Seattle Slew's Top Awards, Foals
1977 Triple Crown Champ Sired Swale, A.P. Indy, other Slews
Apr 29, 2007
Triple Crown Spotlight Series: Seattle Slew
TC Champions: Rankings
Successful on the thoroughbred track as America's 10th Triple Crown champion (1977), an Eclipse Award winner, and later a successful sire, Seattle Slew had already won honors as a two-year-old.
After breaking his maiden at Belmont Park on September 20, 1976, in his first race, Slew raced an allowance contest on October 5. His Belmont Park victory of six furlongs was timed in 1:10-1/5.
Just eleven days passed before Slew stepped onto a track again. His trainer, William H. (Billy) Turner, Jr., entered the colt in his first graded one stakes race, the Champagne Stakes.
Fastest Juvenile
Responding well, Slew dumped the favorite two-year-old, For the Moment, by nine lengths. His time, clocked at 1:34-2/5, was the fastest mile ever run by a juvenile.
Eclipse Awards
That performance, combined with a total record of being unbeaten, albeit in a modest three races, earned the Slew the 1976 Eclipse Award as Champion Two-year-old Colt.
The bay won 1977's Triple Crown championship with speed and late charge ability, earning him HOY (Horse of the Year) honors, and the Champion Three-year-old Colt trophy.
In 1978, Slew, older and wiser, convincingly beat the year's Triple Crown champion, Affirmed, by 3 lengths in the Marlboro Cup, and captured the Handicap HOY Eclipse Award. That race marked the first time two triple champs faced off.
Stud Career
Retired in the fall of 1978, Seattle Slew began just as quickly to establish a solid stud career as he had his racing career. His triple classic championship and his $1.2 million earnings commanded breeding attention.
Swale and A.P. Indy
Syndicated for $12 million, Slew began his stud service at Spendthrift Farm, then went to Three Chimneys Farm, Lexington, Kentucky, where he stayed. Slew fathered such great champions as A.P. Indy, Slew O' Gold, and Swale. He was 1984's leading sire.
Swale, of Claiborne Farm, trained by Woody Stephens, won the 1984 Kentucky Derby, putting Slew on the short list of Derby champions who sired Derby champions. Swale was named 1984 Three-year-old Champion Male, as he also won the Belmont Stakes that year.
A.P. Indy, was successful in the 1992 Belmont Stakes, and won HOY honors. He has himself sired many stakes winners. Any Given Saturday, and (injured) Ravel, two of 2007's top Kentucky Derby prospects, were grandsired by A.P. Indy.
Solar Slew and Cigar
Slew's unbeaten daughter, Landaluce, and Swale both died unexpectedly at age two, and at three, respectively. Cigar, foaled by another Slew daughter, Solar Slew, captured many titles in the 1990s and is the all time leading thoroughbred money winner. He triumphed in the Dubai World Cup, and he equaled Citation's 16 consecutive win streak.
Capote, Slew City Slew, Septieme Ciel, Adored, Tsunami Slew, Lakeway, Digression, and Slewpy were all stakes winners sired by Seattle Slew.
