Page 151 - Speedhorse August 2018

Pass Over won her first stakes event in the Ground Hog Futurity at Hilltop Downs under Tad Ober for owner Jack Delmar and trainer James Bertrand on Feb. 18, 1973.
acquainted with James P. Bertrand, a trainer who was not too well known as a handler of horses. As unbelievable as any story that has come out about a runner, Delmar looked over some mares that were out in a pasture in the area of Texas A&M.
Bertrand tells it in his own words: “Mr. Delmar looked at those mares. He had never seen them before. He picked one out and said he wanted that one bred to Pass ‘Em Up. He claims that he picked the mare out from the others because she looked good to him. He liked her looks and that’s all he knows about picking her out.”
The mare was named Revision. Was she a proven broodmare? Bertrand says she had never even been broke! Never had a saddle on her! Just a mare in the pasture. All one can say is that what happened was meant to happen, for the filly that resulted from the breeding of Revision to Pass ‘Em Up was Pass Over.
Bertrand points out, “Mr. Delmar was look- ing for a filly out of a Thoroughbred sire. He told me such breeding would be a good indica- tion that the filly could go the distances required at such tracks as Ruidodo Downs.
“Mr. Delmar and I looked at the filly when she was nine months old. Her conformation was better than he had hoped for. Mr. Delmar figured she was outstanding. He was sure she
could not falter in any way. But, he did not buy her that first time.”
Jack Delmar went back later and looked at Pass Over again. He studied her a third time. Finally, he said to Bertrand, “I just believe I’ll buy her.” The price was $2,500.
James Bertrand explains: “Mr. Delmar had once told me, ‘I want to buy you a filly that can outrun any of the other horses.’ It has turned out just that way.”
Another thing hard to explain is how Pass Over’s regular rider, Tad Ober, turned out to be the one jockey to ride the filly. Like everything else about the Pass Over story, this is a fortunate fact, too. Ober has shown he knows exactly how to handle the filly. He knows when to call on her for that extra effort and she comes through. The two together have made a magnificent win- ning combination on the tracks.
Soon after Pass Over was vanned from Sunland Park to Ruidoso Downs, Tom Dawson, racing secretary for that track and for Ruidoso Downs, stated: “To the best of my knowledge, Pass Over is the only two year old in New Mexico to set a record and one week later equal it. If she stays sound during the summer and pursues the Triple Crown, the other horses will have her to beat.”
The words proved prophetic. Pass Over grabbed the first leg of the Triple Crown in
“It was born in her to run” said legendary Doe Bowman of Pass Over (shown here walking behind the filly). He looked after her and was her constant companion.
SPEEDHORSE, August 2018 149
LOOKING BACK - AN EXCERPT FROM JULY 1973 ISSUE