Columnist Ralph Siraco: Pair of fillies trying to earn some respect

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

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

It was only appropriate, with Valentine's Day this week, that the ladies took to the track over the weekend.

And, there were a pair of sweetheart dames that were anything but damsels in distress as they prevailed over other fine fillies to catch the victory bouquet.

On Saturday at The Fair Grounds in New Orleans, Hallowed Dreams may finally have gotten the respect from the purists who believed that winning her first 16 career starts didn't earn her a share of the record books, and on Sunday at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif., the Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Spain may finally be getting the respect that the year-end championship did not provide.

For Hallowed Dreams, even a quality victory in the Pan Zareta stakes may not convince many of the sport's historians that the little filly that part-owner and trainer Lloyd Romero purchased for $15,000 should still be mentioned in the same breath as thoroughbred icons Citation and Cigar.

Lloyd Romero sent Hallowed Dreams for her acid test on Saturday. She passed the test, as she did in 18 of 19 previous challenges with a visit to the winner's circle.

In the Pan Zareta, Hallowed Dreams met multiple stakes winner Steal a Heart and the accomplished Roxelana, who had a four race win streak of her own last year before a third-place finish in the Grade I Acorn Stakes.

To make things more difficult, she would break from the rail post in the six-furlong sprint, therefore forcing her to go for the lead from the start.

As the starting gates opened the strategies were one dimension -- go as fast as you can for as long as you can.

Hallowed Dreams gunned out of the blocks with Roxelana and Steal a Heart pressing for the lead. Down the backstretch, the three were as one -- side by side -- battling hell-bent-for-leather with a whisker separating them. Clicking off the first quarter-mile in 21.64 they continued the chorus line as they stopped the clock for the half-mile in a sizzling 44:67.

As the trio made the turn for home, Roxelana and Steal a Heart could not keep up with the determined Hallowed Dreams. First Steal a Heart, then Roxelana, fell by the wayside as Hallowed Dreams then braced for a stretch-running challenge. While My Alibi and Fiesty Countess picked up the pieces of the torrid pace, Hallowed Dreams just kept on going and finally reported home with 2 1/2 lengths to spare in a blistering time of 1:09:68.

Romero, who has now banked more than $500,000 and has a return investment over 33 times his original purchase price, smiled from ear to ear when Hallowed Dreams returned to the winner circle. Jockey Sylvester Carmouche, who was once ruled off the race track for hiding a horse in the fog then riding him to victory, praised Romero for keeping the ride through her amazing odyssey.

Romero, whose real-life story was the basis of the movie Casey's Shadow, declared that Hallowed Dreams belongs to Louisiana racing fans.

And, he threw down the gauntlet for all those who still doubt her ability. He has challenged all comers to the Bayou country where his filly will continue her run.

"If they want to prove they can beat her then tell them to come on down," Romero said.

More than one trainer may have thought they hooked the ghost of Citation or Cigar already.

On the left coast Sunday, a rivalry of sorts played another chapter.

Breeders' Cup Distaff winner Spain and her nemesis Chilukki squared off in round six, a battle that has spanned their freshman and sophomore years.

Their first meeting came in the 1999 Del Mar Debutante. Spain was fresh off a maiden victory while Chilukki was riding a four-race win streak. Chilukki prevailed by a length in round one.

Next was a rematch in the Oak Leaf Stakes at Santa Anita seven weeks later. Chilukki extended her career win streak to six while Spain checked in third.

Finally, their last meeting as two-year-olds came in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Gulfstream Park in early November. Chilukki suffered her first career loss, but, still bested Spain. Chilukki finished second to Cash Run while Spain checked in fourth.

The two would not meet again until Dec. 30, 2000 -- their only encounter as three-year-olds -- in the Grade I La Brea Stakes at Santa Anita. Chilukki, based on her three-for-three record against Spain, was sent off the prohibitive favorite to continue the streak. But, Spain had annexed the Breeders' Cup Distaff with three other victories on the year. Chilukki never saw the lead -- eventually finishing fourth -- and Spain finally got the best of her rival with a victory.

Their first matchup this year came in the Jan. 21 El Encino Stakes at Santa Anita.

This time Chilukki forged right to the lead and set pedestrian fractions while Spain tracked her in second. But, Spain could not run down Chilukki in the 1 1/16th miles event and settled for the Avis spot -- again.

That brought us to round six over the weekend.

It was vintage Chilukki and Spain for the 1 1/8th miles Grade II La Canada Stakes. The cat-and-mouse encounter proved to the liking of Spain. Under her Breeders' Cup Distaff partner Victor Espinoza, Spain bested her worthy challenger for the victory. Chilukki would complete the exacta this time.

The score now stands at Chilukki four and Spain two. We can only hope that trainers Bob Baffert (Chilukki) and D. Wayne Lukas (Spain) find the rivalry as interesting as racing fans do.

Maybe they can take their road show to Louisiana. Then again, it might just be another Hallowed Dream. Hmmmm ... .