Pegasus gets off to a flying start

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 8, 2000 | 10:15 a.m.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Land of the Rising Sun was in Bluegrass Country on Saturday.

Fusaichi Pegasus won the 126th Kentucky Derby to end a 21-year drought of losing favorites in America's favorite horse race. But that fact only begins to tell the tale of this "flying horse," who -- as those who witnessed his victory can attest -- is no myth.

The $4 million baby of owner Fusao Sekiguchi, a Japanese entrepreneur, won the "Run for the Roses" with such ease that the highest-priced yearling sold at auction two years ago now looks to be a bargain-basement buy.

And his conservative conditioner, Neil Drysdale, celebrated his induction into racing's Hall Of Fame by doing an outstanding job bringing Fusaichi Pegasus to an overwhelming victory less than five months after his first lifetime start.

That start was a close runner-up effort at Hollywood Park on Dec. 11 -- the last time he lost a race. The son of Mr. Prospector broke his maiden at Santa Anita in his next outing, and followed that early January victory with another in mid-February.

The test of quality for the strikingly athletic runner came with a victory over eventual Santa Anita Derby winner The Deputy in the Grade II San Felipe stakes in March.

It was then that Drysdale decided to take Fusaichi Pegasus on the road. The Grade II Wood Memorial at Aqueduct would allow Drysdale to see if his potential superstar could handle a different surface. The East was conquered by the misbehaving bay under a hand ride by jockey Kent Desormeaux with the only anxious moments coming when "Fu-Peg" acted up before and after a dominating performance.

The legend of Fusaichi had grown to an all-out media hype machine by the time Pegasus had arrived in Louisville as a legitimate Derby favorite.

But the temperamental runner failed to scare off the competition. A full field of challengers filled the entry box on Wednesday and all but one fulfilled their commitment to test Pegasus.

Drysdale showed patience and tolerance while tutoring his stable's star during the days leading up to the Derby. So much so that many veteran horsemen were wondering about the method behind his "madness."

Fusaichi Pegasus would have only one serious workout after an April 30 breeze in preparation for the pressure cooker of a race.

Fusaichi's temperament would also become a question. His antics -- including the time he threw his rider during a morning outing just days before his final workout -- also caused critics to wonder if he would be as rambunctious as the crowds on Derby day.

Drysdale reminded those who doubted the horse's work schedule that Fusaichi Pegasus was already fit. Desormeaux also clarified his partner's demeanor, saying "Fu" was curious and confident rather than scared or flighty.

On Saturday, Fusaichi Pegasus answered all the questions, defied all the critics and crushed his competition -- while minding his manners.

Although Fusaichi Pegasus was 6-1 by the end of advance wagering on Friday's card, he became the 2-1 favorite by the time he entered the starting gate for the Derby. The $6.60 win mutuel is probably the most generous return you'll ever see on this guy.

As soon as Ronton stepped into the starting gate as the last of 19 to enter, the gates flew open and the first Kentucky Derby of this century was on.

Fusaichi Pegasus started in lethargic fashion, later described by Desormeaux as leaving the gate "like a pony."

Florida Derby winner Hal's Hope cut a quick path to the first turn, accompanied by Flamingo Stakes winner Trippi, Arkansas Derby winner Graeme Hall and More Than Ready.

As the field passed the 3/4-mile mark in just a tick under 1:10 -- the second-fastest clocking at that juncture in Derby history -- it was apparent that this Derby was destined to be won by a closer. Fusaichi Pegasus had worked his way through traffic, saving ground while taking the rail path into 11th position while Aptitude sat just outside and ahead in 10th.

At the head of the homestretch, all but More Than Ready among the pace setters were retreating, and Desormeaux had now worked Fusaichi Pegasus to the outside of the wall of horses that included Captain Steve and Wheelaway battling for the lead.

Now sixth and moving effortlessly in the middle of the track, Fusaichi Pegasus flew like his winged namesake to the lead under mild but firm urging. Wheelaway veered in sharply to take Captain Steve's path and Aptitude was finding his best stride as he chased Fusaichi Pegasus under the wire for second.

Desormeaux never seriously raised the whip as he guided Fusaichi Pegasus through his mission like a finely tuned Rolls Royce.

"After he started slow we moved easily into position, (and) I knew at the half-mile we were going to win," Desormeaux said. "He just took off, I mean when I asked him he just took off."

No Kentucky Derby winner has looked so overpowering, impressive or dominant in the hardest race in America to win since Seattle Slew, Spectacular Bid or -- should we dare even mention -- Secretariat.

The ease with which Fusaichi Pegasus dispatched an accomplished and promising crop of peers makes racing fans wonder if he is destined for a Triple Crown trophy.

If the Triple Crown does elude Fusaichi Pegasus, he will most likely fall to a horse who was not in the Derby field.

The 153,204 who packed Churchill Downs and those who wagered a record Derby handle of more than $65.3 million witnessed a truly extraordinary championship performance.

The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be decided in Baltimore on May 20. Fusaichi Pegasus will certainly be odds-on to win the Preakness Stakes and set up a Triple Crown bid at the Belmont Stakes on June 10.

In his usual conservative manner, Drysdale said Sunday that he will wait a few days to see how his trainee has come out of Saturday's race before making the official decision to move on to Pimlico.

Again in Baltimore, there will be a host of horses waiting to attempt to topple the champion.

Owner Mike Pegram, who won the Kentucky Derby in 1998 with Real Quiet and saw his Captain Steve finish eighth on Saturday, summed up the competition's attitude.

"The thing about this business is you can't be afraid of getting beat." Pegram said. "If you're not willing to reload and fire, then get out."