Ralph Siraco’s notes

Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999 | 9:53 a.m.

If you are looking to play a bobtail nag in the Breeders' Cup future book, beware, it is not for the faint hearted. Future book wagering in Las Vegas roots back to the days when there were free-standing race and sports books that were named after famous race tracks like the Santa Anita, Del Mar or the Churchill Downs on the strip.

Now, high-tech race and sports books are part of the mega resort terrain and future book wagering is offered on both the Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup events each year. From the back room books of gambling to the sprawling simulcast books of gaming, one thing that has not changed about future book wagering is that you must risk the play on the future.

Many future book wagers on famous horses have become souvenirs with tall tales of great expectations that get bigger and longer as time goes by. My tale is of the 1998 Kentucky Derby when Event of the Year was a week away from glory -- or at least that is the way my tale goes -- and provides a nice framed souvenir at 150-1 on my office wall.

The latest tale, and certainly not the last, for this year's Breeders' Cup futures happened as recently as Wednesday. Many flocked to Bally's to get a piece of the hot thing that had just won Sunday's Futurity at Belmont Park. The winner, Bevo, had just disposed of the futures Juvenile favorite More Than Ready.

Taking a risk on Bevo to repeat in the Breeders' Cup on Nov. 6 at the juicy odds of 25/1 to beat More Than Ready at 5/2 was touted as a good thing.

On Tuesday, Bevo was on the operation table at the New Jersey Equine Clinic to remove a chip in his left front knee from an injury that was sustained in the Futurity score. Bevo will be sidelined for the rest of the year, and with him all those future book tickets that drove down the price to 10/1 odds.

Now More Than Ready looks like a bargain at 5/2 odds. But, the Breeders' Cup is more than six weeks away. Six weeks left to get him and any other futures bet to the starting gate -- and then WIN to cash.

Here are the current favorites for the eight Breeders' Cup races to be run at Gulfstream Park, courtesy of Bally's. Odds are subject to change without notice.

DISTAFF -- Silverbulletday 2/1, Banshee Breeze 5/2, Beautiful Pleasure 8/ 1, Manistique 10/1 and Heritage of Gold 15/1.

JUVENILE FILLIES -- Chilukki 3/1, Surfside 5/1, Dream Supreme 10/1, Miss Wineshine 10/1, Regally Appealing 10/1 and Abby Girl 12/1.

SPRINT -- Forestry 3/1, Big Jag 10/1, Five Star Day 10/1, Yes It's True 10 / 1, Affirmed Success 12/1, Cantica 12/1, Crafty Friend 12/1 Stravinsky 12/ 1.

MILE -- Senedawar 7/1, Hawksley Hill 10/1, Tuzla 10/1, Silic 12/1, Eagleton 15/1, Garbu 15/1, Rob 'N Gin 15/1 and Gold Away 15/1.

FILLY AND MARE TURF -- Fiji 5/1, Virginie 8/1, Soaring Softly 10/1, Perfect Sting 12/1, Pleasant Temper 12/1, Tranquility Lake 12/1 and Tuzla 12/1.

JUVENILE -- More Than Ready 5/2, Forest Camp 3/1, High Yield 6/1, Dixie Union 8/1 and Exchange Rate 10/1.

TURF -- Yagli 7/2, Daylami 8/1, Buck's Boy 10/1, Val's Prince 10/1, Brave Act 15/1 and Majorien 15/1.

CLASSIC -- Behrens 3/1, General Challenge 8/1, Lemon Drop Kid 10/1, Menifee 10/1, Old Trieste 10/1, Almutawakel 12/1 and Malek 15/1.