Columnist Steve Carp: Breeders’ Cup can still excite despite losses

Steve Carp

Thursday, Nov. 6, 1997 | 9:52 a.m.

GENTLEMEN. SIPHON. Pulpit. Silver Charm. Anet.

It's like hearing a list of names from a tragedy, some macabre circumstance which has a saddening effect on everyone.

Kelly Kip. Captain Bodgit. Down the Aisle. Tale of the Cat. Silver Maiden.

Shed a tear, if you wish, for the Breeders' Cup. For what was looking like a day of champions back in the spring has taken on the appearance of a Survivors' Series Saturday at Hollywood Park with all those absences.

There isn't a trainer or an owner with a horse entered who wasn't wishing the races couldn't be run today. Even a scant 48 hours to post time seems like an eternity. They know something can always go wrong between now and Saturday.

But the optimist in all of us should look at Breeders' XIV as a chance for history to be made and some compelling stories to be told that will hold up for years to come.

Despite the epidemic of withdrawals from the seven-race card, this still could be one heck of a Breeders' Cup. Virtually every race has enough contenders to instill some debate. And even in the $2 million Turf, where Singspiel is the 6-5 morning-line favorite, there will be some conjecture as to how he will handle the trip from overseas, not to mention Hollywood's hard turf course.

Want compelling stories? How about D. Wayne Lukas, the king of Breeders' Cup trainers, entering eight horses Saturday and nobody's giving him a shot to win except in the Juvenile, where Grand Slam looks very formidable.

Or owner Allen Paulson, who was sitting on top of the world a year ago at this time, only to come crashing down the last eighth of a mile at Woodbine as the mighty Cigar was unable to make history and win back-to-back Classics.

Then there's David Hofmans, the man who trained the conqueror of Cigar, Alphabet Soup. He's looking to retain his hold on the Classic title, and with 3-year-old sensation Touch Gold, he has got a heck of a shot.

Touch Gold, who has been plagued by foot problems yet denied Silver Charm his Triple Crown bid in June in the Belmont Stakes, will need to bounce back from a lackluster effort in the Pegasus at the Meadowlands in September. And he'll have to beat Skip Away and a couple of others to do it. But wouldn't that be a great story if Touch Gold won?

And there's Patrick Byrne, the "now" trainer, who has the favorites in the Juvenile (Favorite Trick), the Juvenile Fillies (Countess Diana) and the Sprint (Richter Scale). What if he pulls off a "Pick 3?"

Throw in Jewel Princess' attempt to become the fourth horse to repeat as Breeders' champ (if she can win the Distaff again in what will be her final race), jockey great Jerry Bailey trying to redeem himself from last year's disappointment with Cigar with six mounts and the Sprint getting a full field of 14. There are so many compelling stories, you'd have to "box" them to make sure you were covered.

Those unable to make it will be missed. But for the survivors, their shot at glory is just a couple of days away.