Bet Twice (USA)
April 20, 1984 – March 5, 1999
Sportin' Life (USA) x Golden Dust (USA), by Dusty Canyon (USA)
Family 9-f
April 20, 1984 – March 5, 1999
Sportin' Life (USA) x Golden Dust (USA), by Dusty Canyon (USA)
Family 9-f
One of the better colts in a very good crop, Bet Twice gained his first measure of notoriety by nearly bringing Alysheba down in the stretch of the Kentucky Derby (USA-G1). Beaten by that rival anyway in the Derby and then in the Preakness Stakes, Bet Twice then turned the tables with the best race of his career in the Belmont Stakes, winning by 14 lengths with Alysheba fourth. The two colts ended up meeting nine times during their careers, with Bet Twice outfinishing his rival four times. Unfortunately, Bet Twice turned out to be a disappointing sire.
Race record
26 starts, 10 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$3,308,599
1986:
1987:
1988:
Honors
Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1986, 5 pounds below champion Capote.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1987, 1 pound below champion Alysheba and tied with Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Java Gold.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1988, 5 pounds below champion Alysheba.
As an individual
Reluctant to train as a youngster ("I used to have to walk behind him with a little buggy whip to get him to go to the racetrack," trainer Jimmy Croll recalled), Bet Twice matured into a professional racehorse with a maddening hint of inconsistency. Normally a determined competitor, he threw in unexplained clunkers in the 1987 Florida Derby (USA-G1) and 1988 Suburban Handicap (USA-G1), and the Kentucky Derby was not the only race in which he seemed to have trouble maintaining a straight course. This may have been due to problems with soreness in his knees and ankles, which required treatment between his 3- and 4-year-old seasons. A bay horse, he stood 16.1 hands.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bet Twice sired 115 winners (62.2%) and 9 stakes winners (4.9%) from 185 named foals.
Connections
Bet Twice was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III and E. J. Hudson (KY). He raced in the colors of Atlantic City Race Course owner Robert Levy, principal shareholder of the syndicate that owned the colt. He was trained by Warren "Jimmy" Croll. Bet Twice stood at Muirfield Stud in Maryland in 1990-1996 before being pensioned at age 12. He died on March 5, 1999.
Pedigree notes
Bet Twice is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah and 5x5x5x5 to Nasrullah's sire Nearco. He is a half brother to 1992 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Golden Treat (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Double Scoop (by Seeking the Gold), and to Grade 2 winner Bold and Gold (by Bold Joey). He is also a half brother to Energy Efficient (by Fluorescent Light), dam of New Zealand stakes winner Canned Heat (by Al Akbar), and to Fidelia (by Danzig), dam of Japanese stakes winner King Fidelia. Bet Twice's dam Golden Dust is a full sister to stakes winner Joy to the World and a half sister to stakes winner Metal Vendor (by Sailing Along). She is also a half sister to Sailing Joy (by Sailing Along), dam of Grade 3 winner Gallant Sailor (by Gallant Best).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: July 22, 2024
Race record
26 starts, 10 wins, 6 seconds, 4 thirds, US$3,308,599
1986:
- Won Arlington-Washington Futurity (USA-G1, 8FD, Arlington Park)
- Won Laurel Futurity (USA-G1, 8.5FD, Laurel)
- Won Sapling Stakes (USA-G2, 6FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Champagne Stakes (USA-G1, 8FD, Belmont)
1987:
- Won Belmont Stakes (USA-G1, 12FD, Belmont)
- Won Haskell Invitational Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- Won Fountain of Youth Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Gulfstream Park)
- 2nd Kentucky Derby (USA-G1, 10FD, Churchill Downs)
- 2nd Preakness Stakes (USA-G1, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Key West Stakes (USA, 6FD, Hialeah)
1988:
- Won Pimlico Special Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Pimlico)
- 2nd Philip H. Iselin Handicap (USA-G1, 9FD, Monmouth)
- 2nd Ben Ali Handicap (USA-G3, 9FD, Keeneland)
- 2nd Salvator Mile Handicap (USA-G3, 8FD, Monmouth)
- 3rd Suburban Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Belmont)
- 3rd United Nations Handicap (USA-G1, 9.5FT, Atlantic City)
- 3rd New Jersey Turf Classic Handicap (USA-G3, 11FT, The Meadowlands)
Honors
Monmouth Park Hall of Champions
Assessments
Rated at 121 pounds on the Experimental Free Handicap for American juveniles of 1986, 5 pounds below champion Capote.
Rated at 126 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American 3-year-old males of 1987, 1 pound below champion Alysheba and tied with Travers Stakes (USA-G1) winner Java Gold.
Rated at 123 pounds on the Daily Racing Form's Free Handicap for American older males of 1988, 5 pounds below champion Alysheba.
As an individual
Reluctant to train as a youngster ("I used to have to walk behind him with a little buggy whip to get him to go to the racetrack," trainer Jimmy Croll recalled), Bet Twice matured into a professional racehorse with a maddening hint of inconsistency. Normally a determined competitor, he threw in unexplained clunkers in the 1987 Florida Derby (USA-G1) and 1988 Suburban Handicap (USA-G1), and the Kentucky Derby was not the only race in which he seemed to have trouble maintaining a straight course. This may have been due to problems with soreness in his knees and ankles, which required treatment between his 3- and 4-year-old seasons. A bay horse, he stood 16.1 hands.
As a stallion
According to Jockey Club records, Bet Twice sired 115 winners (62.2%) and 9 stakes winners (4.9%) from 185 named foals.
Connections
Bet Twice was bred in Kentucky by William S. Farish III and E. J. Hudson (KY). He raced in the colors of Atlantic City Race Course owner Robert Levy, principal shareholder of the syndicate that owned the colt. He was trained by Warren "Jimmy" Croll. Bet Twice stood at Muirfield Stud in Maryland in 1990-1996 before being pensioned at age 12. He died on March 5, 1999.
Pedigree notes
Bet Twice is inbred 4x4 to Nasrullah and 5x5x5x5 to Nasrullah's sire Nearco. He is a half brother to 1992 Santa Anita Oaks (USA-G1) winner Golden Treat (by Theatrical), dam of Grade 3-placed stakes winner Double Scoop (by Seeking the Gold), and to Grade 2 winner Bold and Gold (by Bold Joey). He is also a half brother to Energy Efficient (by Fluorescent Light), dam of New Zealand stakes winner Canned Heat (by Al Akbar), and to Fidelia (by Danzig), dam of Japanese stakes winner King Fidelia. Bet Twice's dam Golden Dust is a full sister to stakes winner Joy to the World and a half sister to stakes winner Metal Vendor (by Sailing Along). She is also a half sister to Sailing Joy (by Sailing Along), dam of Grade 3 winner Gallant Sailor (by Gallant Best).
Books and media
- Bet Twice's rivalry with Alysheba was featured as the 15th chapter of Horse Racing's Greatest Rivalries (2008, Eclipse Press), a compilation produced by the staff of The Blood-Horse.
- Bet Twice is profiled in Chapter 11 of Avalyn Hunter's American Classic Pedigrees 1914-2002 (2003, Eclipse Press).
Fun facts
- Bet Twice's win in the Belmont Stakes was by the fifth-largest margin in the history of the race.
- Those close to both Bet Twice and Alysheba swore that the two colts recognized each other and would whinny and nicker at one another, but not at any other horses.
Photo credit
Photographer unknown. From the private collection of Dale Wyatt; used by permission.
Last updated: July 22, 2024