Columnist Ralph Siraco: Belmont may be site of rubber match

Ralph Siraco

Monday, May 21, 2001 | 10:09 a.m.

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

POINT: Monarchos wins the 127th Kentucky Derby sweeping the field with an awesome move for the second-fastest winning time in Derby history, while the favorite, Point Given, checks in fifth to the disbelief of his backers and connections.

COUNTERPOINT: Point Given wins the 126th Preakness Stakes sweeping around the field with a wide move and streaking under the finish line with speed to spare, while Derby winner Monarchos struggles over the Pimlico racing surface checking in sixth as the Triple Crown goes unclaimed for another year.

FINAL POINT: Hopes are high that Point Given and Monarchos square off for a Triple Crown rubber-match in the June 9 Belmont Stakes at New York. Trainer Bob Baffert has already committed Point Given to the race and the Monarchos camp scheduled a trip to the third jewel of the spring classics before the Preakness, although trainer John Ward relayed after the race that he would have to check his Derby winner from head to toe before a serious commitment is made.

WHAT'S THE POINT: To see if the mysterious performances by the two leading sophomores can be negated by duplicating their separate winning performances of the first two Triple Crown victories culminating in one race -- on the same day and track -- to see who is the best of this talented group of 3-year-olds.

There is no doubt that Point Given was a legitimate victor of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. His connections had many a sleepless night -- with some awakening with reoccurring Derby nightmares -- since his dismal Derby performance that left them disappointed and disillusioned from the lackluster effort by their stable star.

Speculation of jockey Gary Stevens' ride on the California superhorse and second-guessing of the light racing schedule trainer Bob Baffert laid out leading to the Derby were all amplified while searching for reasons for the Point Given flop at Churchill Downs. Many speculated that Stevens' overconfident ride, the wide trip and his close attendance to a suicide pace led to Point Given's Derby demise.

Just the two-race preps entering a hard race like the Derby were also questioned after his defeat. And, even the perception of a harder-than-usual Churchill Downs surface was used as an excuse for his failure to win.

On the other hand, no such excuses or speculation was pointed in the direction of trainer John Ward with his unorthodox schedule for Derby winner Monarchos.

Now, the scrutinizing eyes of the racing fraternity are turning to Ward as Monarchos was a tired and beaten horse in the Preakness. Monarchos, who did not have a serious workout since April 27 before the Derby, also did not register an official drill before Saturday's race. Long gallops were the trademark leading to the race with no signs of the Derby winner's dislike for the Pimlico oval. But, overnight rains made the track on Saturday a surface that jockey Jorge Chavez reported Monarchos did not like. And, he never got on track while spinning his wheels over the tan.

While Monarchos was enjoying his leisurely morning activities, Baffert was back at Churchill Downs fine-tuning what he still can't figure out. Although the Derby disappointment will always haunt the silver-haired conditioner, the task was getting Point Given ready to prove what the trainer always knew. Getting the "real" Point Given ready for the Preakness Stakes.

Point Given was ready on Saturday, and Stevens knew it as soon as the field of 11 was dispatched from the starting gate. "I felt I was loaded for bear every step of the way," he said.

Richly Blended, as expected, set the pace for the 1 3/16ths mile $1 million Grade I event. But, unlike the blistering fractions of the Derby, most of the riders let the speed horse do his thing.

Congaree, with new rider Jerry Bailey aboard, pulled his rider to contend Richly Blended after taking an awkward step leaving the starting gate. Bailey kept Baffert's Avis horse at the striking position while stablemate Point Given was ambling along in mid-pack -- as much as three- or four-wide -- down the backstretch as Stevens waited to push the button. Meanwhile, Monarchos was already indicating his disdain for the track as Chavez remained busy trying to get the Derby winner into gear. Stevens asked the question going into the final turn, and this time Point Given gave the answer to the roar of a record Preakness Day crowd of 104,454 who had made him a slight favorite (again) over the Derby winner.

Sweeping alongside Congaree, who had disposed of Richly Blended, Point Given was waiting for Monarchos. As Chavez relayed after the race,"When Point Given started moving on the turn I tried to follow him, but, my horse wasn't handling the track today," was all the rider could offer of the Monarchos performance.

Although Point Given shifted back and forth through the home stretch -- something later attributed to not changing leads properly -- there was no one close to offer any challenges, and at the end he coasted to a 2 1/4 length victory in 1:55:2. A.P. Valentine rallied under an aggressive ride by Victor Espinoza as they beat Congaree (the horse Espinoza was replaced by Bailey) for second.

Congaree became the most consistent runner of this Triple Crown by finishing third in each of the first two jewels. Fourth-place finisher Dollar Bill encountered trouble again while the others were no more than Preakness Stakes window dressing. Point Given returned $6.60 to win.

Stevens felt relieved. "I feel like he vindicated himself a little bit," the rider said. "He's the best horse I've ever ridden. He's like a dream."

A dream from a Derby nightmare. When asked about the Derby debacle, Stevens could only say, "He (Point Given) didn't show up two weeks ago and we still have no idea what happened." Then a smile came over his face.

"But he showed up today."

And what about Monarchos? He obviously didn't "show up" Saturday. Now, he lives the nightmare. But, at least he has a Derby trophy to ease the pain.

Monarchos likes the track at Churchill and wins the Derby. Point Given doesn't. Point Given likes the track at Pimlico and wins the Preakness. Monarchos doesn't.

Baffert said of Point Given after the Preakness victory that, "At least (Point Given) is the horse we were talking about. We never had any doubts, but we were puzzled (of his Derby effort)."

If Baffert, Stevens, Ward and Chavez are puzzled, they have to stand in line with the millions of viewers and racing fans who still don't know who is who or when they are going to "show up."

We just hope they both "show up" in the Belmont Stakes and settle it on the track. Of course, there is always the possibility of someone else "showing up" for the final jewel of the "Fickle Crown."

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