Columnist Ralph Siraco: A large field is likely to run for the roses

Ralph Siraco

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 9:26 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 Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

Twenty-five Kentucky Derby prep races have been run since Hal's Hope won the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 15. Only one Derby prep remains before the main event on the first Saturday in May. That race -- the Derby Trial Stakes -- will be run on Saturday when the Churchill Downs spring racing season opens.

Years ago, in another era of racing, the Derby Trial was a key steppingstone for the following week's Kentucky Derby. But trends and training have changed to the point where those running in the Trial this year have already passed up the Kentucky Derby and will compete in what has become the consolation prize.

So, with fewer than two weeks until the first Kentucky Derby of this century, it is time to take a crash course for water cooler conversation and Derby office pools.

While this year's wonder horse is Fusaichi Pegasus (pronounced few-sa-EE-chee), there will be plenty of company in the starting gate at Louisville to see if the pre-Derby choice can snap a 20-year drought of Derby winning favorites.

Not more than two weeks ago there were more Derby-bound hopefuls than spots in the side-by-side starting gate. John Asher, director of communications for Churchill Downs, had as many as 27 Derby probables before recent developments whittled the prospects to a manageable 17 or so. The Derby starter limit is 20 with graded stakes earnings the first criteria.

And, with the added dimension of foreign interest to the Kentucky Derby expanding each year, there is also a trio of American-bound runners coming from the sands of Dubai this year. Those three have no graded stakes earnings and will wait on the sidelines hoping for spots in the starting gate. Vacancies have come up in the last week, and there appears to be real hope that the Godolphin trio may get its chance.

Recent sidelined contenders include Red Bullet, Surfside and Mighty. After finishing second to Fusaichi Pegasus in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 15, the connections of Gotham winner Red Bullet decided to pass the Derby. Owner Frank Stronach and trainer Joe Orseno elected to wait with their promising sophomore for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and take on whoever wins the Derby at Pimlico in the Preakness Stakes May 20.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who still has a foursome of Derby starters, lost his star filly Surfside to a bone chip. She will get some rest and relaxation after her maintenance surgery and miss taking on the boys.

Mighty is the latest casualty and was declared from the Derby field by trainer Frank Brothers on Friday. The Louisiana Derby winner has an inflammation problem and will be given a brief rest before resuming his career.

Here then are the hopefuls for the Kentucky Derby (in order of favoritism):

* FUSAICHI PEGASUS: Trained by Neil Drysdale, this guy cost owner Fusao Sekiguchi $4 million and has raced his way to the top with a most impressive victory in the Wood Memorial in his last outing. He has won four straight since finishing a close runner-up in his racing debut.

* THE DEPUTY: Irish import has won 3-of-4 stateside outings. He won the prestigious Santa Anita Derby in his last start April 8. The Santa Anita Derby has produced the last three Kentucky Derby winners; however, none won the race before capturing the roses.

* HIGH YIELD: The most consistent of Derby horses. He won the recent Blue Grass Stakes and the Fountain Of Youth while a close runner-up in the only other two starts this year in the Florida Derby and Santa Catalina Stakes. Although he was beaten by a pair of Derby contenders in Hal's Hope (Florida Derby) and The Deputy (Santa Catalina), the D. Wayne Lukas trainee is tough.

* WAR CHANT: The "other" Drysdale trainee. This one has less experience than his more famous stablemate but is said to have much promise. Undefeated in three career starts, he was then beaten by The Deputy while running second in the Santa Anita Derby. He should improve with that tightener under his girth.

* ANEES: Last year's juvenile champion has yet to duplicate his winning effort in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. After a sophomore debut third in the San Felipe stakes he finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. He is bred to love the Derby distance.

* CAPTAIN STEVE: After finishing up his 2-year-old season with back-to-back stakes wins, this Bob Baffert-trained runner has finished third in each of his three starts this year. Owner Mike Pegram hopes for the same magic that brought him and his trainer a victory in the 1998 Kentucky Derby with Real Quiet.

* MORE THAN READY: This guy may be the best chance for trainer Todd Pletcher, who still has four Derby hopefuls. A brilliant juvenile prospect with five wins in seven starts last year, he was runner-up in the Blue Grass after a sophomore debut dead heat in the Hutcheson Stakes at Gulfstream Park Jan. 29.

* APTITUDE: After breaking his maiden on New Year's Day, he has finished runner-up in both the Gotham and Wood Memorial at Aqueduct. In each of those outings the Bobby Frankel-trained runner encountered troubled trips. He is bred to love the Derby trip and is due for some trip luck.

* GRAEME HALL: This Pletcher trainee won the Arkansas Derby after close finishes in his previous pair of outings this year. After winning his sophomore debut by a head, he lost a Turfway Park stakes by the same margin. He should make the running in Louisville.

* HAL'S HOPE: Fell from grace with a dismal performance in the Blue Grass where it was later reported that he "ran down" (burned his heels). He previously won the Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes this winter at Gulfstream Park and is owned and trained by 87-year-old Harold Rose.

* WHEELAWAY: Has worked his way into Derby fever with a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby and a good third-place finish in the Blue Grass Stakes. He is a son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled and will relish the Derby distance.

* CHIEF SEATTLE: Was purchased and whisked to Dubai at the end of his juvenile season. One of three Godolphin imports, this guy has been trying to catch up to his competitors this year. He is behind in his training and has failed to win a race since his debut maiden-breaker at Saratoga in August 1999.

* CHINA VISIT: Appears to be the strongest of the Dubai trio. Recently won the United Emirates Derby on Dubai World Cup day and won a Kentucky Derby prep last week in his homeland. Equine jet-lag is his main concern.

* EXCHANGE RATE: Had ailment when dismal in the Wood Memorial. Won a downhill sophomore debut at Santa Anita then won the Risen Star before a fourth in the Louisiana Derby. Team Lukas runners can never be discounted.

* TRIPPI: Won the Flamingo Stakes in a runaway and is the only undefeated horse entered for the Derby. He has won all four of career starts but is a one-style, front-runner type. Although he managed a gate-to-wire tally in Florida, Kentucky will be laced with speed. Trippi may find the trip too hard to handle.

* COMMENDABLE: This is D. Wayne Lukas' favorite. The four-time Derby winning trainer has liked this colt all along and although he has done no more than break his maiden, this guy has been slowly coming around. He was a troubled fourth in the Lexington on Saturday and has all the makings to fulfill his trainer's expectations.

* IMPEACHMENT: Was a closing third in the Arkansas Derby won by stablemate Graeme Hall. Came from last to second in the Tampa Bay Derby before that. Trainer Pletcher should have the Derby surrounded with Trippi and Graeme Hall attending the pace, More Than Ready stalking and this guy waiting to pick up the pieces.

* SNUCK IN: Runner-up in the Arkansas Derby after winning the Rebel Stakes before that. Although he boasts a career record of five wins and three seconds from nine starts, he stands on the fence in the run for the roses.

* TRUE CONFIDENCE: Team Lukas Derby long shot. Eliminated in the Arkansas Derby with outside post, he finished a solid runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby at Bay Meadows before that. Has a trouble-free stalking style.

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