Columnist Ralph Siraco: Future bettors still looking for Derby star

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Jan. 22, 2001 | 1:29 a.m.

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

While a few fortunate ones look to hedge juicy future bets on the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants in Sunday's Super Bowl XXXV, race players are still looking for a Kentucky Derby future bet they can only hope to hedge on the first Saturday in May.

Early future bet "plums" such as Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Macho Uno, runner-up and Hollywood Futurity winner Point Given or the returning Champagne winner A.P. Valentine have already been picked by players. Many others are yet to be plucked from the futures vine at budding odds.

Of course, there is an old saying that goes, "Those who snooze, lose."

Each year at this time -- when every stakes race for 3-year-olds is perceived to be a Derby prep -- a new "now" horse gets action in Las Vegas books. And, if there isn't that key Derby prep race, then surely a super sophomore effort -- even sprinting -- will raise interest for a good future book number in hopes that it will come to fruition in the spring at Churchill Downs.

Two of those Derby preps were run over the weekend to produce at least one of this week's "now" horses.

Sunday's Grade II Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita served to secure the faith of some who bet the winner of an eye-opening maiden victory when he first stepped onto the track in mid-November.

Saturday's Grade III Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park served to resurrect the faith of those who bet the winner after a dull, well-beaten Tropical Park Derby performance on Jan. 1.

In either case, those winners are now no longer the plums they once were.

In the Holy Bull, Radical Riley was aided by a suicidal speed duel that developed between Songandaprayer and Drumcliff. Those two set the stage for the come-from-behinders that lined up three deep at the head of the stretch.

Drumcliff was the first to defect from the meltdown and finally checked in last. Songandaprayer -- purchased for $1 million by a group headed by former Duke basketball star Bobby Hurley -- kept the engine until the posse of closers swooped past him like he was tied to the quarter-pole.

Radical Riley outdueled Buckle Down Ben and long shot Cee Dee for the $32.20 victory.

He has now won three of his last four starts and 4 of 13 lifetime with a trio of second-placed finishes, and is squarely in the Florida Derby picture. His next start should be the Feb. 17 Fountain Of Youth stakes at the same south Florida track.

The expectations of Santa Catalina favorite Millennium Wind were met although the victory came while outdueling a long shot that would have to be considered a new shooter now.

Millennium Wind made his much anticipated career debut last Nov. 16 and caused an immediate impact on the Derby picture.

The son of Cryptoclearance was slow into stride but prevailed with a three length maiden score.

Trainer David Hofmans was so impressed with his horse's performance that his next start would be the Grade I Hollywood Futurity.

In that race, Millennium Wind took on Breeders' Cup Juvenile runnerup Point Given and, although he could not handle the more seasoned runner in the December race, Millennium Wind held tough for second place, beaten by a measured length.

Sunday, in just his third career outing, jockey Chris McCarron rated Millennium Wind off the pace of Coke's Tribute, reeled in that one, then held off a tenacious Palmeiro, at 30-1 odds, for the $3.20 victory.

His short-term goal will be the Santa Anita Derby in April while a rematch with Point Given and others is anticipated for the Kentucky Derby. Palmeiro is expected to continue on the Derby trail after his gutty runner-up effort.

While new players join the Kentucky Derby future list, here are the status of some other top contenders awaiting their sophomore debuts: