Columnist Ralph Siraco: With Anticipation emerges as Breeders’ Cup turf threat

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Aug. 12, 2002 | 9:11 a.m.

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

The Breeders' Cup Limited, in association with the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, conducted pari-mutuel future book wagering over the weekend on the three turf championship races that will be part of the World Thoroughbred Championships Breeders' Cup at Arlington Park Oct. 26.

Only one of the future book pools was impacted.

Saturday's Sword Dancer Handicap produced backing for the Breeders' Cup Turf event as the $500,000 Saratoga warm-up saw With Anticipation defend his title during 1 1/2-mile Grade I turf tour.

A nearly white son of Relaunch, the gray gelding is still a force at seven years old. He has raced on the Saratoga green only twice in his career and has come away with the Sword Dancer trophy each time. The Jonathan Sheppard trainee has won 14 of 41 lifetime races and earned more than $1.8 million with the winner's share of the half-million dollar purse.

With Anticipation also helped Pat Day become the sport's highest-earning jockey. Day surpassed the recently retired Chris McCarron's mark of $264,351,679 as he now has $264,580,968 in career earnings.

Day, No. 3 on horse racing's career win list with 8,292, savored the moment at the historic track.

"It's special to do it (the record) in a place like Saratoga in front of a full grandstand with the enthusiasm being what it is," Day said.

Although the field bet is the Breeders' Cup Turf future book favorite at 4-1 odds, With Anticipation's victory pushed his individual odds down to 13-1.

The overwhelming favorite in pool one of the Breeders' Cup futures proved that her backer's investment may be better than Wall Street these days.

Azeri, a four-year-old daughter of Jade Hunter, breezed to victory in the Grade II Clement L. Hirsch handicap at Del Mar and pushed her racing credentials to five consecutive Graded victories.

Owned by the Allen E. Paulson Living Trust, Azeri has lost only once in a nine-race career. After breaking her maiden at first asking last year at Santa Anita, the Laura De Seroux trainee reeled off two more victories before tasting her only defeat.

That race, her first Graded stakes competition, came at Santa Anita early this year. In the Grade II La Canada, Azeri failed to catch Summer Colony while falling a length short as runner-up Feb. 9.

Jockey Mike Smith, who has ridden distaff champions Sky Beauty, Heavenly Prize and Ajina, said Azeri is special -- and scary. The two-time Eclipse Award winning rider said, "I've ridden three champion mares in my career, but I think she (Azeri) might be the best."

Some bridge-jumping plungers thought so, too.

Azeri paid $2.20 to win, but of the $764,201 bet to show in the race, $725,656 was bet on her. It was reported that two $200,000 show wagers were taken on the winner. The mandatory $2.10 payoff resulted in a minus show pool of $130,262.

Such a price to pay for a champion.

Finally, as "The Boss" readies for his Thomas & Mack Center appearance this weekend, a horse named Springsteen won in New Jersey on Sunday. In the 10th race at Monmouth Park, Springsteen paid $15.80 for his victory.

Track announcer Larry Colmus had this to say as Springsteen approached the finish with victory in sight: "Springsteen coming to the wire and he is born to run."

Unfortunately, Springsteen didn't pay enough for a concert ticket.