Columnist Ralph Siraco: Super Saturday

Ralph Siraco

Friday, Oct. 26, 2001 | 11:18 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column regularly appears each Monday, and his Southern California selections run Tuesday through Sunday. This is a special installment. Reach him c/o Las Vegas Sun, 2275 Corporate Circle Drive, Ste. 300, Henderson, NV 89074.

The resilience of New York and the resolve of America will be on display at the Empire State's historic Belmont Park as the racing emporium hosts the 18th edition of the Breeders' Cup on Saturday.

Nowhere is there a more compelling place to renew racing's championship day than the Big Apple.

Officially renamed the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, the eight-race event will bring together an international cast of owners, trainers and horses to compete for the year's top honors.

Three champions from last year's Breeders' Cup competition return to try to defend their titles: Spain is back in the Distaff, Kona Gold in the Sprint (as the highest morning line favorite, 7-2) and reigning Horse Of The Year Tiznow in the $4 million Classic.

Of the 98 horses competing in the eight-race, $13 million championships, 20 are owned by Middle Eastern connections -- including several with excellent chances of winning.

Prince Khalid Abdullah has three horses entered under his Juddmonte Farms flag, and will start another two in Distaff favorite Flute and Classic favorite Aptitude.

Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum has Filly & Mare Turf favorite Lailani, while Dubai's Godolphin Racing, Inc., will start Mile favorite Noverre and Turf choice Fantastic Light, among others.

Prince Ahmed Salman -- nephew of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia -- will start the heaviest favorite of the day in Officer (Juvenile), under his colors of The Thoroughbred Corporation. Among his other entrants are Spain, and Habibti in the Juvenile Fillies.

Trainer Bobby Frankel will try to snap an 0-for-36 losing streak that dates to the inaugural Breeders' Cup of 1984. The Hall of Fame conditioner may break through with a record day, though, as he saddles six horses in six separate events. Three will be favorites; along with Flute and Aptitude, Frankel will start You as the top choice in the Juvenile Fillies.

Although he is ranked seventh on the money-earnings list and sixth in the victories category in the Breeders' Cup, Laffit Pincay, Jr. -- the world's winningest jockey -- will not have a mount this year.

Here's a rundown of Saturday's Breeders' Cup card:

Two strong handicapping angles are Grade I victories and a fondness for the Belmont oval, given the unusual one-turn layout for the distance. Five of the 17 runnings have been won by 3-year-olds, including Spain.

Since there is no older standout this year, we will opt for the sophomore filly Flute. She won the prestigious Kentucky Oaks and Alabama Stakes, and was not embarrassed as runner-up in the recent Beldame over this same track.

Defending champ Spain could be coming into the race at peak form, and long shots Starrer and Fleet Rene have a chance to make the exotic a goodie.

PICKS: FLUTE, SPAIN.

VALUE PLAY: STARRER

Coming into the event off a victory is just as key. Eleven of the 17 runnings have been won by a filly who won her previous race.

Of the three that fit this profile, You gets the nod. She recently won the Frizette and has been training brilliantly. Although Bella Bellucci also qualifies, she has yet to race farther than six furlongs. However, her trainer Neil Drysdale is conservative, so a start here should say a lot about her abilities. Habibti lost a pivotal start when she was withdrawn from the Oak Leaf at Santa Anita, but she has talent. Same for Tempera, whose connections elected not to start her since August 26 at Del Mar.

PICKS: YOU, BELLA BELLUCCI.

VALUE PLAY: TEMPERA.

Both Miles run over the Belmont turf have been won by European entrants. This is usually the preferred game of the "over-the-pond" contingent.

Noverre fits the profile here and is said to be Europe's best miler. With an early tracking style, he should be in the perfect spot when it counts. Of the Americans, Val Royal has a lethal closing kick. He won the Oak Tree Mile as a prep for this. Solid runners Irish Prize and Affirmed Success can't be overlooked, and troubled trippers Brahms and Sarafan are subject to make this exotic a big one.

PICKS: NOVERRE, IRISH PRIZE.

VALUE PLAY: BRAHMS.

On the sweeping turns of the massive 1 1/2-mile oval, stalkers should have the best shake. Kona Gold will try to become first two-time winner of the event at age 7, while a hot pace provided by Xtra Heat, Caller One and Squirtle Squirt could set this up for a deep closer.

El Corredor has the right "bottom" to get this done. He has tactical speed and is fast. Swept Overboard is a gray freight train that will be coming at the end, although Kona Gold won't go without a fight.

PICKS: EL CORREDOR, KONA GOLD.

VALUE PLAY: SWEPT OVERBOARD.

This is an interesting assemblage and the winner may very well come from either the Flower Bowl, run over this course, or the Galaxy at Keeneland.

Lailani took the Flower Bowl in the shadow of the wire from England's Legend while the talented Starine was a closing third. Spook Express looped the field to grab the Galaxy. The British-bred Banks Hill is a solid Euro-contender and has strong outings against the boys overseas at shorter distances.

PICKS: BANKS HILL, STARINE.

VALUE PLAY: SPOOK EXPRESS

If Officer gets beat, Officer will be the one who beats him: Only he can be his worst enemy. There are some talented youngsters who will be heard from on next year's Triple Crown trail, including Siphonic, Came Home, Jump Start and Essence Of Dubai.

PICKS: OFFICER, CAME HOME.

VALUE PLAY: JUMP START.

The connections will prove to be either prophetic or foolish.

Six of the 17 runnings have gone to European invaders, including the last two renewals.

Along with the favorite, Mutamam, Milan and Slew The Red qualify in that category. Of the American-based turf marathoners, Timboroa and With Anticipation stand solid chances.

PICKS: WITH ANTICIPATION, FANTASTIC LIGHT.

VALUE PLAY: MILAN.

Aptitude was sensational in the Jockey Club Gold Cup at this distance and track in his last. Defending champion Tiznow has been dazzling in morning workouts, while Include and Gander could be solid long shots.

Jerry Bailey on Aptitude and Chris McCarron aboard Tiznow have won the main event four times each. Big-time jockeys in big races do make a difference, although they will have to run from bad post positions here.

If the Europeans adapt to the main track and the Yanks fire, this will be one to remember.

PICKS: APTITUDE, TIZNOW.

VALUE PLAY: INCLUDE.

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