Columnist Ralph Siraco: Santa Anita looking for a few good horses

Ralph Siraco

Monday, April 1, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

Over the last decade, there has been no Kentucky Derby prep race more productive than the Santa Anita Derby.

The Santa Anita Derby served as the final springboard for a trio of consecutive Kentucky Derby winners from Silver Charm in 1997 through Real Quiet in 1998 and Charismatic in 1999.

Just last year, Point Given demolished his rivals in the Santa Anita Derby before stubbing his hoof in the Kentucky Derby. But he bounced back to win both the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes on the way to Horse of the Year honors.

The Santa Anita Derby has been such a proficient Triple Crown proving ground that it has become known in many circles as "The Gateway to the Kentucky Derby and Triple Crown."

Including Point Given's two-thirds of last year's Triple Crown, starters in the Santa Anita Derby have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby 14 times and captured a total of 34 Triple Crown classics overall. In fact, the last Triple Crown winner, Affirmed in 1978, took that year's Santa Anita Derby on the way to becoming only the 11th horse in history to turn the trick and secured Horse of the Year with it.

So, you would think that racing fans, horse players and those who will now search out a Kentucky Derby futures winner -- now that Indiana and Maryland are the only ones left in the office pool brackets -- are anxiously awaiting the 64th renewal of the Santa Anita Derby on Saturday.

Well, think again.

Mirroring the wide open nature of this year's Kentucky Derby trail is a Santa Anita Derby that will go down as one of the most insignificant editions ever. At least that is the consensus of professional prognosticators. It seems the first Saturday in April at Arcadia will bring no more clarity to what may transpire on the first Saturday in May at Louisville.

This year's Santa Anita Derby could produce exactly no starters in the Kentucky Derby. And, it appears, that those lining up for the Grade I sophomore centerpiece of the West are in the race purely for the $750,000 purse.

Just four days until they draw post positions for the 1 1/8 miles classic, there is a field of seven confirmed starters with an undisclosed amount of others that may come out of the woodwork for secondary awards in the pale field.

The marquee names for this year's Santa Anita Derby are Came Home and Danthebluegrassman.

After a promising two-year-old campaign that ended with an unplaced finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Came Home was given a short respite before an untimely setback to his sophomore debut. A fever kept trainer Paco Gonzalez from staying with Came Home's original training schedule. But the talented conditioner got his stable star to the gate in time to win the 7-furlong San Vicente Stakes on Feb. 2.

Danthebluegrassman comes into the race riding on the fame of his trainer Bob Baffert. The man who brought us Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Point Given now displays his 2002 model hailing for the same owner, Mike Pegram, as his 1998 Kentucky Derby victor. A winner of 3 of 7 lifetime starts, Danthebluegrassman invaded Northern California to win the Golden Gate Derby in January and returned from his Southern California base to finish second in the March 9 El Camino Real Derby.

Easy Grades will get the services of jockey Gary Stevens for the Santa Anita Derby and the rider may be his best attribute. Stevens will be going for a record ninth win in the race.

US S Tinosa continues to run solid races and poses a threat on consistency alone, while Lusty Latin, Tracemark and Royal Gem would make an instant name for themselves with a victory. Holdthehelm and Jack's Silver are among those that may show up hoping for minor awards.

It is worthy to note, however, that Came Home and Danthebluegrassman registered less than inspiring moves in their final workouts for the race. It still remains a wonder why San Felipe Stakes winner Medalia D'Oro and the promising Sunday Break got out of town to New York for the upcoming Wood Memorial.

The wildcard in this Santa Anita Derby is Gotham winner Mayakovsky. The son of Matty G ventured to New York for that victory and returned to his Southern California base while he continues to train for his next race. A Santa Anita Derby berth is not out of the question although his connections are leaning toward the Wood Memorial as well. That race, plus the Blue Grass Stakes and the Arkansas Derby, will be run on April 13.