Zipse: Overshadowed Olympiad is having a stellar year

Overshadowed. No matter how you slice it, it is not a positive word. Yet, on a day when Olympiad earned his first Grade 1 victory with an impressive win in a historic and prestigious race at Saratoga, it is the first word that comes to mind.

In winning the Grade 1 Jockey Club Gold Cup in decisive fashion Saturday, the 4-year-old son of Speightstown proved himself to be one of the best horses in America. He’s just not Flightline.

His expected foe in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) is at another level – and for Olympiad that’s a shame, because he is putting together quite a year.

It would be foolish to wonder what might happen if Olympiad had Flightline kind of talent, but can you imagine if Flightline had Olympiad’s kind of racing schedule?

The numbers speak for themselves. The bullet train on the West Coast has started only twice this year, and Olympiad has run seven times already. That’s two more than Flightline has run in his entire career.

Trained by one of the sport’s greats, Olympiad was ready to run his best on Saturday. Coming off his only loss of the year when a dull fourth in the Whitney (G1), he bounced back for trainer Bill Mott with an excellent performance.

It was one that looked very much like his first five races of the year.

With good tactical speed to put himself right in the race, Olympiad was able to gain a nice stalking position behind the early lead of Tax under regular pilot Junior Alvarado.

He stayed there through moderate early fractions before his good rival Americanrevolution turned the screws on him on the turn. Olympiad responded with a quick and conclusive reply that ended any doubt as to who was best in this edition of the Jockey Club Gold Cup.

It was vintage Olympiad and much the same as he had turned in clear-cut victories in a Gulfstream Park allowance, the Mineshaft (G3) and New Orleans Classic (G2) at Fair Grounds, and the Alysheba (G2) and Stephen Foster (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Grandview Equine, Cheyenne Stable LLC and LNJ Foxwoods, Saturday’s win also proved his ability to win a Grade 1 and handle 10 furlongs, and it showed that that his dull race in the Whitney was not reflective of his ability.

With a record of six wins from seven starts, and five graded-stakes wins (the most in the nation), in most years we would be talking about Olympiad as a prime candidate for the Horse of the Year title. But of course, this is not most years.

There was a good reason Olympiad was overshadowed on his best racing day yet. Flightline showed something rare and special Saturday at Del Mar. Something that I don’t think we’ve seen in more than four decades.

In romping to his fifth overpowering victory in a row without a loss, Flightline was able to run effortlessly fast every step of the 1 1/4 miles of the Pacific Classic (G1).

Scary good, he casts his shadow over the best of the rest of American racing. Horses like Epicenter, Life Is Good, Nest and Olympiad are just unlucky to be running the same year he is.

I fully expect Olympiad to take his shot in the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He’s earned his right to be one of the principals in the race, which will decide the Horse of the Year title.

It’s just an unfortunate stroke of luck that Flightline will be in the same starting gate on Nov. 5 at Keeneland.

Overshadowed or not, Olympiad was terrific Saturday, as he has been in six of seven starts this year. The $700,000 yearling purchase has proven himself worth every penny and one of America’s best.