Delahoussaye Has 'Em Measured In Spiral As Perfect Drift Gets Up Late To Win
By, William F. Reed

FLORENCE, Ky. (March 23, 2002) -- At 51, the jockey known as "Eddie D." might not have the physical ability of his youth. Yet, as he proved in guiding the gelding Perfect Drift to a neck victory over Azillion in the $100,000 Spiral Stakes (GII) at Turfway Park, he's as sharp as ever when it comes to finding his way to the winner's circle.

On his first time aboard Perfect Drift and in his first appearance at Turfway, Eddie Delahoussaye wowed the crowd of 2,885 by delivering a patented Eddie D. ride. He took Perfect Drift outside in the early going, moved him inside to save ground, waited patiently for awhile, and then swung outside again at the top of the stretch to take dead aim on the leaders.

"Early in the stretch, I knew I had a great chance of winning," Delahoussaye said. "My horse, I knew from watching the tapes, pulls up too soon if he makes the lead. So two or three jumps from the wire, I knew I had them."

After back-to-back losses to Request For Parole at Turfway, trainer Murray Johnson knew he had to do something to change his luck. So he called Delahoussaye, a friend from Johnson's California training days, and asked if he would replace poor Tony D'Amico on Perfect Drift.

Only a few weeks ago, D'Amico had the mounts on both Repent and Harlan's Holiday, the potent stablemates from trainer Kenny McPeek's barn. But McPeek replaced D'Amico with Jerry Bailey on Repent before the Louisiana Derby (GII) because Bailey is the best in the country, and he replaced him with Edgar Prado for the Florida Derby (GI) because he wanted to find a way to beat Booklet, who had defeated Harlan's Holiday in two consecutive races.

While Bailey managed to barely win the Louisiana Derby while struggling to get Repent to change his lead foreleg in the stretch, Prado delivered in the Florida Derby, just as Delahoussaye delivered in the Spiral, with a come-from-off-the-pace victory that catapulted Harlan's Holiday to the top of many Derby polls.

"The horse he (Perfect Drift) beat (Request For Parole) got beat 1 1/2-lengths by Harlan's Holiday and Repent," Delahoussaye said, "so I guess he's got a legitimate chance (in the Kentucky Derby)."

The California-based Delahoussaye, a Cajun from New Iberia, La., is one of the best riders in Kentucky Derby history. He became the fourth rider to win the roses back-to-back with Gato Del Sol in 1982 and Sunny's Halo in '83.

It could have been three in a row had the onrushing Woodchopper caught Pleasant Colony in 1981 instead of falling three-quarter lengths short.

In 12 Derby mounts since 1975, Delahoussaye has the two wins and two seconds (Woodchopper and Strodes Creek in 1994), a third (Risen Star in 1988), and a fifth (Gate Dancer in 1984). Gate Dancer actually finished fourth, but was disqualified to fifth for lugging in and bumping Fali Time in the stretch.

The Gate Dancer episode makes Delahoussaye a footnote in Derby history because it remains the only disqualification for a riding infraction in the Derby's 127 runnings.

In addition to his terrific record in the Derby, Delahoussaye also has won the Preakness Stakes (GI) once (Risen Star in 1988), the Belmont Stakes (GI) twice (Risen Star and A.P. Indy in 1992), and seven Breeders' Cup races, including the 1992 Classic (GI) with eventual Horse of the Year A.P. Indy.

When Eddie D. came in from California to ride Perfect Drift, it should have been a red warning flag for bettors. As he has gotten older, Delahoussaye has become an infrequent flier, leaving California only to ride horses that have legitimate chances in major races.

What about this year's Kentucky Derby, if Johnson and Dr. William A. Reed, the gelding's owner, decide to take a shot? "If Murray feels like he wants to run," said Delahoussaye, "I'll be there."

Johnson and Reed didn't commit to anything except waiting and seeing what happens in the six weeks remaining between now and the Derby.

"It's in the back of our minds," Reed said. "This does tend to influence you a little bit."

Perfect Drift, who negotiated the mile and an eighth in 1:48.83 - (fifth fastest since the race was moved to that distance in 1988), now has four wins and three seconds to show for his seven career starts, along with earnings of $382,160. Johnson and Reed will have to weigh that against the fact that no gelding has won the Derby since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.

But Eddie D. might be the X-factor that swings them toward taking a shot in the 128th Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.

"Eddie D. did it," said Johnson. "That's what we were looking for. It was just awesome."

Native Kentuckian William F. "Billy" Reed has been a sports writer in various capacities for 42 years and has missed covering the Kentucky Derby a mere two times since 1966. He has been a high-profile sports writer in Kentucky for the Commonwealth's two largest daily newspapers, the Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader and was a national columnist for Sports Illustrated, covering among other sports, Thoroughbred horse racing and college basketball. Reed currently pens a column for the Louisville Sports Report, contrbiutes features to the Keeneland program and will be, among varied other assignments, filing Kentucky Derby installments on www.kentuckyderby.com.

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