Columnist Ralph Siraco: Racing’s greatest day arrives

Ralph Siraco

Friday, Nov. 3, 2000 | 10:52 a.m.

Ralph Siraco covers horse racing for the Las Vegas Sun. His 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.

This year's Breeders' Cup is an embarrassment of riches. An embarrassment that the racing world will flaunt, embrace and showcase from the heart of horse country on Saturday.

The 17th edition of thoroughbred racing's championship day is by far the greatest renewal of the Breeders' Cup since the series' inception.

This Breeders' Cup will offer more total prize monies -- $15.2 million in purses for the eight-race series -- than any in history. That offering is the by-product of another record: There were 16 supplemental entries headed by the most imposing entrant of the day -- Riboletta in the series-opening event, the Distaff.

Of course, the Breeders' Cup will provide the stage for the best jockeys and racehorses in the world. The top 11 riders on the nation's money-earnings list have mounts, and six of the top eight money-earning thoroughbreds will compete in their respective divisions on a day that will see a record number of competitors go to the post.

Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus will compete for the last time as he heads a stellar field in the centerpiece Classic.

Full fields of marathon specialists will do battle on the green in the Turf, Mile and Filly & Mare Turf.

An overflow group of promising 2-year-olds will fill the gates for the Juvenile events and the fastest equines are certain to challenge the track record in the Sprint.

And a full-court press of European superstars is headed by Montjeu and Giant's Causeway.

This Breeders' Cup is certain to provide more than one Horse of the Year performance before the sun sets on racing's most anticipated day.

Either the first or second choice has won 80 percent of the previous 16 runnings.

The most productive prep for the Distaff is Keeneland's Spinster, but this year the exception may lie in one of the heaviest favorites on the Breeders' Cup card.

Riboletta, who did not participate in the Spinster, has reeled off six impressive victories -- including four Grade I's -- and comes to the Distaff by way of a stunning victory in the Beldame at Belmont Park. She defeated one of her two main rivals in the Distaff by polishing off Beautiful Pleasure in that event.

The race also served as catalyst for owner Aaron Jones to ante up the $360,000 supplemental fee to make Riboletta eligible for the big show.

She has been awesome in her dominance of the division this year and can only beat herself here.

PICKS: 1) RIBOLETTA, 2) HERITAGE OF GOLD, Value Play -- LU RAVI

The winning profile suggests a race within the past month and at least three lifetime starts. With the configuration of the Churchill Downs track, outside posts pose an additional challenge. This year, the second choice -- California invader Notable Career -- finds herself in post No. 11 of 13.

The most accomplished filly in the field is 7-2 morning line favorite Raging Fever. She has back-to-back Grade I victories -- the most recent Frizette at Belmont -- and is undefeated in five lifetime starts. She also has Jerry Bailey as her pilot.

Several intriguing possibilities do exist, however. Del Mar Debutante winner Cindy's Hero, a confirmed stretch-runner, could make the last run a winning one if all the speed that has signed up for the race develops a meltdown.

The European filly, Freeforracing, produced an eye-popping victory stateside at Keeneland in preparation for this event. So impressed was rider Pat Day that he turned down others to stay here.

PICKS: 1) FREEFORRACING, 2) CINDY'S HERO, Value Play -- PLATINUM TIARA

Be forewarned -- the trip is everything. A good profile to follow would be a horse that has tactical speed with a rider that has Mile experience.

Europeans usually do well in the turf events and especially when they are at Churchill Downs. Of the Euro-entries, Indian Lodge has the right tracking style and a good inner post.

Of the stateside steeds, War Chant, who disappointed in the Kentucky Derby, won the Oak Tree Mile impressively in his comeback prep. Trained by Neil Drysdale, you can be sure he will be ready to run if he makes it to the gate.

Price possibilities include Distant Music, Affirmed Success and Ladies Din. The latter is owned by Las Vegans Bernie Schiappa and Terry Lanni. They teamed up to win this event last year with Silic, who has since been retired.

PICKS: 1) DISTANT MUSIC, 2) WAR CHANT, Value Play -- LADIES DIN

Although the last two editions have produced lower payoffs, half of the 16 renewals have returned an average mutuel of $35. Although speed is the key, this event is laden with speed on speed. A duel for the lead, with the likes of Caller One, Trippi and Five Star Day, is all but assured; thus, a stalker or even a confirmed closer may be the key to a victory here.

Post position may have compromised solid contender More Than Ready, who must break from the rail slot and wait for room.

Any one of the 14 in the field has a chance to get the trophy.

Last year's runner up, Kona Gold, has been installed the 5-2 choice. Solid price possibilities include Elaborate, Dream Supreme and Agnes World.

PICKS: 1) AGNES WORLD, 2) KONA GOLD, Value Play -- ELABORATE

The Irish-bred European Petrushka has been installed as the 5-2 favorite, and for good reason. Fresh off a solid victory in the Prix de l'Opera at Longchamp on Arc day, this gal boasts a record of 5-for-7 lifetime. She is a bona fide marathon runner and the one to beat here.

PICKS: 1) PETRUSHKA, 2) TRANQUILITY LAKE, Value Play -- COLSTAR

Traditionally, the Juvenile winner is installed as the early Kentucky Derby futures book favorite. However, in the 16 runnings of Breeders' Cup, no winner of the Juvenile has parlayed that victory into a Derby trophy.

Contenders include the impressive Champagne winner A P Valentine and the improving Street Cry make this a wide-open affair. A compromising post draw by Flame Thrower could add to a handsome payoff.

PICKS: 1) STREET CRY, 2) A P VALENTINE, Value Play -- POINT GIVEN

The power in this field of 13 again is held by Europeans. The 5-2 favorite is last year's 'Arc de Triomphe winner Montjeu while the second choice at 7-2 is Irish-bred Champions Stakes winner Kalanisi.

Of the American runners, Manhattan Handicap winner Manndar seems the best chance. His troubled-trip runner-up effort in the Arlington Million and a victory over this course in May makes him a solid player here.

PICKS: 1) CIRO, 2) MONTJEU, Value Play -- KALANISI

Only two betting favorites of the last half-dozen runnings have won. Both -- Cigar in 1995 and Skip Away in 1997 -- cemented their claims to Horse of the Year honors.

This year, Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus finds himself in the same situation. If he wins, he takes Horse of the Year and will have proven himself worthy of all the hype throughout the year -- and his reported $60-million-plus stallion syndication. If he loses, then the gold Eclipse trophy will be debated. His trainer Neil Drysdale is a conservative consummate conditioner.

Solid contenders from among Fu-peg's classmates include Super Derby and Goodwood Handicap winner Tiznow, whose connections paid a $360,000 supplement to run, Kentucky Cup Classic winner Captain Steve from the Bob Baffert barn and Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Albert The Great from the Nick Zito stable.

Giant's Causeway will represent the foreign entry. He has been the iron horse of Europe with six victories and three seconds in nine starts this year, and is a tenacious competitor.

Finally, don't forget defending champion Cat Thief who may pay more than his $41.20 shocker at Gulfstream Park last year if he becomes the first repeat winner this year.

But this is Fusaichi Pegasus' race to win or lose.

PICKS: 1) FUSAICHI PEGASUS, 2) GIANT'S CAUSEWAY, Value Play -- CAT THIEF