Columnist Ralph Siraco: Hallowed Dreams makes magic in Louisiana

Ralph Siraco

Monday, July 17, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

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

Records are made to be broken, and statistics often don't tell the whole story.

The philosophy behind those two phrases applied to a flyin' little filly from Cajun country on Saturday. Her name is Hallowed Dreams, her game is speed and her racing record now stands hock-to-hock with the likes of the great Citation and Cigar.

No one, however, will ever mistake Hallowed Dreams for Cigar or Citation -- or, for that matter, the sensational undefeated filly Personal Ensign, whose record of 13 straight career victories Hallowed Dreams surpassed on June 3.

Cigar and Citation with Hallowed who?

On Saturday at Louisiana Downs in Bossier City, La., Hallowed Dreams climbed alongside Citation and Cigar in the racing annals as she won her 16th race in a row.

With the sweet 16th (to remain undefeated in her career) she tied those two titans of the turf for the modern-day record for most consecutive victories.

Hallowed Dreams is trained and co-owned by Larry Romero, whose exploits as a quarterhorse trainer became the storyline for the 1978 movie "Casey's Shadow." He has kept Hallowed Dreams exclusively in their home state of Louisiana. And therein lies the rub. How can anyone compare the useful little Louisiana-bred with such thoroughbred icons as Cigar and Citation?

After all, Hallowed Dreams has overwhelmed all of her Louisiana competition with ease, but after 16 consecutive triumphs has neither raced beyond 6 1/2 furlongs nor competed in a graded event. Her total career earnings are still under $400,000.

Hallowed Dreams is 6-for-6 at Evangeline Downs in Lafayette (where she started her career), 3-for-3 at the Fair Grounds in New Orleans, 1-for-1 at Delta Downs in Vinton and 6-for-6 at Louisiana Downs with Saturday's victory in the Dixie Miss Stakes. She has faced and defeated 107 rivals over the streak, 76 of which were Louisiana-breds, without ever meeting a graded stakes runner.

Romero has no regrets, nor would he ever consider his filly's record in the same league as Cigar or Citation. Nevertheless, doing anything perfect in sports 16 consecutive times is a rare accomplishment.

Of the hundreds of thousands of horses in thousands of races competing around the world day in and day out, only three have gotten to the "Sweet 16" circle. The accomplishment, against any level of competition, anywhere, is amazing. And, although she hasn't met the caliber that her more celebrated co-record holders have seen and beaten, Hallowed Dreams has paid her dues.

Citation set the mark in 1948 starting with a victory on April 17 at Havre de Grace in the Chesapeake Trial. His 13th victory came in a walkover in the Pimlico Special. The streak ended on Jan. 26, 1950, when he finished second in the La Sorpresa Handicap at Santa Anita.

Cigar's run started on Oct. 28, 1994, at Aqueduct and carried through the Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Aug. 10, 1996, where he finished second.

"It doesn't matter where she's been winning," said Bill Mott, who trained Cigar during his record run. "If she's been over there (to the races) 15 times and got the job done 15 times, she's pretty special."

Mott went on to remind everyone of the complexities and fragile nature of this sport.

"You run into different circumstances that allow you to get beat all the time, and you've got to overcome them," he said.

Well, Hallowed Dreams has. Not a bad run for a filly that Romero paid $15,000 for just two years ago. Romero turned down a reported $2 million for his star filly just before Hallowed Dreams won No. 15 in a row in the Fantasia stakes on June 25.

Hallowed Dreams has become more than just the pride of her home state -- she has become a real-life fantasy story. She began her career at the track so scared, so nervous and flighty, that she wouldn't even eat, let alone train.

In a last-ditch effort, Romero put a stable pony in her stall to calm her down. The ploy worked. Now her constant equine companion, a paint gelding named Buck, goes everywhere with Hallowed Dreams.

Except to race.

Her rider, Sylvester Carmouche, has resurrected a career that saw him leave the sport for 8 1/2 years. The 41-year-old rider was suspended from racing for his part in an attempted rigged race at Evangeline in 1990.

Carmouche, a native of Lafayette, hid in the fog during the running of a route race on the half-mile track and waited until the horses rounded the final turn for the last time before letting his horse loose to win.

Now the famous "fog jock" wants to be remembered as the man who rides Hallowed Dreams. Romero, who went to bat to reinstate Carmouche, says Carmouche has paid his dues.

The filly's connections are not impressed by the money, nor are they looking to conquer the racing world. They remain real down-home horse people who just want to race -- and win.

On turning down the $2 million offer, Romero said, "How much better can I live? And, can you tell me I'll ever have another one like her?

"Louisiana is family, and she belongs to Louisiana," he added. "They say she should be running for more money, more money. How much does it cost to bury you? About $5,000? I got that."

Hallowed Dreams will remain in Louisiana for the record-breaking attempt. There's a good chance she will keep burying the competition.