Ralph Siraco: After weekend races, Breeders’ Cup open

Monday, Oct. 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

THE DUST has settled from the final whirlwind of stakes and handicap races over the weekend leading to this year's Breeders' Cup less than three weeks hence. The clouds from the dust, however, have yet to clear and, after the surprising results, Breeders' Cup XIII can be declared wide open, making for the most competitive and challenging in years.

The weekend series of 19 races, staged from Friday night to Sunday afternoon, covered the country from coast to coast and beyond.

The cinch of the series, Cigar, suffered defeat again, and again jockey Jerry Bailey finds himself in a debate that would pale Sunday's political one. Lucky for the California stewards (the on-site judges for the state) that the booth at Santa Anita, from which they adjudicate, sits way above the grandstands or they might have found a shower of Alomar gestures in their faces after three stakes-race disqualifications. Add to this some impressive winners that are not Breeders' Cup nominated, and you start to get the picture of this wild and crazy championship showdown in Canada.

So, with this calm before the Breeders' Cup storm, here's how the weekend stepping stones went in their respective Breeders' Cup divisions:

Classic: Saturday's $1 million Grade I Jockey Club Gold Cup was supposed to be a "jog in the Belmont Park" for champion Cigar. But, when jockey Jerry Bailey allowed the reigning Horse of the Year to lag lengths off the lead of Louis Quatorze and Skip Away, he found that Cigar could not catch this year's sophomore champion Skip Away, who held tenaciously for a narrow victory. Bailey was criticized for keeping Cigar too close to a fast pace in his Pacific Classic loss at Del Mar in August and now finds himself in the same spot for keeping Cigar too far off a moderate pace in his latest outing. Oh well, Jerry, there is an old saying -- you always hurt the one you love.

Also on Saturday, the Goodwood Handicap at Santa Anita saw Cigar's Pacific Classic conqueror Dare And Go face three other rivals. Ever hear another saying about a one-car funeral? Well, the winner Alphabet Soup was disqualified from the win and placed third, in a four-horse field, mind you, for interference to Dare And Go. Savinio, who was jammed between the two, got the prize in the ticky-tack scenario.

Distaff: Three key races on Sunday with Keeneland's Spinster Stakes, a race that's produced seven of the 12 BC Distaff winners, as the most impressive. The Argentine mare Different stayed undefeated in the U.S. with win No. 4 and is not Breeders' Cup nominated. Her owners, Sid and Jenny Craig of weight-loss fame, have supplemented with success before when Paseana turned the parlay in 1992.

Belmont's Beldame was a rerun of that track's Sept. 14 Ruffian Handicap as Yank's Music once again ran down Serena's Song to win. Both are probably BC-bound. Oak Tree's Lady's Secret saw Top Rung hold tough to the oncoming Jewel Princess for new pilot Earlie Fires. The winner and odds-on runner-up should head to Woodbine next.

Turf: Saturday's Turf Classic at Belmont saw the horse-for-course winner Diplomatic Jet chalk up his third win of 13 starts this year, with all three victories over the layout. It was a perfect birthday gift for owner Fred W. Hooper, who was celebrating his 99th. Unfortunately, the Breeders' Cup Turf is at Woodbine instead of Belmont this year, but, off the win, he deserves the chance. Sunday's Oak Tree Turf Championship saw another win-disqualification when Bon Point racked up two of the only four other competitors in the field and, once again, the stewards dropped the winner and Admise got the pass for the win. Anyone out of this race will be a longshot in Canada.

Juvenile colts: Saturday's Champagne at Belmont proves that jockeys are sometimes good handicappers. Rider J.R. Velasquez had ridden three of the entrants in their last victories, but stayed aboard the eventual winner Ordway. He outran Futurity winner Traitor and Team Lukas' Gold Tribute, who are also expected to head for Breeders' Cup. Sunday's Norfolk at Oak Tree saw Free House win on-the-pace for his second career score of three lifetime outing.s Anyone venturing from California to Canada out of this race better get a "friends fly free" deal.

Juvenile fillies: Sunday's Frizette at Belmont saw the promising Storm Song turn the tables on favorite Sharp Cat. Team Lukas' Del Mar Debutante winner couldn't hold off Storm Song as she successfully did in the Matron at the same track in their previous meeting. So, the rubber match for the two gals will be the biggie at Woodbine. Saturday's Oak Leaf Stakes winner at Santa Anita, City Band, should be no threat to these, but she is also a Lukas trainee, so expect to see her in the lineup.

Mile: Belmont's Kelso Handicap on Saturday saw a 5 o'clock traffic jam to the finish. As usual with blanket finishes, someone has to be a longshot and, in this case, it was the winner Same Old Wish who granted at $71. Sunday's Oak Tree BC Mile was just the opposite as Urgent Request rolled to an impressive victory and probably bought himself a ticket to Canada in the process.

Sprint: Two sprints on Sunday should send the winners to Woodbine. The Boojum at Belmont saw Team Lukas' Lord Carson smoke the field for his third consecutive victory, and he may be peaking just right. The Ancient Title at Oak Tree had another disqualification, but this time it was for third place. The unaffected winner, Lakota Brave, outran the trouble to win and may be a Canadian candidate for Breeders' Cup. His style could play well over the Woodbine tan.

Finally, Europe's most prestigious race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, was run on our Sunday morning, and the winner Helissio won with authority. He would ambitiously lead a potent and formidable contingent from over the pond for this year's Breeders' Cup renewal.

The dust clouds should turn to smoke for Cigar's career finale, but the others are certain to add fire and warm up this Canadian Breeders' Cup day in October.