telling Barbara, Harold's daughter, Harold, and everyone else he was my pick. Two days before Harold asked me if I still like "that South American horse" and told him, "Canonero II". When he went by everything on the far turn to win Barbara moaned to her new husband "oh no" and Roger asked her, "what don't you like the Derby winner?" She told him "That's all we've heard from Barry for the past two weeks, we'll never hear the end of it!" Barbara and two other witnesses signed an AFFIDAVID to that. He was 99-1 morning line the day before but was included into the mutual field (12-19) on Derby Day and still paid $45 for $2! He would've been the longest shot to win the Derby if ran alone, "off the board". I had Northern Dancer, Majestic Prince, Genuine Risk (two weeks before) Alysheba (six months before) Funny Cide (three weeks before) as my Derby picks to go with the shorter priced winners I've picked (Big Brown, etc) But Canonero II is still my favorite pick, because of working with horseman such as Harold at the time and such an improbable task. If he had been healthy he would have won the Triple Crown! He showed it beating Riva Ridge in new American time which equalled the world record for 1 1/8! Again thank you so very much! (just let me know if you want to see the AFFIDAVID @ futurefoal@att.net and I'll send you a copy! Barry Wilson

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

Peg645 — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 14:49:00 GMT

Looking forward to hopefully the book and the movie. I was an exchange student at the time, so out of country, and never followed this. Thanks for whetting our appetites for another great story, Steve.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

jlbvzla — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 18:29:25 GMT

Thank you for your story. As a 64 yrs old Venezuela, I appreciate it so much. I lived the Canonero II feat when I was 21, it was really amazing. Gustavo Avila was and still is "The Monster"

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

dance with fate — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 05:36:39 GMT

So grateful to you, Mr. Haskin, for your entrancing stories. Am thinking that it's so right that Canonero won the race named for Stymie. The great heart & spirit of the thoroughbred is a wonder to behold.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

Steel Dragon — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 04:33:56 GMT

I was very new to the game back in '71. After the Derby, I remember hearing a reporter describe Canonero II as a "field horse" and I actually thought that meant he wasn't really a racehorse, but just lived in a field somewhere and someone decided to enter him.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

Shelby's Best Pal — Sat, 07 Jun 2014 00:02:26 GMT

A great story! Loved it.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

texaszippeee — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 17:43:09 GMT

Loved the article. Thanks remembering him. He had a lot of heart.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

Derby Dew — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 15:04:00 GMT

Steve,

Thank you for a return trip down memory lane with Canonero. Like you, Canonero remains one of my favorite stories in racing lore. I love horses of exceptional courage and heart and the "Caracas Cannonball" certainly filled that bill. Tell me, did he do well at stud? I don't recall any mention of his offspring.

Good to see that the years have treated Gustavo well.

Looking forward to the book and movie.

Bring it on home, Chrome!

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

maria disalvo — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 14:52:17 GMT

JUST FINISHED READING THE BOOK - WAS GREAT! I WAS THERE AT BELMONT WHEN CANONERO II RAN. WHAT A DAY! I EVEN HAVE PIC OF HIM I TOOK ON HIS WAY THRU THE BREEZEWAY FROM THE PADDOCK TO THE TRACK. WOULD LOVE TO HAVE GUSTAVO AUTOGRAPH IT. WILL HE BE AT BELMONT TOMORROW? AND STEVE, WOULD LOVE TO SEND ONE TO YOU ALONG WITH THE MANY NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS DURING THAT TRIPLE CROWN ATTEMPT.

re: The 'Monster' Returns to Belmont

Pedigree Ann — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 13:48:01 GMT

I know that calling his parents 'obscure' is part of the Cinderella story, but truth is, Pretendre II wasn't obscure, in pedigree or performance. At two in Britain, he won both the Observer Gold Cup (aka Racing Post Trophy) and Dewhurst S, both Group 1 races from the beginning of pattern racing. At 3, he won the Blue Riband Trial at Epsom, then went under by neck to the excellent Charlottown in THE Derby. He went to Royal Ascot and won the 'Ascot Derby', the King Edward VII S, then took on his elders at the beginning of July in the Eclipse S, in which he was 3rd. In all, he won 6 of his 12 starts and was among the best of his generation at 2 and 3.

Pretendre spent only a couple of years in the US and Canonero II was his only foal of much note here. But back in Europe, he sired an Italian Derby winner in Suffolk and a Dante (G2) winner in Trasi's Son. He also stood in New Zealand and got SWs there, too.

His sire Doutelle was a multiple group-type winning son the Prince Chevalier, who placed in the Dewhurst S (6f), the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S (12f), and Ascot Gold Cup (20f), all of them later G1s. Doutelle died at age 8, having sired two very good sons, Pretendre and Canisbay. Pretendre's female line wasn't a stellar one but well-regarded, since his dam was by Verso and his second dam was by Donatello II.

