Columnist Ralph Siraco: Charismatic makes pundits play the fool

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 10:05 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday, and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Friday. Write to him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View, Las Vegas, NV 89103.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

Kentucky Derby winner Charismatic had fooled his trainer D. Wayne Lukas at least once, and on Saturday at Pimlico he fooled the betting public for the second time, winning the 124th Preakness Stakes to wrap up the second jewel in racing's Triple Crown.

Shame on us.

Charismatic, the ugly duckling of this year's sophomore crop, is now one race away from racing immortality. And, if he wins the 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes on June 5 he will be mentioned in the same breath as the greats of the sport -- those who have won the Triple Crown.

Whirlaway, Citation, Seattle Slew, Affirmed, Secretariat and ... Charismatic? Yes, Charismatic.

When Charismatic won the final Kentucky Derby prep, the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 18, his performance did not persuade rider Jerry Bailey to bail out on Worldly Manner for the Kentucky Derby.

Bailey was fooled.

Worldly Manner finished seventh in the Derby.

When trainer D. Wayne Lukas called living legend Laffit Pincay, Jr. to stand in on Charismatic in the Derby, the Hall of Famer opted to stay in California on the first Saturday in May to ride Event of the Year in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap.

Pincay was fooled.

Event of the Year finished off the board at Hollywood Park while Charismatic roared home the winner of the 125th Run For The Roses at Churchill Downs.

Lukas finally persuaded jockey Chris Antley by arguing that Charismatic, the son of Summer Squall, had really matured since his Lexington victory.

Antley didn't care if he was fooled. Of course, he did not have a Derby mount at the time either.

During Derby week in Louisville, Lukas would tell anyone who would listen that Charismatic had fooled him with his ability -- or lack of it -- and his appearances in races for a "tag" were a result of Lukas' bad judgment and not that of his eventual fourth Kentucky Derby winner. He continued to hail Charismatic's Lexington victory as a turning point for the always-promising colt.

All but a few of the sport's experts and prognosticators failed to take Lukas seriously, as they could not get by the haunting claiming races on the horse's past performance lines.

They, too, were fooled.

So, when Charismatic had the audacity to win the Kentucky Derby, the excuses started to form. After all, the bulk of the experts couldn't be wrong. Right?

Wrong.

Charismatic, the experts said, had a clear trip while all the real contenders had traffic problems and assorted road blocks that led to his upset victory. They said that with a better trip, fast-closing runner-up Menifee would have worn the blanket of roses instead of Charismatic. They reasoned that if a half-dozen other runners had clean trips they too would have run down the winner.

Well they didn't, and if my aunt had ... well, she'd be my uncle.

So, with the cavalier dismissal of Charismatic's "lucky" Derby tally behind him, the Preakness Stakes would be the reality check for the Derby winner. Usually, the Kentucky Derby winner is installed as the morning-line favorite to win the Preakness if for no other reason than respect for the win in Louisville.

Charismatic was officially hung the third choice behind 5-2 favorite Menifee -- that unlucky fast-closing Derby runner up -- and the Bob Baffert-trained filly Excellent Meeting -- who many believe had a troubled Derby trip as well -- at 5-1.

Although Charismatic was posted at 6-1, the betting public let the Derby winner slide to 8-to-1 before post time.

They were also fooled.

When Charismatic made a bold and decisive move on the far turn to win the Preakness Stakes on Saturday. the roar of disbelief was as loud at Baltimore as it was at Louisville.

The Derby winner's Preakness payoff was $18.80 to win.

It was revealed after the Preakness that Antley needed a little help from fellow rider Gary Stevens. It seems Stevens, aboard Stephen Got Even, who finished a non-threatening 14th in the Derby, had Antley and Charismatic pinned behind horses at crunch time. Antley yelled over to Stevens, asking if he was "dead" -- meaning if he didn't have a chance to win -- to let him out of the pocket. Antley said Stevens let him out and Charismatic went on to take the Preakness, beating runner-up Menifee (again) with authority. Ironically, Stephen Got Even managed to beat nine others to the wire and finish fourth.

It was also revealed that Excellent Meeting had bled during the race, forcing her to drop out.

Speculation following the Preakness victory is certain to abound. If Excellent Meeting did ... if Gary Stevens didn't ... and if Menifee could ...

Charismatic has distinguished himself among the males of his generation.

And only Charismatic can fool us again. Like Rodney Dangerfield, he will either gain respect by his fame or be forever famous by not getting any respect.

That will be determined at the Belmont.