Columnist Ralph Siraco: Baffert will take shot at history in Derby

Ralph Siraco

Monday, April 26, 1999 | 10:32 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing notebook appears Monday. His Southern California selections appear Tuesday through Friday on the scoreboard page. Write to him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

The last Kentucky Derby of this century is less than five days away. And, like the previous 99 runnings of the 20th Century this Derby has several story lines leading to its 125th renewal.

Each year, the people, the horses, the circumstances and the ways they have gotten to Louisville for the feature race at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May are as interesting as the race itself, and in many cases they are one in the same.

Trainer Bob Baffert could make the last Derby to the millenium history-making if he can win the run for the roses for the third consecutive time. No trainer has ever won three-in-a-row, although two of five previous trainers had tried off of back-to-back Derby wins.

Trainer Dick Thompson was the first to attempt the feat in 1934 but finished 9th with Bazaar after winning with Brokers Tip in 1933 and Burgoo King in 1932. Then came the Calumet Farms racing dynasty that saw stable trainer Jimmy Jones win a pair before a no-starter in 1959. Jimmy had visited the winners circle at Churchill in 1957 with Iron Liege and then Tim Tam in 1958. That followed his father, Ben Jones, pair of Calumet winners of Citation in 1948 and Ponder in 1949 before his no-starter in 1950.

Likewise for trainer Lucien Laurin who trained a duo of Meadow Stable stars for back-to-back victories with Riva Ridge in 1972 and the great Secretariat in 1973, but, no-starter in 1974. It wasn't until 1997 that a trainer had a chance at three-in-a-row when D. Wayne Lukas, who holds several Derby records, tried with Deeds Not Words who finished 13th. He had garnered the 1995 Derby with Thunder Gulch and followed the next year with Grindstone that continued a string of six consecutive Triple Crown race wins for the trainer.

Ironically, it was Baffert who was the recipient of the photo-finish loss to Grindstone that would have by now given him the record.

In his first trip to Louisville, Baffert had brought Santa Anita Derby winner Cavonnier to try America's most famous horse race. The California-bred gelding came within a nose of pulling off the victory. The silver-haired conditioner took the loss with class but vowed to be back. And he has kept that promise in spades.

In 1997, Baffert returned to win the Derby with Silver Charm. That exciting renewal saw Captain Bodget and Free House continue a rivalry with Silver Charm through the Triple Crown that year. After Silver Charm had won another heart-stopper in the Preakness Stakes, a Triple Crown dream was within reach.

A fresh face, Touch Gold, would stop Baffert from the Crown with a victory in the Belmont Stakes but, again, the 46-year-old Nogales, Ariz., native took the loss with class and vowed to return. He again did it in spades.

Last year he returned to Louisville with a pair of contenders in Santa Anita Derby winner, Indian Charlie, and runner up Real Quiet. While Indian Charlie went off the favorite of Derby 124, it was Real Quiet who came home the winner while his stablemate finished 3rd.

Again a rivalry was born in the Derby that would take its battles through the Triple Crown. Victory Gallop, who was a fast-closing 2nd in the Derby, challenged the Derby winner in the Preakness Stakes at Baltimore. Again, Baffert's charge would win the second Jewel of the Triple Crown by outfinishing his rival and again the Triple Crown dream was within reach.

Last year's Belmont Stakes provided a most exciting climax to a roller coaster Triple Crown ride for trainer Baffert and Real Quiet's down-to-earth beer drinking owner Mike Pegram. But, again Baffert's Triple Crown trophy was iced. This time it came in the shadow of the finish line. Victory Gallop had hung a short but decisive nose victory over Real Quiet.

This year Baffert has returned to Louisville loaded for bear. He again brings the first two finishers of the Santa Anita Derby to the dance in the form of winner General Challenge and runner up Prime Timber. But, in a departure from the past, he has brought the two best fillies in America in Silverbulletday and Excellent Meeting as well.

Baffert has plans for a Churchill Downs classic double with his fillies and colts. He plans to run Silverbulletday -- a winner of all three outings this year and 9-for-10 lifetime -- in the Kentucky Oaks on Friday and is sitting on the fence with Excellent Meeting for the same race or a possible Derby start against the boys and another filly in Three Ring.

Baffert may reason that with Silverbulletday almost a free bingo square to win the Oaks, would Excellent Meeting stand just as good a chance of winning the Derby as finishing second to her more famous female stablemate on Friday.

Excellent Meeting has been training exceptionally since returning to the Churchill Downs racing strip and reeled off a solid workout on Saturday. She is owned by the Golden Eagle Farms of California which also has General Challenge set for the Derby. John Mabee, head of Golden Eagle, suffered a heartbreaking setback last year with Event of the Year who was training up a storm in preparation for the Derby only to breakdown in a final workout days before the race.

And, with Silverbulletday also scorching the Churchill Downs racing strip in preparation for her Oaks walkover, could her owner, last year's Derby victor Mike Pegram catch Derby fever again?

It is more likely that if any of the Baffert fillies tries the Derby it will be Excellent Meeting. But, make no mistake about it, General Challenge and Prime Timber, who are also training brilliantly, are ready for the Baffert record try.