Priceless Forever - by Laura Ferguson

Priceless Forever was born to greatness, and on bloodlines alone, was indeed priceless. The chestnut colt was from the first small crop by the immortal champion Event of the Year (a crop that also included Horse of the Year and Breeders' Cup Classic Winner Three Day Event). Priceless Forever was also the first foal out of champion Serena's Song, who had begun her career with seven consecutive wins before losing to Silver Charm in the Pacific Classic, and then finishing third to Event of the Year in the Breeders' Cup. Bothsire and dam would go on to stellar careers in the breeding shed, both cut too short by untimely deaths, but that was all in the future.

From birth, expectations were high, and the media scrutiny intense. Trainer Jennifer Stewart simply learned to live with the pressure and went about her business of preparing her charge. She knew from the second she laid eyes on the colt that she had something truly special. The Twin Spires Stakes on Derby Day was selected for his debut, to unveil the secret that Jennifer had kept, which was the colt himself. Priceless Forever exceeded all expectations, winning in smashing style by seventeen lengths, beating both Flying Colors (son of Derby winners Thunder Gulch and Winning Colors), and Tie Beau, who had previously broken his maiden in fine fashion. While Tilt A Whirl won the Kentucky Derby, the buzz was about the new kid in town. Predictions were made that this colt would win the Kentucky Derby next year, and the public fascination only intensified.

After a short rest, Priceless Forever returned to the races in the Hopeful Stakes. Only one other horse came forward to challenge, but his name was More Than Ready, not Upset. Once again, Priceless Forever stormed home and easy winner in track record time. As the Hopeful was essentially a public workout, the small chestnut colt ran right back in the Champagne Stakes. This time, three horses were sent against him, hoping the Hopeful had taken something out of Jennifer Stewart's charge, but their hopes were futile. Three starts, three easy wins. Priceless Forever would make only one more start, in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. This time, a full field of eight were sent against him. Chief among them was Tie Beau, who, since finishing third to Priceless Forever in the Twin Spires, had reeled off wins in the Del Mar Futurity and the Futurity Stakes. Once again though, the chestnut colt was too good, invoking shades of Secretariat with his tremendous stride for his size and powerful way of moving. He romped by ten lengths. With an unbeaten record of four wins in four starts, Priceless Forever was the unanimous choice for Champion 2 year old Colt.

If Jennifer Stewart thought the pressure had been intense during the two year old year, it was nothing compared to the Triple Crown trail. After considering the grueling road ahead, she decided to give Priceless Forever only one prep race: in the Bluegrass Stakes. "It has been tough," she admitted as she watched the young chestnut stallion gallop effortlessly over the track on a misty spring morning, "but he's worth it." The colt's sweet temper and easy manner made things easier, although like many of the Slews, his feet needed constant monitoring. The Bluegrass Stakes turned out to be everything she wanted, as Priceless Forever simply ran away from the field, showing he was more than just a precocious two year old. Would anyone challenge him in the Derby?

Thirteen would go postward, including the new face in town: Shepickedupadance, otherwise known as "Picky." Trained by Kellie Whitehead, who had trained Event of the Year and a host of other good horses, this filly was a royally bred daughter of A.P. Indy out Miesque. Like Priceless Forever, Picky was unbeaten, having won all four of her starts as a juvenile, and defeating the boys in her Derby prep. No filly had won the Kentucky Derby since Winning Colors, but this filly looked to give Priceless Forever his stiffest challenge. Tie Beau, who won the Santa Anita Derby after finishing second to Priceless Forever in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile,had also returned for another try. The race turned out to be one for the ages, as the chestnut colt and grey filly acted like they were in their own private match race, disdaining the rest of the field as they raced in tandem, stride for stride, the furlong poles whizzing by. At the top of the stretch, it was still anyone's race. As the finish wire loomed near, it was the filly that faltered, and Priceless Forever emerged the winner by a hard-fought neck.

Jennifer Stewart had now won her first Derby, but it was obvious the race had taken something out of her colt, and there were still two legs to go. No horse had managed to pull off a sweep of the Triple Crown since Affirmed, although several had come close. A full field was entered against him, hoping that the glorious Derby effort had taken something out of him, although Shepickedupadance would not be among them, having bruised a foot. Once again, the other trainers were dead wrong. Priceless Forever stormed out of the gate, quickly passing the front runners as they reached the far turn. Without Picky to challenge him, the chestnut colt seemed lost, having trouble focusing on the task ahead, even as his strides carried him farther and farther ahead. Jockey Nakatani set to work, and by the final turn he had the colt's attention. Ten lengths, twelve, fourteen, shades of Secretariat indeed! Priceless Forever galloped home sixteen lengths the best before an awed and hushed crowd. As he turned back to the winners' circle, the crowd gave the chestnut star his due: a standing ovation. To further underscore how impressive the win was, it turned out that Priceless Forever had equalled Louis Quatorze's Preakness record of 1:53.2. How fast could he have gone if challenged? Fans could hardly wait for the Belmont.

