Columnist Ralph Siraco: Derby win is sweet music for Brahms

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 27, 2000 | 10:20 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 89107.

There was a little bit of everything in the four-day feast of racing over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

And just in case you were stuffing yourself with turkey, transporting visitors on a bumper-to-bumper ride down the famous Las Vegas Strip while watching that volcano one more time, or glued to the cable news networks for the ongoing recount of dimpled, hanging and pregnant chads -- of the yet-to-be-determined presidential election -- here is what you missed on the track:

The annual Turf Festival at Hollywood Park completed its 10th run over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday programs at the Southern California racing emporium. The six-race series covered categories from freshmen runners to veteran fillies and mares.

Sunday's Festival climax was set over a $1 million guaranteed Pick Six pool and the Hollywood Derby -- fourth in the Pick Six sequence --became a pivotal point of many pick-six tickets.

The Grade I race, renewed for the 60th time, finished in a cavalry charge that was as intense as any from the old wild, wild West. Designed For Luck, with the world's winningest jockey -- Laffit Pincay Jr. -- aboard, staved off the closing charge of race favorite Brahms to finish first, but ultimately lost the race via a disqualification.

After stalking the pacesetters in the 1 1/8-mile Derby, Designed For Luck had taken the lead and was battling David Copperfield and the oncoming Brahms as Zentsov Street and Walkslikeaduck were driving between the leaders. Under heavy left-handed whipping, Designed For Luck shifted ground and tightened up Zentsov Street to the point that his rider, Chris McCarron, had to check sharply to avoid a potential spill. A stewards' inquiry eventually resulted in the disqualification of Designed For Luck from first to fifth in the $500,000 race behind the impeded runner Zentsov Street, and gave the victory to Brahms and jockey Pat Day.

Brahms extends his winning streak to four while Designed For Luck will be searching for some good luck designed for him next time out.

Earlier in the day, jockey Chris McCarron got a clear trip with Tout Charmant and won the Matriarch at the same 1 1/8 miles. That $500,000 event gave the filly who finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf her fourth victory of the year while beating Tranquility Lake in a driving finish. The Grade I score may not get her the Eclipse Award, but certainly puts her in the running for top honors next year.

The Pick Six paid $37,321.40 for winning numbers 5/8-1-7-5-2-7 while the consolation 5 returned $161.60.

Saturday at Hollywood Park, Startac won the one-mile Generous Stakes to beat long shot Broadway Moon and Deeliteful Iriving. Alex Solis rode the freshman runner to the turf win for a $19 payoff.

Later on the card, Charge D'Affaires drove through on the rail to beat Ladies Din by a head in the Citation Handicap for a $31.80 score. The 1 1/16-mile event capped off the duo of Turf Festival races on the card.

The "Mega Bucks' score of the day came in the sixth race when Dream Weekend, ridden by Pincay, won at $40.80 and anchored a $1 Superfecta payoff of $70,081.90 for the winning combination of numbers 2-9-8-5.

The Turf Festival began on Friday with the Miesque Stakes and Express Handicap. Fantastic Filly won the Miesque in an upset and paid $43.20 under jockey Garrett Gomez. Later, El Cielo rolled to a sprint victory in the Express under the meet's leading rider Corey Nakatani at $6 to win.

The Grade I race attracted shippers from Florida and New Jersey in addition to a Breeders' Cup Classic, Breeders' Cup Sprint and Breeders' Cup Mile participant.

But the winner came from a group of late-developing sophomores that are certain to be players next year. Long shot Peeping Tom was second while Affirmed Success checked in third. El Corredor paid $6.80.