Columnist Ralph Siraco: War Emblem ready to run for history

Ralph Siraco

Monday, June 3, 2002 | 11:32 a.m.

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

On Saturday, War Emblem has a date with destiny.

Which destiny will be answered at approximately 3:10 p.m. after he and as many as a dozen of his classmates race the farthest they have ever run -- and for most, the only time they will ever negotiate the 1 1/2-mile distance of the Belmont Stakes.

War Emblem has raced onto the scene as fast as he has taken the first two jewels of this year's Triple Crown. A gate-to-wire victory on the first Saturday in May produced another Kentucky Derby trophy for his trainer Bob Baffert while giving his new owner, Prince Ahmed Salman of Saudi Arabia, a redeeming victory from the disappointment of Point Given's flop just one year prior. And, when the son of Our Emblem repeated a victory at Pimlico Race Course two weeks later in the Preakness Stakes, he created an instant fan club and a championship road trip that finishes in the Big Apple.

The 134th Belmont Stakes will be more than just a Grade I $1 million race this year, it will be the proving ground for another attempt at a 12th Triple Crown winner and a Visa Card bonus of $5 million.

It should be noted the prince shelled out a quick $900,000 for 90-percent ownership of the Derby-Preakness winner shortly after his resounding victory in the April 6 Illinois Derby. An additional $1 million bonus from Sportsman's Park for winning the Grade II event and the Kentucky Derby is still pending litigation. Nevertheless, the prince's pocket-change purchase allowed his Thoroughbred Corporation racing empire and Baffert to enter this year's Run for the Roses late in the game.

Now, they sit on the threshold of history with one of the most unlikely contenders for the sport's most coveted trophy.

Baffert has twice been here before. The prince already has a Belmont trophy. But War Emblem will need more than their Belmont experiences to take this Crown.

This year, they have come out of the woodwork to test the would-be champion in a race called the "Test of Champions." And, history shows the moniker is well earned.

Since 1978 when Affirmed became the 11th Triple Crown winner, War Emblem is the eighth horse who enters the Belmont Stakes with a Triple Crown at stake. This will be the third time in the past six years Baffert has come to the Belmont in search of the Triple Crown.

"Ask any trainer who has won the first two races, and they'll tell you those were 11 tough sons of a gun," Baffert said, referring to Sir Barton, Gallant Fox, Omaha, War Admiral, Whirlaway, Count Fleet, Assault, Citation, Secretariat, Seattle Slew and Affirmed.

He also knows how many talented horses have come close.

"There are a lot of great horses who didn't do it (win the Triple Crown)," Baffert lamented.

Those who failed in the Belmont after sweeping the Derby and Preakness include Pensive, Tim Tam, Carry Back, Northern Dancer, Kauai King, Forward Pass, Majestic Prince, Canonero, Spectacular Bid, Pleasant Colony, Alysheba, Sunday Silence, Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Charismatic.

Baffert's Silver Charm was beaten by less than a length in 1997 while his Real Quiet was beaten a nose the following year.

Since Sir Barton's initial Triple Crown turn in 1919 through Charismatic's ill-fated Belmont try in 1999, there have been 26 Triple Crown bids with 11 victorious and 15 misses. That translates to an impressive 42.3 percent success rate. However, taking the last half-century from 1951 through 1999, only 3 from 17 captured the Crown for a dismal 17.6 percent win rate.

Although the 1970s produced three Triple Crown winners -- Secretariat in 1973, Seattle Slew in '77 and Affirmed the next year -- the drought sits at 22 years.

Luck, stamina, talent and opportunity all must come together for a Triple Crown victory.

Chris McCarron says it takes a hardy type of horse who can bounce back from the first two races and take the tough training required to prepare for the grueling Belmont Stakes distance. War Emblem seems to fit that criteria.

He also said, "It takes a special horse."

Saturday will tell whether War Emblem is one.