Ralph Siraco: Concerto ascends on otherwise downer day

Monday, April 7, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.

TAKE A WEEK off from this corner and the news piles up, so let's catch up.

Notes scribbled across my program: Saturday, March 29, was one of those days in racing. The second running of the $4 million Dubai World Cup in the Arabian desert was postponed due to a three-hour downpour that left the track at Nad Al Sheba all but washed out. So our production company, Race Day Las Vegas, was left showing videos on Channel 39 Cable 9 in place of the world-renowned race.

Later on the same day, the 16th running of the Jim Beam Stakes looked more like a demolition derby than a Derby stepping-stone. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner saw his Concerto win the Turfway headliner, while a Southern California invader, Inexcessivelygood, fell in a dramatic one-horse spill that dampened the otherwise impressive victory.

Trainer Nick Zito, who trains his own string of Steinbrenner steeds, but not Concerto, finished second (Jack Flash) and third (Shammy Davis) to the Boss. Jockey Chris McCarron, who rode the ill-fated victim, suffered bumps, bruises and a few cracked ribs in the process. Next tune for Concerto is "My Old Kentucky Home."

Derby field open

With four weeks to go for the 126th running of the Kentucky Derby, the field for this year's run for the roses is as wide open as it was 14 weeks ago. Some are springing forward like the daylight time change, while others are dropping to standard-time mediocrity.

On Saturday, two more Louisville tuneups were conducted on opposite coasts. At Hialeah in Florida, the once-important Flamingo Stakes drew a useful field of seven with Frisk Me Now the overwhelming favorite to win. The son of 1990 Kentucky Derby favorite Mister Frisky won as billed and remains in the Derby mix.

At Santa Anita in Southern California, the most important West Coast Derby prep was held. The Grade I Santa Anita Derby brought together a competitive group of 10 and a thrilling 60th renewal at 1 1/8 miles. The D. Wayne Lukas filly phenom Sharp Cat was favored to handle the boys and parlay a Santa Anita Oaks win into a Derby berth.

But on this day, the boys were not polite as they pushed her every step of the way, and the four-time Grade I winner suffered her first defeat of the year while finishing off the board.

Although Free House, who stalked a lively pace in the catbird seat, outfinished a game Silver Charm, it was the runner-up that raised all the eyebrows. With new rider Gary Stevens up, Silver Charm shot right out of the starting gate for the lead that cooked Sharp Cat, then held tough when collared by Free House.

Sharp efforts by the top two guarantee a friends-fly-free duo for Louisville. Reunited with his Norfolk winning partner Kent Desormeaux, Free House gutted out his second win in a row, outdueling Silver Charm in both outings. If you're looking for a western Derby quinella, be reminded these two have finished in the Q in their last three meetings.

Glitter shines

Sharp Cat may find the competition no easier with her own gender if Lukas elects to send her east for the Kentucky Oaks the day before the Derby. Glitter Woman romped to a one-sided victory in Keeneland's Ashland on Saturday. She has now won her last four races by "daylight" and sixth of nine lifetime, while finishing second on the other three occasions.

Sharp Cat may not be even the second-best sophomore filly in the nation. Blushing K.D. rolled to a decisive victory in Sunday's Fantasy Stakes at Oaklawn Park. K.D. KO'd the opposition and kept perfect a now-record of five for five in stakes races and six of six against her own sex. She, too, may be heading for the Oaks at Churchill.

The Racing Festival of the South kicked off a week of top-grade racing at Hot Springs with the Oaklawn Handicap on Saturday. Among the eight in the field was favorite Tejano Run and world record-setter Isitingood. But it would be the mile world-record holder, Atticus, under Shane Sellers, that would get a golden trip run to win the 1 1/8-mile event for trainer Richard Mandella. Isitingood snapped a four stakes-race win streak while second, and Tejano Run completed the trifecta.

The victory by Atticus was consolation in a whirlwind week for trainer Mandella, who had to settle for secondary awards at Dubai. The Dubai World Cup, rescheduled five days after the desert monsoon, saw the Mandella Team USA of Siphon and Sandpit finish second and third, respectively, behind the world's newest handicap superstar Singspiel. Racing for the first time on dirt, the Irish-bred, ridden by American Jerry Bailey and owned by Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum of the race's homeland, rallied on the rail to win the Thursday morning event for the sixth victory of his last nine starts.

Notebook

Announcer Kurt Becker made history when Keeneland opened on Friday. The 28-year-old broke the "code of silence" at the historic Kentucky track as the first public address and race announcer since the track opened in 1936.

Jockey Jorge Chavez got off to a fast start at Aqueduct's spring session with five wins of eight mounts at the big A on Wednesday. ... Jockey Pat Valenzuela was denied a jock's license in California when the CHRB cited a rule pertaining to drug use. ... Frisk Me Now and Glitter Woman were among 13 late Triple Crown nomination.

This Saturday, another trio of Derby preps are on tap with the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, the Blue Grass at Keeneland and the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn, each featuring top Derby contenders. ... Santa Anita gets a 3 p.m. first post for the remaining Fridays of the meet. ... And finally, the California simulcasting impasse is in the hands of NPMA bookmakers. With a vote this week, they will have the power to end the five-month blackout and add home television cable coverage in the process. Reasons that may not be easily apparent might not end the boycott and could make for a long, hot, blacked-out summer.