Columnist Ralph Siraco: Bailey has encountered some rough riding

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 11, 2002 | 10:42 a.m.

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

One week from today, jockey Jerry Bailey will most likely ride several horses at Gulfstream Park before donning his tuxedo and heading to Hollywood -- Hollywood, Fla., that is -- for the 31st annual Eclipse Awards.

Bailey, who has won the sport's "Oscar" on several occassions, is as big a favorite to earn another trophy as he is to win at least one race on that day's card.

Bailey racked up impressive numbers to earn his favorite's status for the Eclipse. Last year he won 225 races in 901 mounts for a 25 percent win ratio. He won a slew of graded stakes races that led to earnings of $22.1 million -- a record in the sport.

But for Bailey, the successes of 2001 has not meant a smooth path through the first part of this year. Right now Bailey can only lament: "What a difference a year makes."

Bailey's bumpy ride started with the first of four trips to the West Coast for assignments aboard top stakes horses in their first engagements of the year.

On January 19, Bailey ventured from his Florida winter base to scale Kentucky Derby prospect Siphonic for the Santa Catalina Stakes at Santa Anita. Bailey had ridden the David Hofmans trainee in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, where they finished a solid third to winner Johannesburg. Siphonic and Bailey were caught flat-footed at the start and they never recovered, finishing second to Labamta Babe.

A week later, on January 26, Bailey found himself in a Florida controversy that has yet to be fully resolved. While riding heavy favorite Del Mar Show in the Fort Lauderdale Handicap, Bailey was trapped and squeezed back at multiple intervals by Eibar Coa aboard Mr. Livingston. Miraculously, Bailey and Del Mar Show shook loose in time to win the race.

However, Bailey and trainer Bill Mott, who conditions Del Mar Show, complained to the Gulfstream stewards about the rough riding tactics employed by Coa.

Feeling pressure, the stewards handed Coa an unusually harsh 30-day suspension for the incident. Many contend it was an unfair ruling by the judges.

Bailey returned to Southern California on January 27 to ride Squirtle Squirt in the Palos Verdes Handicap at Santa Anita. Bailey was reuniting with his Breeders' Cup Sprint winner for their first start of the new year. As the day progressed, the rains came, and by post time the track was a sea of slop. As the favorite, Squirtle Squirt failed to menace gate-to-wire winner Snow Ridge. Again, Bailey finished second on the favorite.

As the calendar turned to February, Bailey sought a fresh start. Returning to California on the 3rd of the month, Bailey was once again hired to reunite with a Bobby Frankel trainee. This time it was Lido Palace and the race was the San Antonio Handicap. Bailey had won with this Chilean-bred in two Grade I races -- the Whitney at Saratoga and the Woodward at Belmont -- last year.

Again, Bailey and his equine partner would be favored. This time, however, Bailey and Lido didn't hit the board behind victor Redattore. Thwarted for a third time, Bailey returned to Florida.

Then came this past weekend.

On Saturday, the Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park featured, if not marquee names, certainly a high-quality field of 14 entrants for the first Grade I race of the year in that division.

Jerry Bailey was once again on the race favorite. This time he was on the 2000 Preakness Stakes winner Red Bullet. After disappointing setbacks in his career, Red Bullet had finally returned to top form for this race.

And then it happened again. While waiting for the bulky field to load into the starting gate, Red Bullet became restless, and when the starter finally dispatched the field, the horse was left flat-footed. Red Bullet had his head turned in the gate when they sprung the latch. It got worse. Going into the far turn, Red Bullet was maneuvered from behind horses for daylight by Bailey, but, in the process he impeded Rize, who finished fourth. Eventual winner Mongoose was clear, but when Red Bullet rallied for second the Gulfstream stewards flashed the "Inquiry" sign.

Red Bullet was disqualified and place fourth.

Undaunted, Bailey hopped a red-eye and returned to Santa Anita Sunday to ride another Bobby Frankel trainee. It was the Las Virgenes Stakes and his mount was a filly named You, who went off as the favorite.

This time, under the category of "Try, try again ... and again," You and Bailey prevailed in a driving finish over Habibti.

Let's hope Bailey doesn't slip on stage or drop his Eclipse Award next Monday.0