Ralph Siraco’s notes

Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999 | 10:19 a.m.

Jockey Jerry Bailey shared some anxious moments with the New York bridge-jumping bettors during Saturday's running of the Grade I Gazelle Handicap at Belmont Park, N.Y.

Bailey was aboard the heavy race favorite Silverbulletday in the 1 1/8-miles contest on a card that featured a twinbill of Breeders' Cup preview races.

A live crowd of more than 13,000 and a tenfold simulcast audience made the Bob Baffert-trained sophomore filly a prohibitive 1-to-5 betting favorite to polish off five other ambitious overmatched rivals for five cents on the dollar in return for less than two minutes of holding time.

But, because of the configuration of the 1 1/2-mile circumference of Belmont Park's main oval, the largest such layout in America, the start of the route event begins in a long chute that eventually connects to the main oval.

Unlike other tracks that take two turns over a mile oval for the distance, at Belmont Park a race covering nine furlongs takes only one turn after the run down the lengthy back stretch to complete.

So, when Silverbulletday broke from the rail post and saw unusual surroundings, she hesitated for an awkward start. Little did the bridge-jumpers know that the $976,256 they wagered of the $1,014,359 in the show pool, was on a filly whose mind was wandering as she gazed into the infield.

Bailey knew, and despite the rail bias of the day, he guided her off the rail and into the clear for her run at the leaders. Bailey would relay after the race, "She broke looking at the infield. Anybody that's ridden Belmont out of the chute the first time knows horses are subject to do that."

Although Silverbulletday reeled off her 8th victory of nine starts this year (with the only defeat in the Belmont Stakes against the boys on the same track) and 14th of 16 career outings, Bailey admitted it was not her best effort, and for good reason.

The Eclipse Award-winning rider explained that after the shaky beginning his partner never really got into it. After the start he said, "she was always like 'Where am I?' So, I went ahead and got her to the outside to give her the easiest trip possible."

The combination of competition and her superior talent allowed Silverbulletday to win at less than a 100 percent effort bodes well for her next encounter. She will return in the Grade I $500,000 Beldame on Oct. 10 over the same Belmont Park strip. It will be her final tuneup for an expected showdown with the distaff leader Banshee Breeze in the Breeders' Cup this fall at Gulfstream Park.

An Eclipse Award and the divisional title will be on the line. Her mind, along with the bridge-jumping plungers, better be on business against Banshee Breeze and company on November 6th to make it a Silverbullet-year.