Columnist Ralph Siraco: Weekend racing roundup

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Sept. 28, 1998 | 10:06 a.m.

OBSERVATIONS of a busy weekend of racing around the country.

Friday night at the Meadowlands, N.J., Tomorrows Cat rolled to a decisive victory in the $500,000 Pegasus Handicap by defeating his sophomore classmates that included pacesetter Rock And Roll and California invader Barter Town. Jockey Joe Bravo, using his knowledge of track bias, kept Tomorrows Cat close to the pace and go the jump on favorite Comic Strip who had to much to do and finished 3rd while Limit Out closed to be 2nd. Limit Out came into the 1 1/8 miles race under the lights fresh from a victory in the Jerome Handicap just six days prior at Belmont Park.

Saturday at Turfway Park in Kentucky, the 5th edition of the Kentucky Cup Day of Champions, a five-race series worth $1.15 million, was presented.

The centerpiece of the series was the $500,000 Kentucky Cup Class that featured the return of Silver Charm. The popular Bob Baffert-trained gray was making his first start since a last place finish in the July 25t6h San Diego Handicap at Del Mar, California. The 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner hadn't won a race since his thrilling victory over European superhorse Swain in the late-March Dubai World Cup at Dubai in the middle-east. The Kentucky Cup Classic had assemble a short but competitive field to test the son of Silver Buck that included contenders Acceptable and Wild Rush.

This Classic in Kentucky was a classic race.

When the starting gates opened in the Grade III event, Silver Charm, Acceptable and Wild Rush went for the lead. As the field rounded the first of two turns in the 1 1/8 miles race, jockey Gary Stevens opted to take Charm off the pace battle that left Acceptable and Wild Rush dueling on the lead. As the trio made their way into the final bend, Wild Rush put away Acceptable while Silver Charm ambled alongside to challenge the leader.

Silver Charm collared his worthy rival as they raced through the homestretch but, Wild Rush refused to yield. What has become a patented Charm trait, a mano-a-mano battle saw the pair his th wire as one. In a head-bobbing driving finish that had Stevens and Pat Day, who rode Wild Rush, wondering who go the "bob", and after numerous photo copies and anxious minutes that seemed like hours, the Kentucky Cup Classic ended in a win deadheat.

Each returned the minimum payoff of $2.10 to win and each horse now sits in a waiting pattern for a possible berth at the Breeders' Cup at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7.

It was well known that the Kentucky Cup start was a pivotal one for Silver Charm. A victory would keep him in line for a possible Breeders' Cup start, but another lackluster loss could have sent the charismatic gray into racing retirement.

Now, a follow-up start in the Oct. 7 Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap at Oaktree at Santa Anita and another winning performance could very well lead to a Louisville showdown with Skip Away, if, owners Bob and Beverly Lewis ante up the $800,000 supplemental payment needed for Silver Charm to participate in the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic.

Jockey Corey Nakatani had a busy and productive weekend. After winning five races on a card opening weekend at Belmont Park, N.Y., the Southern California-based rider showed up at Turfway Park on Saturday to take half of the four other Kentucky Cup day events.

The Del Mar riding champ rode California invader Reraise to a runaway victory in the KC Sprint. Then he returned to the winners circle for an encore wire-to-wire victory with Biding Time in the Turfway Breeders' Cup for fillies and mares.

In the juvenile events, Aly's Alley won the Kentucky Cup Juvenile while jockey Gary Stevens picked up the victory on Grand Deed in the Juvenile Fillies.

Racking up his frequent flier miles, Nakatani, along with Stevens, rolled into Louisiana for the Grade I $500,000 Super Derby at Louisiana Downs on Sunday. The untested but promising Arch was sent off as the second choice in the 1 1/4 mile-race behind favorite Classic Cat, who was shooting for a $1 million bonus having won the Ohio and Remington Park derbies. Nakatani managed to sit Arch outside and right off the pacesetting longshot Sir Tiff and stalking Early Warning, with Stevens aboard, and outraced Classic Cat after overtaking the early leaders to win the Super Derby. Sir Tiff held on to finish third.

Belmont Park held a couple of weekend races that may produce several participants for breeders' Cup.

Saturday, the 7-furlong Vosburgh saw Affirmed Success keep his hold on the sprint division west of the Mississippi. The recent winner of Saratoga's Forego Handicap was facing his nemesis in Kelly Kip, who had beaten him twice this year. Fortunate for Affirmed Success that the Vosburgh, that many believed was the sprint race off the year, was at the 7-panel distance. Kip had been 0-for-4 at the trip. He is now 0-for-5 as Affirmed Success turned the tables on Kelly by winning the Vosburgh over Stormin Fever and Tale of the Cat. His next stop should be Louisville for a date in the shortest Breeders' Cup event on the card.

Sunday, the Lawrence Realization Handicap was contested over 1 1/2 miles of Belmont green. Parade Ground, who was a contender on the Triple Crown trail earlier this year, has turned onto a turf terror. Under Pat Day, the Kingmambo offspring rolled to his third grass victory of four starts on the sod. Now it remains to be seen if his connections have enough confidence to send him to Breeders' Cup to try the best turfers in the world.