Ralph Siraco’s notes

Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999 | 1:23 a.m.

As Hurricane Floyd slams into the East Coast, race tracks are bracing for survival. In Florida, the Miami tracks, Calder Race Course and Gulfstream Park, had maintenance crews working overtime as they seal the tracks and batten down the hatches. The same procedure continues at tracks up and down the coast in the path of the storm.

Before the races were complete at The Meadowlands on Wednesday evening the decision to cancel tonight's card had been announced to the crowd at the track and over the simulcast systems.

The track in East Rutherford, N.J., has been a subject of criticism since it opened on Friday night. The New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operates the facility, spent $500,000 to renovate the main dirt surface in an effort to make it safer during bad weather conditions.

But, after Friday night's rainstorm that forced the cancellation of the card after the fifth race, officials discovered they lost the race track. The damage to the racing surface was repaired overnight and the card went off without a hitch Saturday night.

With tonight's cancellation and the anticiapted continued pelting from Floyd, officials can only wait to see if the track washes out again.

Calder has canceled tonight's card while Floyd roars through the area, and although Gulfstream Park is not racing now there is still much concern at the Hallandale emporium.

Gulfstream will host this year's Breeders' Cup on Nov. 6 and any heavy damage will be devastating for the track. With fewer than seven weeks until the Breeders' Cup mini meeting, securing the track is more work than normal this year. There is already a lot of extra hardware on the grounds for the Breeders' Cup, such as 6,000 stadium seats and the south pavilion that need to be secured as well.

Floyd may also wreak havoc on the weekend's Breeders' Cup prep races at Belmont Park in New York. The 33-day Fall Championship meeting features graded stakes races in each of the eight divisions leading to Breeders' Cup.

This weekend showcases Saturday's $500,000 Woodward Stakes for horses aspiring for a Breeders' Cup Classic berth and the $250,000 Ruffian Handicap for fillies pointing for the Breeders' Cup Distaff.

On Sunday the 2-year-olds share center stage with the Matron for fillies and the Futurity for colts and geldings. Both races are Grade I events and while the Matron will provide another challenger for division leader Chilukki, the Futurity will feature the East Coast's division leader in More Than Ready.

Of course, after the recent Del Mar Futurity, many believe that More Than Ready will have to keep pace with Forest Camp in the division. The Del Mar victor is trained by Bob Baffert and could make the Breeders' Cup Juvenile a good ol' East vs. West rivalry. That would set up an interesting Triple Crown run next year.

The Woodward Stakes will be gut check time for invader Almutawakel. The Godolphin Stables star will take on the likes of Running Stag, Black Cash, River Keen, Barter Town and Stephen Got Even.

Almutawakel won the rich Dubai World Cup in March against Victory Gallop, Silver Charm and Maleck. He has also shown a fondness for the Belmont oval since arriving on Sept. 2 for Saturday's engagement.

Jockey Jerry Bailey will ride Almutawakel in hopes of finding his Breeders' Cup Classic mount now that both Real Quiet and Victory Gallop have fallen by the wayside, reminding everyone that he has won four previous Classics.

Finally, The Boz'n is no longer a maiden. The legendary loser finally found the winner's circle after 78 consecutive losses.

The 8-year-old gelding arrived at Charles Town race track in West Virginia sitting on a 68-race losing streak from New York. After 10 aborted outings he put it all together last Friday night.

Sent off as the longest shot in a field of seven $5,000 maiden-claimers, the Kristy Lynn Petty-ridden runner lagged near the back of the pack with an eighth of a mile left to go in the 1 1/16th mile contest when he made a 3-wide move to victory at $46.40.