Columnist Ralph Siraco: Emblem fades fast in big one

Ralph Siraco

Monday, June 10, 2002 | 9:46 a.m.

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

The War is over. The Belmont battle lost. The Emblem of a 12th Triple Crown gone.

On Saturday, in Elmont, N.Y., the largest crowd in the 134-year history of the Belmont Stakes attended a special day at the races. A day that the city needed. A day that the sport of thoroughbred racing needed. A day that another would-be superhorse could win the Belmont Stakes, and with it, the Triple Crown.

But missing among the record 103,222 in attendance was the Saudi Prince Ahmed bin Salman. In a last-minute turnabout that was attributed to "family obligations," the owner of Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem was a half world away by the time his $900,000 April purchase entered the starting gate in front of the massive majestic Belmont Park grandstand, ready to negotiate the 1 1/2 miles of the third and final jewel in the American Triple Crown.

The Prince's absence was a sign of things to come.

It had always been speculated that one of the challenges left for War Emblem was the trying distance of the Grade I Belmont Stakes. With a penchant for needing or attending the lead, could War Emblem carry his speed with the stamina needed to capture the longest and most grueling of the Triple Crown races?

But, as history will record, it wasn't that extra quarter-mile never traveled by this class of 1999, or for that matter any of the 10 challengers he faced, that did him in. It was the first few feet that ended War Emblem's chances at immortality.

Four feet to be exact -- his.

When the starter dispatched the field for the marathon journey, War Emblem stumbled to his knees, buckled, and nearly unseated jockey Victor Espinoza. Unnoticed by most who watched the break, War Emblem quickly recovered, but had only two horses beat by the time he and Espinoza righted themselves.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who was going for the elusive Triple Crown for the third time in the past six years, watched in disbelief.

As an uncontested Wiseman's Ferry led the field for the $1 million race into the first of two sweeping turns, War Emblem had pulled his way to fourth place, blocked down on the rail behind the pacesetter and a pair of familiar opponents -- Medaglia d'Oro and Proud Citizen. Medaglia d'Oro had finished fourth in the Derby and eighth in the Preakness while Proud Citizen was runner-up in the Derby and third in the Preakness. Stalking the leading group was Sunday Break and Sarava.

The determination and grit that carried War Emblem to this date with destiny became evident when the field hit the one-mile marker. There, the son of Our Emblem slipped through an opening at the rail and, for a brief moment, forged to the front while Wiseman's Ferry was packing it in. Medaglia d'Oro quickly picked up the charge as the crowd roared in anticipation.

And then it happened. War Emblem hit the proverbial brick wall.

As Espinoza eased his gallant partner from any more exhaustion, the 70-1 long shot Sarava became a most unlikely challenger to Medaglia d'Oro as that pair started to distance themselves from Sunday Break, Proud Citizen and the faltering War Emblem.

At the end, Sarava, with Edgar Prado aboard, streaked under the finish line a half-length in front and became the longest price winner in Belmont Stakes history. The much-touted Sunday Break finished 10 lengths back in third.

While Baffert could only relive the heartbreak of yet another Triple Crown disappointment -- having lost with Silver Charm in 1997 and the following year with Real Quiet -- he commended Espinoza for protecting War Emblem. Baffert saw the stumble, and knew it was over immediately.

"We were doomed," said the silver-haired conditioner of the horrendous start. "It was gut-wrenching to have to watch the whole race," he said.

The unscripted drama of sports competition and the fleeting fate and fortunes of horse racing were also played out on the Belmont Stakes stage this year.

The winner, Sarava, is trained by one Kenny McPeek. He was the man who had two Derby favorites in the months leading to the first leg of the Triple Crown. It was his Repent who suffered an injury while finishing second to War Emblem in the April 6 Illinois Derby. McPeek's Harlan's Holiday was the beaten Kentucky Derby favorite and out-of-the-money in the Preakness Stakes leading the owners to fire McPeek last Tuesday.

Sarava is by the first Breeders' Cup Classic winner Wild Again, and may follow his dad's hoofsteps to this year's renewal. His upset returned backers with a whopping $142.50 for the record $2 win payoff, beating the previous $131.10 that Sherluck paid in his Belmont Stakes shocker while spoiling Carry Back's Triple Crown bid in 1961.

The Racing Gods have spoken. The sport will have to wait at least another year for a chance at the Triple Crown, a span that will reach 25 years since Affirmed did it in 1978.