Belmont Day. The tension in the air was palpable, although Priceless Forever seemed oblivious to it as he dozed in his stall. However, once he was in the saddling area, the chestnut colt was alert, looking over the fourteen others who had come to run against him. Shepickedupadance, the filly who had pushed him to his utmost in the Kentucky Derby, had returned for another challenge. The race was the classic twelve furlongs, so the size of the field would be less of an issue. Still, Jennifer Stewart was nervous as she saddled her charge yet again, the pressure fully on her shoulders. The start was clean, and Priceless Forever settled in midpack, as Picky ran, as usual, up with the leaders. The fractions were solid, and entering the final turn, the grey filly had disposed of the challengers, and looked to have clear sailing to the wire. The fans held their collective breath, looking for Priceless Forever. The chestnut colt had begun to uncoil his late move, and with each stride, he continued to accelerate, cutting into her lead. The Belmont stretch was long, and the crowd watched, enthralled, as the race they had hoped for played out. Closer and closer he came, a chestnut ball of fire, the grey filly digging in deep to hold him off. The two became a team, and for an instant, it looked like he would pull ahead, but the grey filly found a little more to get her nose in front.

Then, it was Priceless Forever's turn to find something more, and he did, inching ahead with less than a hundred yards to go, and finishing a neck the best, racing's twelfth Triple Crown winner. Stewart rejoiced, exclaiming, "I won the Triple Crown! No, he won it! My horse won the Triple Crown!"

While it was initially announced that he would train up to the Breeders' Cup, plans were changed. Priceless Forever seemed fresh, and the Travers Stakes beckoned. Racing fans clamored for the matchup, as Shepickedupadance was also set to run in that race. It was another classic matchup, with only Tie Beau, a distant third in the Belmont, and Deheringly entered to challenge the top pair. Once again, Picky took the lead, daring Priceless Forever to chase her down. The small chestnut colt uncorked his late kick, but this time, it wasn't quite enough, as Shepickedupadance held him off by a hard-fought nose. The crowd was stunned, and Jennifer Stewart in tears, as she second-guessed her decision. After eight consecutive wins, Priceless Forever had suffered his first defeat.

The Breeders' Cup was just around the corner, and Priceless Forever had his work cut out for him. Picky would be back, as well as some new faces: Tilt AWhirl, who had won the Derby and the Preakness the year before and was unbeaten in four starts at four - all stakes of the highest caliber, and Island Rescue, a late blooming son of Sea Hero who had reeled off victories in the Donn, Gulfstream Park, Suburban and Storm and Silence Handicaps, with only his only loss of the year a fourth place finish behind Tilt A Whirl in the Santa Anita Handicap. The winner of this race would clearly be worthy of Horse of the Year. Once again, Picky rushed into contention, with the others in close attendance. Furlong after furlong flew by, with all of the top four in contention, the other nine entries in a race of their own. In a year full of memorable races, this too would enter the record books, as the four horses raced as a chariot team down the stretch, muscles straining, nostrils flaring. It was the filly who cracked first, her long campaign catching up with her, but it was still anyone's race. Three horses flew across the line, the filly just a length behind. The roaring crowd was hushed - who had won? Agonizing minutes dragged by for the connections, as the weary horses circled the track, waiting for the stewards' call. The tote board lit up - a DEAD HEAT! Priceless Forever and Island Rescue had finished dead even for the win, with Tilt A Whirl just a nose behind. The crowd erupted, and it was two tired horses in the winners' circle, as their jubilant trainers shook hands. After a well-earned carrot, it was announced that Priceless Forever was to be retired. With a Triple Crown and two Breeders' Cups under his belt, the chestnut colt had little left to prove on the track.

As it turned out, Priceless Forever's career in the breeding shed has been as spectacular as his career on the track, although his offspring have a tendency to fragility, as do many horses from the Event of the Year line. After Jennifer Stewart retired, Priceless Forever was moved to Trial By Summer Farms, where he stands today for $150,000, one of the higher stud fees around. He got off to a rapid start at stud, with millionaires Dreams Are Forever, Forever Risk (Kentucky Oaks, Preakness), Priceless Premier, Cascade and Berly Forever from 20 foals. Seven others earned more than $100,000, with Always in Love missing the million dollar mark by less than $10,000. Priceless Forever only had eight foals in his second crop, but five of them earned more than $500,000, including millionaires Gotham City (Preakness), Effortless Focus and Elusive Pegasus (Belmont, Breeders' Cup Classic). To date, Priceless Forever has sired 128 horses (119 of racing age), with nine millionaires and 70 winners. At age 11, he is still going strong, with three stakes winners from his current juvenile crop of 21 runners. His daughters are worth their weight in gold as broodmares, and have been especially successful with Sports Jersey (Kayak, Nascar, Star Player). Priceless Forever has truly lived up to his name, and will only continue to add to his legacy.