Not many can say that they defeated Secretariat. Prove Out and Onion are two who can, and they shared a trainer... Allen Jerkens. Today "The Giant Killer"/"Chief" passed away at the age of 85. His son Jimmy is a trainer in his own right with last year's Travers winner V.E. Day and the runner up Wicked Strong in his stable currently and the trainer became a "Giant Killer" himself when Artie Schiller won the BC Mile.
Even with beating possibly the greatest horse in the second half of the 20th Century twice, my favorite Jerkens horse did his best running against NY breds. His name was Spite the Devil, a son of Devil His Due who Allen also trained and was bred by Elisabeth Jerkens... Allen's wife. Spite was G2 placed at 2 and G3 winner at 3. However he is most known for 2002 Sleepy Hollow runner up finish where he gave the winner everything that he had. The next year that winner Funny Cide became America's sweetheart with his Derby and Preakness wins.
Spite the Devil would win the Empire Classic twice. Here is his first win in 2004:
Condolences to his family
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