Columnist Ralph Siraco: Favorites advance in Derby ‘tournament’

Ralph Siraco

Monday, March 20, 2000 | 9:45 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.

Fewer than seven weeks remain until this year's Kentucky Derby, and March Madness will soon turn into Derby Fever. And some sophomores bound for Louisville on the first Saturday in May reached their own version of the Sweet 16 over the weekend with efforts that eliminated some others in the Derby field.

In Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby saw the favorite wheel away with the top prize, in New York another favorite went from the red to the black like a bullet, and in Southern California yet another favorite flew like the mythical Pegasus.

A trio of Kentucky Derby prep races unveiled some contenders in what is still a wide-open affair. Two of the three events were actually preps for their track's major prep for the Derby. Nevertheless, the winners started to separate themselves from a pack still aspiring for a date at Churchill Downs.

The first of the three sophomore showdowns came in the 48th running of the Grade III Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct with a contentious mix trying to earn their way into Derby consideration.

For many in the field a victory was not necessarily a prerequisite to stay on the Derby trail. But the winner would definitely secure a spot in the upcoming Wood Memorial at the same track.

The Wood -- to be run as part of a national "Super Saturday" of Derby preps April 15 -- is the final stepping stone for those taking the New York route to Kentucky.

Nine lined up for the one-turn, one-mile "Big A" feature, and Red Bullet was sent off as the favorite. The son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled had been the talk of the Big Apple ever since his dazzling debut maiden-breaker at Aqueduct in early January. He was returning to the city after a quick jaunt to South Florida for just as swift an allowance victory at Gulfstream Park in early February.

Alex Solis "red-eyed" in from the Left Coast to scale Red Bullet for the first time, as previous rider Jerry Bailey crossed paths with Solis en route to California for an engagement with Eclipse Award winner Anees.

Red Bullet encountered traffic trouble through most of the race, but Solis found the diamond lane through the homestretch to prevail. California invader Aptitude also negotiated hoof-to-hoof traffic and had to wait for clearance to make a menacing run at the winner.

While Red Bullet was never in danger of relinquishing the victory, Aptitude's closing kick impressed many on the scene.

Trainer Bobby Frankel was pleased with his runner's impact.

"He needs more distance and the 1 1/4 miles (Kentucky Derby distance) should be what he'll like," Frankel said.

The trainer also indicated that Aptitude will return to train in Southern California before returning to Aqueduct for a rematch in the Wood. In the meantime, Red Bullet continues to impress the hardcore New York racing press, and is the Derby top gun in the Frank Stronach Stable. Stronach -- who owns several race tracks including Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita Park through his Magna Entertainment division -- was on had for his star's coming-out party.

Dismal performances by Acres, Gangsta Rap and Fajardo may send those the way of Stanford, Arizona and Cincinnati: Back home.

Later, at Santa Anita, the Grade III San Felipe Stakes featured a prime group of Left Coast Derby hopefuls. The 1 1/16-mile event marked the 2000 debut of Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Anees.

Although Anees' sophomore debut was eagerly anticipated, the favorite's role would fall to the once-beaten Fusaichi Pegasus. The royally bred son of Mr. Prospector fell short of a debut maiden-breaker by a neck at Hollywood Park in early December. A redeeming victory came at Santa Anita on January 2 at odds of 20 cents to the dollar.

Considering owner Fusaio Sekiguchi shelled out $4 million for the handsome chestnut, the pari-mutuel return looked like a bargain.

After a subsequent allowance race victory on February 19 at $1.20 to the dollar, Fusaichi started to look like a bargain at any price.

Sunday's test not only included the return of Anees, who many thought would need an outing, but also The Deputy.

Fusaichi Pegasus lived up to his billing and came home with a decisive victory that keeps him on schedule for the Grade I Santa Anita Derby on April 8 -- exactly four weeks from the Kentucky Derby -- for conservative conditioner Neil Drysdale.

Although The Deputy suffered his first stateside -- and main track -- defeat, his runner-up effort keeps him in the Derby hunt.

Anees came on late for third and is certainly afforded the tightener from an 18-week sabbatical. It remains to be seen if Jerry Bailey -- who has ridden Elite Mercedes, Captain Steve and Gotham winner Red Bullet in search of his Derby mount -- will stay on the Eclipse Award winner.

Promontory Gold and possibly Commendable may have punched their tickets for the NIT of the equine set with dull efforts in Arcadia.

Finally, in Florida, the Tampa Bay Derby was won by a horse who broke his maiden on January 29. Wheelaway rolled from just off the pace to take the feature at Tampa Bay Downs. Another Unbridled offspring, the John Kimmel trainee was not eligible for the Kentucky Derby before Sunday's victory and would be a long shot in Louisville.

* LEMON DROP DROPPED: Last year's Belmont and Travers Stakes winner Lemon Drop Kid returned to the races at Gulfstream Park on Saturday in Hialeah's Widener Handicap.

The multiple-stakes winner had not started since a sixth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic early last November.

A decimated field of four weathered the pouring rain to contest the 60th running of the South Florida handicap.

Under jockey Jose Santos, Lemon Drop Kid put away pace-setter Karly's Harley, but shifted ground while passing the tiring leader in the home stretch. Blazing Sword rallied for second while With Anticipation checked in just in front of last-place finisher Karly's Harley.

After a lengthy inquiry and jockey's objection, the "Kid," the odds-on favorite, was disqualified for cutting in front of the leader. So, Blazing Sword was the recipient of the disqualification while Lemon Drop Kid was officially placed last. With Anticipation was placed second while Karly's Harley was moved up to third in the official order of finish.