Columnist Ralph Siraco: New faces grab spotlight this Derby week

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 1, 2000 | 10:03 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 89128.

The first Kentucky Derby of this century will be run at Churchill Downs on Saturday, and a full field of runners will test prerace favorite Fusaichi Pegasus for the chance of a lifetime ... in a lifetime of chance.

With just two days to go until the Wednesday draw for post positions, it looks as if Churchill Downs officials won't have to invoke the mandatory 20-horse limit. Although there have been fluctuations from as little as 15 to as many as 27 probables for the 126th Derby, there now seems to be a consensus that there will be enough room for all who seriously want to contest the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Although most of the familiar faces that have dominated recent Derbies are back, some new ones have commanded center stage this year.

Trainers D. Wayne Lukas, Bob Baffert and Nick Zito accounted for seven Derby victories in the 1990s. Lukas and Baffert return this year while Zito, who won the 1991 Derby with Strike The Gold and the 1994 renewal with Go For Gin, saw his last chance to make the "Run for the Roses" this year go out the door when Rollin With Nolan disappointed in the recent Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.

No other Derby-winning trainer from the last decade returns with a starter this year.

Trainer Neil Drysdale will start a pair of runners in Fusaichi Pegasus and War Chant, while Jenine Sahadi will saddle the probable second choice, The Deputy, as she tries to become the first female trainer to win the Derby.

Other "young Turks of the turf" who will make their first Derby entries are Alex Hassinger with Anees, John Kimmel with Wheelaway and Todd Pletcher, who is scheduled to start four horses: Graeme Hall, Impeachment, More Than Ready and Trippi.

Trainer Bobby Frankel, whose lone Derby experience has been a pair of unplaced starters, returns for another try this year with Aptitude. He hopes the promising son of A.P. Indy will improve on the showings of Pendleton Ridge and Burnt Hills, who finished 13th and14th respectively in 1990.

Another trainer who makes an encore try is Harold Rose with Hal's Hope. Rose's only Derby appearance was in 1984 with Rexson's Hope, who finished 10th.

The 88-year-old owner/trainer returns this time with the Florida Derby winner and believes that his horse is back on track after a dull outing in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Here's a look at what these trainers are doing in the final days of preparation for "the fastest two minutes in sports:"

Lukas, who holds the Derby record for most starters, will again have multiple starters. Commendable, Exchange Rate and High Yield will take to the track in the famous Team Lukas white bridles.

All three had their final tuneups Sunday morning. Commendable worked six furlongs in 1 minute, 12.3 seconds, and Blue Grass Stakes winner High Yield drilled the same distance in 1:13.3. Exchange Rate earned his ticket into the big race with a five-furlong move from the starting gate in 1:00.0.

Baffert, who won the 1997 Derby with Silver Charm and the next year's race with Real Quiet, comes into this Derby with a sole runner in Captain Steve. Although the son of Fly So Free has finished third in each of his three starts this year, he has been serious on the track in the mornings.

Captain Steve, who was a juvenile stakes winner in his only start at Churchill Downs, has reeled off a trio of sizzling drills since arriving back in Kentucky, with his most recent move a six-furlong beauty in 1:11.4. His final workout will be Tuesday.

Drysdale has had his hands full with his temperamental $4 million baby, Fusaichi Pegasus. The son of Mr. Prospector has provided excitement in the mornings since his arrival at Churchill Downs. Late last week, he unseated his exercise boy, and has consistently been hard to handle on the track.

After days of anticipation -- and light training -- Fusaichi Pegasus turned in his final Derby workout Sunday morning. He drilled six furlongs in 1:14.3 while galloping out seven panels in 1:27 flat --and he was on his good behavior.

War Chant, runner-up in the Santa Anita Derby, was scheduled to work this morning and was to be equipped with blinkers.

The Deputy will put in his final serious move for the Derby on Tuesday morning. Jockey Chris McCarron is scheduled to fly in from California for the drill.

Hassinger finally got what he wanted from Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Anees. After some lackluster moves, the 1999 Juvenile Eclipse Award winner traveled well over the track in recent mornings under retired three-time Kentucky Derby winning jockey Gary Stevens. He was to have his final drill this morning.

Tampa Bay Derby winner Wheelaway breezed through a six-panel move in 1:15 flat Saturday morning.

The Todd Pletcher barn looked like I-15 at rush hour Sunday morning with a Derby horse and a pair of fillies preparing for the Oaks taking the track. Flamingo Stakes winner Trippi clocked five furlongs in 59.3.

Pletcher's other entrants were scheduled to be on the track this morning.

Frankel continues to send Aptitude through long gallops.

Hal's Hope caught the clocke'rs stopwatch in a brisk 46.2 for four furlongs on Sunday morning, which was OK with trainer Rose.