Columnist Ralph Siraco: Year was filled with triumphs, disappointments

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Dec. 18, 2000 | 11:07 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday, and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Friday on the scoreboard page. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89107.

With Christmas one week from today and New Years two weeks hence, my next column will come a full week into 2001.

So here are some observations from this year's racing scene as we close out 2000. ...

In the early part of this year horse racing fans were treated to a pair of outstanding horses that would eventually not make the course. The first was a smart import named Horse Chestnut (remember him?) who managed a brilliant run at Gulfstream Park before being swept off the track with injury.

Just as short a career was that of Dubai Millennium, who had positioned himself to be the horse of the world with a stunning shellacking of the world's best in the Dubai World Cup. Although he would be retired prematurely with injury as well, the impression that Dubai Millennium left at Nad Al Sheba race track will not soon be forgotten.

We can only look forward to their offspring to carry on the dream.

Then came Fusaichi Pegasus. The son of premium sire Mr. Prospector flashed onto the scene as the favorite to win the Triple Crown. Although he won the Kentucky Derby in stylish fashion, Fu-Peg could not sustain any momentum. After his loss in the Preakness Stakes he was shelved until a Breeders' Cup run.

Again, after a brilliant performance in the Jerome, the $60 million sire prospect failed to win his career finale. Again, we can only hope his offspring will get the job done.

Late bloomer Tiznow brings hope for the new year. His victories this fall -- which culminated with a vintage Breeders' Cup Classic triumph -- may have earned him the gold Eclipse trophy as Horse of the Year.

Fate seems to write many endings in racing. Cecilia Straub-Rubens, who bred Tiznow and raced his full brother Budroyale, lived long enough to see Tiznow carry her colors to victory and become the first California-bred to win a Breeders' Cup race. She died less than a week after she accepted the trophy in the Churchill Downs winner's circle.

The worldwide racing operation of the Godolphin Racing Stable sent a division of high-priced royally bred youngsters to Southern California for the first time this year, and although the success rate was less than what was hoped for, some may have gotten valuable experience for their 3-year-old campaigns. Of the group, Street Cry, who finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile -- at Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby -- accomplished the most of any horse in the stable.

Godolphin Racing was favored to win the $1 million bonus in the Emirates World Series Racing Championship and was expected to get that bonus with Dubai Millennium. Godolphin secured the bonus anyway when its Fantastic Light won the Hong Kong Cup Friday night. Since the ruling family of the United Arab Emirates owns Godolphin Racing, the bonus went from one pocket to the other this year.

Although trainer Bob Baffert leads the nation in the money-won category this year, newcomers such as Scott Lake and Steve Asmussen have had breakthrough years. Lake is leading the nation in races won with 315 victories from just under 1,000 starts. Asmussen sits third on that list with 220 wins from just over 1,050 starts.

Trainer Bill Spawr, who does not appear on either the money-won or races-won national list, has found his reunification with partner Laffit Pincay, Jr., a productive one this year. Just Friday, the pair teamed for three consecutive victories at Hollywood Park.

Pincay continues to defy time. Just days from his 54th birthday (Dec. 29) the all-time winningest jockey surpassed career win No. 9,000 at the fall Oak Tree session.

Victor Espinoza had a breakout year as well. The young reinsman captured a pair of Southern California riding titles this year and is currently in a battle for top honors at the Hollywood Park fall meet. Tyler Baze, who just lost his "bug" status last week, may not get the vote for apprentice jockey of the year from Eclipse Award voters, but the teenager from a long line of riding Bazes had a banner year in Southern California. The sledding will get tougher now that he is a journeyman. His cousin Russell Baze continues to dominate the Northern California circuit. As of Dec. 14, Russell had 391 wins on the year -- leading the nation -- and is on pace to hit the 400-win plateau again.

Gary Stevens retired from the saddle on opening day at Santa Anita in 1999, but by the time the meet opens this year on Dec. 26, Stevens will not only be "unretired," he will have solid business for the big meet. Stevens rode the winners of both the Hollywood Futurity (Point Given) and the Waya Handicap (Keemoon) on Saturday and has high hopes that his Futurity partner will be back at Churchill Downs the first Saturday in May to avenge his "nose" loss in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile with a Kentucky Derby win.

Stevens' s new agent, former jockey Corey Black, made more money with the pair of stakes victories over the weekend than he would have made riding against his new employer.

Jockey Pat Day leads the nation in money won with $17.4 million in earnings, holding a slim margin over Jerry Bailey ($17.35 million).

On the business side, Frank Stronach added both Northern California race tracks to his growing portfolio of Magna Entertainment tracks. His company also owns Santa Anita and Gulfstream Park, racing's two major winter racing emporiums. His Magna tracks joined a group of other dissatisfied tracks who plan to break away from the National Thoroughbred Racing Association.

While the NTRA has merged with Breeders' Cup LTD, there will also be a change in television venues for the next Triple Crown, as NBC takes the baton from ABC. This means the peacock network is custodian of racing's two major properties -- the Breeders' Cup and the Triple Crown.

One can only hope that NBC does not return with the innovative but unpopular "homestretch cam."