Columnist Ralph Siraco: Plenty of hope in ‘99 for 2-year-olds

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Aug. 16, 1999 | 10:18 a.m.

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

It's in the air. It's that time of year. It's time to get that last sunburn at the beach, fire up the barbecue for that final outdoor feast of the summer and get ready for some football. Oops, wrong sport. Get ready to find that superstar of the future debuting at the summer spas. It's time to track the 2-year-olds.

Saratoga and Del Mar, two of the premier meetings to unveil and showcase top first-year prospects, have already passed the halfway mark of their spa seasons with the division-deciding final headliners just weeks away.

At Saratoga, the Spinaway features the fillies while the Hopeful is the marquee attraction for the overall 2-year-olds. Likewise at Del Mar, with the Debutante for the young gals and the Futurity open to all of the freshman class. At Monmouth Park, the Sapling is the season biggie for the babies while the filly division was decided in the Sorority this past Saturday when the unbeaten Sister Fiona invaded from Florida to win at that Jersey Shore racing emporium. And, don't forget the Florida Stallion series just getting under way in the Sunshine State.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Only the names and the breeding changes. Trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas once again have the corner on the top juveniles of this generation.

Although Lukas horses occupy four of the top 10 spots and Baffert also has a handful of promising youngsters just a race away from breaking into the picture, the top 2-year-old in the country right now -- More Than Ready -- resides in the less-heralded Todd Pletcher barn.

Here are the top 10 juveniles from the Daily Racing Form's current list:

* 1. MORE THAN READY: The son of Southern Halo is undefeated in five lifetime starts. He has impressed with each start and tabbed the Sanford Stakes at Saratoga as his most recent conquest. Winning by almost 10 lengths, he will be the one to beat in the upcoming Hopeful that should bring him win No. 6.

* 2. CHILUKKI: Leader of the "weaker sex" class and many think she is the best in the land right now. This daughter of 1994 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Cherokee Run broke onto the scene Derby week at Churchill Downs. She broke her maiden on a track labelled "good" but after her sizzling performance changed the track conditions to "fast." Undefeated in four career outings, her latest victory came in the Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar where she is scheduled to run next in the Debutante.

* 3. DIXIE UNION: Broke his maiden at Hollywood Park like a grizzled veteran. This son of Dixieland Band came back to win the track's division-deciding Hollywood Juvenile Championship to remain undefeated. Trainer Richard Mandella thinks this guy is genuine and he continues to stay on track for the Del Mar Futurity.

* 4. CALLER ONE: Hard-knocking son of Phone Trick is 2-for-3 lifetime. He won a Del Mar allowance race recently and also is headed for the Del Mar Futurity. Although his sire suggests distance limitations we are reminded that 1997 Horse of the Year Favorite Trick was a son of Phone Trick.

* 5. SURFSIDE: This filly by Seattle Slew makes the list off an outstanding maiden breaking score at Saratoga on Aug. 4. She is bred in the purple. Not only is she by the 1977 Horse of the Year and proficient sire, but she is the first foal by the brilliant 1994 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders, who was undefeated in her brief five-race career. Trained by Lukas (who also conditioned her mother), this one should surface in the Spinaway next.

* 6. DIABLO'S ADDITION: This son of Diablo last raced in the Flash and finished second by a head. The only other race for the Richard Violette Jr. trainee was a debut maiden breaker. He has been idle since the June 4 stakes and his next start is pending.

* 7. CASH RUN: The third of four fillies making the top 10. Another Lukas trainee. She is by Seeking The Gold and won by almost 16 lengths in her only start. That Belmont Park maiden breaker on June 6 had many anxiously waiting her next start.

* 8. AM FLIPPY: The fourth of four fillies in the top 10. Unlike the others on this list, she took a while to find her best stride. In her fifth career start, the daughter of Hazaam won a maiden-claimer by over 15 lengths at Belmont Park. Trainer H. Alen Jerkins has a reputation of being the "giant killer," having upset the great Secretariat twice in his career with two different horses. Trainer is the strength here.

* 9. OUTRIGGER: The Lukas trainee just won the Tyro Stakes at Monmouth Park by three open lengths. The son of 1988 Breeders' Cup Sprint winner Gulch won his only other start while breaking his maiden. He should roll right back in the Sapling, having won the prep for that race.

* 10. EXCHANGE RATE: The fourth "top-tenner" for the newly inducted Hall of Famer Lukas. This son of Danzig impressed in his debut with a useful maiden triumph. He returned to finish second in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship to Dixie Union, and he is primed to turn the tables on that one next time -- maybe in the Del Mar Futurity.

Other 2-year-olds that are on the cusp include four more from the Baffert barn. Forest Camp broke his maiden impressively at first asking. This son of Deputy Minister should be the new shooter in the Del Mar Futurity -- if he goes. Another pair of colts from the Baffert camp are Captain Steve and Magical Dragon, who will go in the Best Pal stakes at Del Mar on Wednesday. Baffert has another fast filly by the name of Miss Wineshine who goes today in the Grade II Adirondack at Saratoga against Team Lukas' Schuylerville winner Magicalmysterycat. She is fresh off a victory in the Sliver Spur stakes at Lone Star Park while the Lukas filly is undefeated in four starts that also includes the Hollywood Park division-winning Landaluce stakes to her credits.

Lukas has a pair of promising youngsters owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis. The highly regarded Commendable lived up to his billing with a verteran-like maiden breaker at first asking over the Del Mar strip Saturday. The son of Gone West cost $575,000 as a yearling, but, that was a bargin compared to the $1 million price tag for a Storm Cat colt named High Yield. Winning recently at Saratoga, he may show up for the Hopeful against More Than Ready, and he'll have to be just that to win. The Lewis' have already turned astute yearling purchases into spring Classics victories. You remember they owned 1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Silver Charm and this year's Derby-Preakness victor Charismatic.

Finally, Snuck In did just that when he ventured to Florida and captured the Dr. Fager Stakes at Calder Race Course recently. Trainer Steve Asmussen informs that this son of Montbrook is a rugged individual and is a very athletic horse.