Columnist Ralph Siraco: Monarchos should be tuned up for Preakness

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 14, 2001 | 10:13 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections appear Tuesday-Sunday. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 2275 Corporate Circle Drive, Suite 300, Henderson, NV 89014.

Now that the Kentucky Derby is a week removed, it is time to take a closer look at what we have for a 2001 Triple Crown hope.

In recent years, as soon as the Derby winner had donned the blanket of roses, he was declared the next super horse with a Triple Crown almost in tow. Remember the Fusaichi Pegasus hype just last year?

And although there have been some near misses for a 12th Triple Crown winner, only 11 horses own that distinction. In 1997, Silver Charm won the Derby and Preakness, then came within a length of the Triple Crown while runner-up to Touch Gold in the Belmont Stakes. The following year the Derby-Preakness winner, Real Quiet, fell a whisker short against Victory Gallop in the Belmont. In 1999, the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes produced Charismatic victories only to see the gallant runner break down, finishing third in the Belmont.

Now, only one horse has that chance: Monarchos. But first things first. The 126th Preakness Stakes stands in the immediate future for this year's Kentucky Derby winner. A victory in Saturday's middle jewel of the Triple Crown is a must if the son of 1995 Juvenile champion Maria's Mon is to set the stage for a chance at the most coveted prize in racing.

If he wins the Preakness, then racing will brace for a fourth Triple Crown try in the last five years. Affirmed won the last Triple Crown in 1978.

So, how does this year's version of "Super Horse" stack up? First, it is becoming increasingly clear that this crop of sophomores is a good bunch of runners. This year's Derby was the second-fastest running in history. Only the great Secretariat ran a faster Derby than Monarchos, and he went on to capture the Triple Crown in 1973.

Monarchos is also a stoutly built individual who has been brought up to the Triple Crown series in relatively fresh form. His trainer, John Ward, comes from a long line of first-rate horsemen and is a third-generation student of the craft. His training schedule leading up to the Derby was unorthodox, and that method will continue coming into the Preakness Stakes.

Monarchos didn't start his career until he was almost a full 3 years old. A February foal, the gray began racing just four months shy of 3 when he started in a seven-furlong maiden race at Keeneland in October 2000. He finished eighth in a 12-horse field. His second start came the following month at Churchill Downs, where he rallied from 11th place to finish a fast-closing third.

Then came the trip to Gulfstream Park. It was just 13 days into this year when Monarchos registered on the Derby Richter scale with a sensational eight-length maiden-smashing victory. Then, on February 3, he came back with solid two-turn win.

Next Monarchos would get his class acid test. Ward, in just the horse's fifth career start, sent his star runner postward in the Grade I Florida Derby. The 1 1/8-mile Gulfstream Park centerpiece was the vehicle for what was to be in the Derby. Monarchos made a strong sweeping six-wide move that sent him from 11th to first on the final turn for home. He won the Sunshine State's Derby prep by more than four lengths.

Monarchos became the sweetheart of the East and the "now" horse of the futures betting. Ward knew he had a Derby starter, and his next move may have been the one that won him the Derby. Monarchos was immediately shipped to Louisville and started training over the Derby surface. Although Monarchos would receive his final Derby prep at Aqueduct, Ward kept his Derby hopeful at Churchill Downs until just before the Wood Memorial. Monarchos rallied well while runner-up to California invader Congaree in the April 14th Big Apple prep.

All of a sudden Monarchos became yesterday's news. Trainer Bob Baffert had Derby favorite Point Given after a Santa Anita Derby win, and it was his stable second-stringer who had just disposed of Monarchos in the Wood. Many reasoned that if Baffert's Avis horse whipped Monarchos, then he was no match for Baffert's big gun in Louisville.

Ward, however, got just what he wanted out of the New York prep. Back at Churchill Downs, Monarchos was taking long gallops and a breather as well. His last registered workout was on April 27 -- a full eight days before the Kentucky Derby. There was no additional workout during Derby week and only one in the three-week span between the Wood and the Derby itself.

Now, Monarchos is five days away from jewel No. 2. Ward shipped his Derby winner to Pimlico Race Course before the garland of roses had a chance to wilt. He has done no more than gallop his stable star and plans no real workout for Monarchos leading up to Saturday's race.

Until last Saturday, one week after the Derby victory, Monarchos was "a little flat," his trainer said. But a 1 1/2-mile gallop over the weekend has put Monarchos back in the giddy-up mode.

Ward believes that his horse has recovered from the hard effort expended in winning the Derby. "He came off the track bucking and playing," Ward said.

Ward galloped Monarchos again on Sunday and planned "a fairly good gallop" this morning. Monarchos is scheduled to walk Tuesday morning in preparation for a schooling session on the turf course later in the day.

The Preakness horses are saddled on the infield turf course in full view of the grandstand. Monarchos will receive his starting gate session on Thursday morning, a day after they draw post positions for Saturday's main event.

A field of 11 is expected to line up in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes and all but Point Given, Congaree, A.P. Valentine and Dollar Bill will be new shooters, who did not contest the Kentucky Derby. The four Derby contenders can only hope that a new track and strange surroundings will undo the Derby king.

"It's the same routine as Louisville," Ward said. Now the trainer, owners and much of the racing world hope the Preakness Stakes provides the same result as Louisville.