Pretendre may not have been well-known in this country at the time, but the level he attained as a racehorse indicated that he was perfectly capable of siring a classic-type horse.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Giddyup — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 10:04:23 GMT

Having read Steve's prior blogs on Canonero I know he has a special attachment to the horse and the connections and that terrific photo just re-affirms that. It's too bad that the Internet wasn't around back in the early 70's to give Canonero and his incredible story the exposure it deserved. Hopefully the book and movie will be a great success.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

BelmontBarb — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 02:29:44 GMT

Steve Haskin ~ you have outdone yourself` touched beyond words from this masterpiece of immortality - It has brought life and light to an incredible time in racing that I too recall (although quite young but never failed to be present )~ I remember well Canonero II and his feat and strength to prevail in the toughest era of racing and perhaps the grittiest but always fascinating with stories that sent emotions flying as this one does by you. The book and film/documentary will be awaited anxiously by myself and I gather all those who have love and affection for these remarkable equine and their lives that so many know so little of as they pass the finish line ~ some with a new career and some without any and as they leave the tracks and trails behind they take with them the names that knew them best and our hearts. Thank you for sharing this personal photo of yourself and Gustavo Avila - but the Black/White photo ((ref:BH Library) my favorite kind of photo) of Canonero in the Winner's Circle is what really moves me to say thank You Again'

Please remind us of the book and film/documentary release

I think some Blk/Wht photos of this Belmont would be a great addition to another "tale of the Triple Crown". They work so beautifully and are so honest to look at.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

greenpointer — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:59:18 GMT

I bet Canonero II in the Stymie and he paid a big price.....he brought me to Belmont in 1971 and I was hooked.....Two years later I would see Secretariat battle Sham for 6 furlongs in the Belmont and think Ron Turcotte was crazy as they posted the 1:10 split....little did I know as he roared past me at the top of the stretch....Thanks for this nostalgic article as I remember Canonero II was my first date with racing at 28 years of age.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Macoche — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:15:04 GMT

What an amazing story....while I know who Canonero was I never knew his whole story. Thank you for this moment in history and I cannot wait to read the book!

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

tuna — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:14:48 GMT

loved Canonero and looking forward to the movie. Reminds me of Majestic Prince in that he probably should not have run in the Belmont, but the pressures of running for the TC outweighed the trainers call to stop.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

dacorn — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 01:10:40 GMT

Canonero II was my horse's sire. I'm thankful that the sire did not pass along the speed to my children's hunter. Our Max wouldn't have won a race if the rest of the field had gone backwards. But he had courage and great personality and we loved thinking that Canonero's DNA was in there somewhere. What a great story!

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

francisco — Fri, 06 Jun 2014 00:21:33 GMT

As a Venezuelan, and on behalf of my fellow countrymen, I thank you for this article in a subject that has been so significant for us. Thrilled to see your knowledge expands to write about , the monster Gustavo Avila, Manny Azpurua, and Juan Arias. I always remember one comment you made some time ago that there were to things that have impressed you the most in your racing life. One of them was in the Preakness 1971 when Canonero went out for the lead in the first turn in Pimlico with a burst of power and speed, the other one must have been secretariat's performance in the Belmont, I don't quite remember. Keep up your extraordinary article writing, hasta la vista.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

prudofrompuertorico — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:46:17 GMT

Wow! excellent article Mr. Haskin, I still remember very vividly the three races, I always felt his right front leg was going to get loose, it was so crooked, here in Puerto Rico, everybody was rooting for Cañonero II. His voyage to Louisville since his departure from Venezuela was quite an adventure, we could not believe he could finish the Derby. What a performance.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

The Peacock — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:36:36 GMT

"Viva Steve!"

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Paula Higgins — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:29:34 GMT

This is one of the truly great stories in horse racing!! It is just wonderful to see Mr. Avila come back. He was part of one of the most heartwarming stories in sports-true underdogs with hearts of champions.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Sail On — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:29:27 GMT

Wonderful story, Steve!

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

The Deacon — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 23:07:40 GMT

One of the best Cinderella stories ever........

BTW Steve any word on what the weather will be like on Saturday. Looked like lots of rain there today.

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

tjconway — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:59:21 GMT

Viva Steve and Gustavo! Canonero II was bad ass!!!!!!!!!!! Great Derby picture!!!!!!!!

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Bethany Loftis — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:23:01 GMT

What a wonderful story?! I can't wait for the book and the movie!!! Thank you for sharing his story with us again!

re: The "Monster" Returns to Belmont

Linda in Texas — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:20:15 GMT

Steve - thanks go to whomever was brilliant enough to take this photo of you and Mr. Avila. Very nice. Regards article, I loved Canonero, his story and the love of his countrymen who he represented. Thank you and have a great time.