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Two Down, One Left as Believe the Hype Takes Baltimore Crown
Original article written by Marzy Dotes posted 13 years 3 weeks agoWith a decisive move in the stretch, Believe the Hype roared through the slop and captured the $1 million Grade I Baltimore Crown by 1 ½ lengths over Stay Awake. The plucky dark bay colt ran the 1 3/16 miles at Baltimore Racecourse in 1:53.59.
The stalwart son of the almighty Throne and broodmare, Haley Road had defeated Stay Awake one week earlier to take the first jewel of the Triple Crown, the Louisville Derby by ¾ of a length. Bred and owned by Norman Architecture, Believe the Hand stands in stark contrast to the striking Stay Awake who’s a regally bred son of two major blue blooded horses in American Triple Crown winner, Awake As I Am and broodmare to the superstars, Cadeauje who sold for one tick over $23 million at auction as a yearling.
As over 150,000 racing fans packed the racing venue all the way up to the bleachers and partied in the infield while rowing through it in canoes, the horses all jogged to the post in good order while the marching band played the state anthem under a showery sky.
One racing fan wept at the camaraderie among fans from all corners of the globe as the horses lined up at the post.
“The rain might be pouring down but who could miss a day like this,” Petunia Gardenia said, “a day that might serve as a stepping stone to history.”
Indeed it may if Believe the Hype lived up to his own by winning this historic race to move one step closer to that elusive Holy Grail called the Triple Crown. The pinnacle of the sport where many have tried, many have imploded and few have reached. But this time around, only five other horses entered into the race to try to stop his quest and he seemed ready to put out a great effort to keep the dream alive.
When the gates opened with the clanging of the bell, Stay Awake sizzled to the lead by a 1 ¼ lengths Mighty Career who opened up a bit on ‘Ello Goodbye with Believe the Hype settling under a tight hold by jockey Frederick Dixon in the fourth position. As the horses splashed down the backstretch, Stay Awake went free running to a 3 ½ length lead over the field, legs churning and tail waving. Mighty Career opened up further over the third place horse, while Believe the Hype remained calm, cool and collected in fourth biding his time. Whether angling for his moment or luring the field into a false sense of security, he remained patient as the horses moved onto the sweeping far turn which has tested many a young horse. Stay Awake still ran up front by four lengths while the others stayed firm until the field turned for home to rush down to the finish line at the end of the lane. Believe the Hype kicked into his powerful gear and like a dervish swept down the track and by his rivals as if they were standing still running off at the end.
Stay Awake finished a solid second again, this time by 3 ½ lengths over a hard charging Annihilating who finished third by a length.
Believe the Hype with that flourishing finish captured the second jewel of the Triple Crown and hopes to become the latest winner of that illustrious but very elusive title. And in a way that’s very fitting, the biggest challenger in his path remains a colt sired by the sport’s most recent and reigning Triple Crown winner. Stay Awake who’s out to stop him will meet him again to determine who will be left standing at the end of the last yards of the marathon event of the Crown, the Long Island Classic.