Columnist Ralph Siraco: Point Given, Tiznow excelled in 2001

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Dec. 31, 2001 | 10:10 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 2275 Corporate Circle Drive, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89074.

Let's take a thumbnail look at the year in racing, bypassing the politics of the business and reflecting instead on the top human and equine accomplishments.

Point Given and Tiznow both did enough on the track this year to deserve Horse of the Year honors. When the votes are in, however, one will win and the other will be remembered as the horse that "should have won."

Monarchos was the beneficiary of Point Given's only dull effort, but it came in America's most famous horse race -- the Kentucky Derby. Point Given avenged that loss with victories in the remaining two jewels of the Triple Crown, and, also rolled to million-dollar scores in the Haskell Invitational and the Travers. He will certainly win the Eclipse Award for best sophomore.

Tiznow had a roller coaster year, but did win two major events in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap and the $4 million Breeders' Cup Classic. He became the first two-time winner of the Classic, outdueling Sakhee for top honors.

Although he tailed off in midyear, Captain Steve earned the most money of any stateside horse this year. A March victory in the Dubai World Cup made up most of his record $4,201,200 bankroll.

The most consistent stakes competitor this year was Xtra Heat. The 3-year-old filly boasts a 2001 record of 9 wins from 13 starts with her finest moment a gutty runner up effort in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. She has a career record of 17-for-22 and is as competitive as they come.

On the human side, trainers named Bobby came up big. Bob Baffert had Point Given early in the year and flash sensation Officer in the fall. Bobby Frankel, however, had stakes winners coming in all shapes and sizes. Frankel will end the year with an amazing 18 Grade I stakes victories. The most satisfying had to be the victory by Squirtle Squirt in the Breeders' Cup Sprint that snapped an 0-for-39 run on championship day.

Trainer Scott Lake reached victory No. 400 on the year when he won the opener at Laurel on Dec. 23rd. He becomes only the second trainer in history to win more than 400 races in a single year. Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg holds the annual record of 496 victories, set in 1976.

Jockey Jerry Bailey is well on his way to another Eclipse trophy with a record $23 million-plus in earnings this year.

But the real star of the riders this year was ageless wonder and living legend Laffit Pincay, Jr. At 54, Pincay won three major Southern California riding titles. After becoming the oldest jockey to win a Santa Anita title, Pincay took the Hollywood Park spring-summer crown and the Oak Tree meet. On Saturday, the racing icon turned 55 and promptly won a pair of races at Santa Anita.

Pat Day reached career win No. 8,000 this year and all-time money-earning king Chris McCarron hit his 7,000th. Shane Sellers and Gary Stevens hung up their tack because of knee injuries, but Stevens came out of retirement in time to assist Point Given on his magic carpet ride. Pat Valenzuela, who has fought drug addiction throughout most of his career, returned to the saddle on Dec. 26. Ramon Domiguez has been riding day and night on the mid-Atlantic circuit to assure the most victories by a jockey this year. He had 429 at last count.

Hall of Fame trainer Jimmy Jones passed away this year at age 94. He trained seven national champions as conditioner for the famed Calumet Farms, including the great Citation. Marjorie Cordero, wife of retired jockey Angel Cordero, was hit by a car and died.

The 1978 Triple Crown winner Affirmed, top sire Nureyev and 1990 Kentucky Derby winner and Horse of the Year Unbridled died in 2001.

The great Seabiscuit returned as a bestseller this year. Author Laura Hillenbrand's book tells the story of the horse who captured America's heart more than 60 years ago.

Arlington Park will host the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships next fall.