Columnist Ralph Siraco: Breeders’ Cup field looks difficult to sort out

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Oct. 9, 2000 | 11:37 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.

'Tis the season for championships.

While baseball continues postseason play to determine its World Series pairing, the NFL continues its search for a worthy challenger to the scoring machine know as the St. Louis Rams.

College football has already seen its No. 1 team in the polls change more than once -- and horse racing is still looking for its Horse of the Year.

With Breeders' Cup XVII just 27 days away, the sport of kings is desperately searching for some worthy horses to fill the role of favorite in its eight-race championship.

Although this weekend's stakes races shed light on some contenders who may emerge as favorites on Breeders' Cup day, some others have muddled the already foggy picture.

Defections are always a part of the equation, but this year it seems there's a wide-open scramble for the hardware and hard cash on the first Saturday in November. Without standouts in the eight divisional events, there is certain to be a record turnout at the entry box at Churchill Downs.

Here are the top contenders -- as of now -- for the eight Breeders' Cup races this year:

Forest Camp has had one race this year, but it was a smasher at Del Mar.

Caller One is speed on speed. He has been the most consistent of the dash group, but lost his only start at Churchill Downs.

Affirmed Success was a narrow loser in the Kelso at Belmont on Sunday and is still a threat.

Dancinginmydreams remains the most promising of this division. She was closing strongly to just miss in the Matron at Belmont and has every right to improve with her connections and breeding.

Matron winner Raging Fever and Gold Mover remain contenders while Silk Concorde tarnished her stock with a third in the Florida Stallion series at Calder last weekend.

Express Tour was pressed to the limit by a game and tenacious Outofthebox while sweeping that series at Calder. Each one should benefit from the experience.

At Santa Anita in the Norfolk Stakes, the Bob Baffert-trained Flame Thrower outdueled his nemesis Street Cry again. Unlike his Del Mar Futurity victory, Flame Thrower was under constant pressure throughout the one-mile trip. After turning back an early pace challenge, he dug deep to hold off another attack by Street Cry through the stretch. Each of these should represent the "Left Coast" well in Kentucky. Arabian Light, also a Baffert trainee, won the Breeders Futurity at Keeneland impressively on Sunday. City Zip, Yonaguska and Burning Roma still sit in the wings while Macho Uno has all the room to improve rapidly at this time of year.

Lemon Drop Kid lost some of his luster with a hard-fought victory in the Woodward, but continues to rack up graded wins nevertheless.

Super Derby winner Tiznow was very impressive in that victory, but the California-bred will need to be supplemented to the Classic to compete.

European iron horse Giant's Causeway will prep sometime this week for his stateside journey.

Behrens and Captain Steve remain on course for Churchill Downs. If Riboletta takes on these guys, then this may be a classic to remember.

Twenty-seven days and counting. ...