Columnist Ralph Siraco: Experience is the only constant in Breeders’ Cup

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 6, 2000 | 11:41 a.m.

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

The 17th edition of the Breeders' Cup will be remembered for several key reasons.

One: You will never again see the kind of prices you saw Saturday at Churchill Downs on so many championship horses.

Two: Jockeys' experience in Breeders' Cup competition can never be overemphasized.

And three: The same goes for championship trainers.

The day opened with what seemed to be the surest winner of the championship series, Riboletta in the DISTAFF. But when Spain came rolling home at 50-1 odds to beat stablemate Surfside, the tone of the day had been set. Spain's $113.80 payoff eclipsed the $96.20 shocker of One Dreamer in the 1994 renewal -- also at Churchill Downs -- as the highest in the race's history.

The JUVENILE FILLIES event also produced an upset winner, as Caressing rallied through the home stretch for a $96 score. Platinum Tiara finished second and She's A Devil Due completed an $18,355.80 trifecta. Jockey J.R. Velasquez garnered his second Breeders' Cup victory while trainer David Vance won with his first starter.

The overflow field in the MILE negotiating the tight inner grass oval was conducive to an upset. But instead, this event went to War Chant who closed from last place under jockey Gary Stevens with a stirring stretch run for trainer Neil Drysdale and paid $9 to win.

In the SPRINT, Kona Gold won the shortest Breeders' Cup race in his third try. He finished third in the event in 1998 and second last year.

The FILLY & MARE TURF saw jockey Jerry Bailey guide Perfect Sting to a thrilling finish over Tout Charmant and Germany's Catella. The race was marred by the death of Spanish Fern (pelvis fracture). The race favorite, France's Petrushka, finished fifth.

The JUVENILE saw the closest finish of the day. Jockey Jerry Bailey, trainer Joe Orseno and the Stronach Stables returned to the winner's circle when their Mucho Uno nosed out fast-closing Point Given. Favorite A P Valentine finished last in the field of 14 and was discovered to have bucked his shins during the race.

The TURF brought together an international field of the finest turf marathon runners headed by European stars Montjeu and Kalanisi. While long shot Quiet Resolve almost posted the upset, Kalanisi unleashed a furious stretch run to get up in a blanket finish. Kalanisi returned $11.20 for the win, while the $1 superfecta connecting the first two finishers with third-place John's Call and Mutamam who finished fourth returned $99,813 for the 1-11-10-9 combination.

In the centerpiece CLASSIC, Tiznow outdueled European 3-year-old Giant's Causeway in a heart-stopping battle that took the pair under the wire just a head apart. Supplemented for $360,000, Tiznow attended the pace throughout under jockey Chris McCarron to become the first California-bred winner in the history of Breeders' Cup.

The Classic marked the final race in the careers of Lemon Drop Kid (fifth), Fusaichi Pegasus (sixth) and Cat Thief (seventh) -- who now start their breeding careers.

The Pick 6 (11-10-8-4-1-13) returned $45,772 for 6-of-6, while the consolation 5-of-6 paid $465.