Columnist Ralph Siraco: Breeders’ Cup frenzy enters the homestretch

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Sept. 20, 1999 | 10:54 a.m.

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

Seven weeks from today this corner will be reviewing the results of the final Breeders' Cup Championship of this century. And, although the Breeders' Cup is only 15 years old, with the 16th edition slated for Saturday, Nov. 6, it has, in its short time, become the focal point of each year's racing season. It is the sport of kings' definitive championship day.

We will chronicle the exciting finishes, the winning rides, the storybook endings and the heartbreaks of the day and find new equine heroes to hang our hopes on. While the road to the American Triple Crown and its marquee race -- the Kentucky Derby -- are deep in tradition and history, the landscape of racing now dictates two distinct seasons each year. In fact, the two seasons are entwined in an endless circle, as the winner of the Breeders' Juvenile is immediately installed as the future-book favorite for the following year's Kentucky Derby while the most recent Triple Crown stars return to mix it up in the Classic.

So with that in mind, let us acquaint you with the top contenders for this year's Breeders' Cup competition and the leaders in the respective eight divisions for their companion Breeders' Cup events.

First we start with the centerpiece event, the $4 million Classic at 1 1/4 miles. This division has suffered the most dropout in recent months. As late as mid-May there was a real chance to see Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Charismatic, last year's Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet, Belmont Stakes winner Victory Gallop and handicap stars Free House, Puerto Madero and Silver Charm. Now they are all gone.

The durable Behrens now sits atop the list of contenders that include the surviving sophomores General Challenge, Menifee and Lemon Drop Kid. While the highly regarded Menifee continues to show promise but rarely delivers, Lemon Drop Kid has put together a pair of Grade I wins in the Belmont and recent Travers Stakes. General Challenge is the only 3-year-old of the group to have beaten his elders, with a solid victory in the Grade I Pacific Classic.

Behrens, who walked away with the highest number of points in the inaugural NTRA Champions on Fox series, ducked the Pacific Classic to stay on the schedule that trainer Jim Bonds laid out for the Breeders' Cup competition. He continues to train well for the Classic and a victory there could earn him Horse Of The Year honors.

The Distaff will open the Breeders' Cup card and has been increased to $2 million in value. This year the 1 1/8-mile race sets up as the showdown between this year's sophomore filly sensation Silverbulletday and top older mare Banshee Breeze. Silverbulletday is sitting on an impressive list of graded victories against her own classmates, but must be able to flash her brilliance against the more experienced Banshee Breeze. The latter just missed in last year's renewal to Escena when she was compromised by a deliberate pace set by the winner.

Turf war

The Turf, for $2 million at 1 1/2 miles on the lawn, should showcase the Europeans. Even though the over-the-pond competition shies away from the Cup when it is presented at Gulfstream Park because of the Florida weather at that time of year, one Euro-invader may need more than uncomfortable conditions to stop him. Daylami, who recently won the Group I Irish Champions Stakes, is right on target but is not a lock for the Cup. He will compete one more time before a Florida invasion is decided. That race most likely will be France's most prestigious race -- the October 3 Arc de Triomphe. Defending champion Buck's Boy returned to the races with a victory at Woodbine and has sights set for number two, while other contenders include multi-marathon winner Yagli and recent Man 'O War winner Val's Prince.

The Mile, at the namesake distance on turf for $1 million, has been traditionally the most competitive and successful for the Europeans. Sendawar is arguably the best miler in Europe while others who may join him on the transcontinental trip include Gold Away and Docksider. Of the American runners, Garbu, Comic Strip and the recently disqualified Atto Mile winner Hawksley Hill look to be the best to defend the home soil.

The new Breeders' Cup event, the Filly and Mare Turf, will be contested for the first time. This 1 3/8-mile turf contest will pit the best distaffers at a marathon trip for $1 million. This inaugural edition lines up a most interesting group of highly competitive mares. Division leader Fiji needs a belt-tightener before the big show, but if she comes back like the old Fiji then top contenders Soaring Softly, Tuzla, Coretta and Heritage of Gold may be racing for secondary awards. If Tranquility Lake is allowed to shake loose on the lead, they all may be chasing for the runner-up share.

The quickest heat is the $1 million Sprint at the traditional sprint distance of six furlongs. This boot 'n scoot run is a hell-bent-for-leather high speed dash for cash. Speedsters Five Star Day, Crafty Friend and Lexicon are sure to keep the heat on for a possible closer in Big Jag or Kona Gold. Three-year-olds Forestry and Yes It's True could make this a sophomore score. Yes It's True has already beaten older but has tailed off a bit in recent outings while the Bob Baffert-trained Forestry may be just gaining his best stride.

Juvenile act

Of course the most intriguing races on the Breeders' Cup card are always the Juvenile events. They showcase the best hopes for future stars of the turf. But in the 15-year history of Breeders' Cup, no winner of either the Juvenile or Juvenile Fillies has come back the following year to capture the Kentucky Derby. Both events will be contested at 1 1/16 miles for a $1 million purse.

The Juvenile Fillies produced the great Silverbulletday last year. This year, her trainer Bob Baffert may have another bullet by the name of Chilukki. She has been perfect since breaking her maiden at first asking on Derby week at Churchill Downs. She is the real deal and only the distance is in question -- if anything -- for the trainer's repeat victory. D. Wayne Lukas, who has won more Breeders' Cup races than any other conditioner, has a promising prospect in Surfside. She is the first offspring of 1994 Juvenile Fillies winner Flanders and has shown mom's brilliance in her brief career.

The Juveniles has the makings of an East vs. West showdown. Again, Baffert comes to the party with the party maker in Del Mar Futurity winner Forest Camp. His seaside victories have been monstrous and it is hoped that he's not just a beach bum runner. More Than Ready has been the talk of Broadway until he stubbed his hoof in the Futurity at Belmont Park on Sunday. He returned to the races off a fever that force him to a brief respite and the hopes are that he needed the Sunday outing to regain his legs.

With 47 days to go, anything can happen to the Breeders' Cup picture. However, with every defection comes another addition, and the event has made the participants as much as the participants has made the event. Let's just hope this year they come together as one.

archive