Columnist Ralph Siraco: Horse racing’s 2nd season under way

Ralph Siraco

Monday, June 17, 2002 | 8:47 a.m.

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

Before the disappointing dust could settle from War Emblem's failed attempt at a Triple Crown victory in the June 8 Belmont Stakes, the racing world quickly turned to its second season.

The march to the sport's championship day of racing is under way.

For this year's three-year-olds, only Sunday's Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park, the early August Haskell Invitational at Monmouth Park, the late August Travers Stakes at Saratoga and the late September Super Derby at Louisiana Downs are still on the docket before they are thrown into the handicap division to mix it up with their elders.

And that division, among others, was on display over the weekend as the drive toward this year's World Thoroughbred Championship Breeders' Cup races at Arlington Park on Oct. 26 have officially begun.

On Saturday, from a picture-perfect day in the bluegrass to the balmy beaches off the Pacific, two major races in the handicap division produced a pair of serious runners for the Breeders' Cup Classic.

The $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap showcased a stellar field of runners at Churchill Downs as that track hosted the second-largest day in Kentucky racing -- behind only Derby day -- in total purse distribution. Among the solid field of eight were Congaree, who was third in last year's Kentucky Derby, and Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry.

Congaree, fresh off a comeback victory in the Lone Star Park Handicap, went off the Foster favorite with Pat Day aboard. Street Cry, who hadn't raced since his March 23 Dubai win, was the second choice.

The stage was set as the two locked up at the top of the homestretch. But it became evident in a heartbeat that Street Cry would blow the race wide open. Jockey Jerry Bailey said after the resounding victory that he didn't want to get to Congaree so soon, but, that Street Cry was "all business today."

The final time of 1:47:4 for the 1 1/8-mile Grade I event -- second fastest in the 21-year history of the race -- proved the point. Congaree backed up to finish sixth, beaten 11 1/2 lengths at 6/5 odds.

Trainer Bob Baffert, who finished his spring stay at Churchill Downs with Congaree, said that War Emblem's Kentucky Derby victory salvaged another try at "that race I can't win." Congaree was the third losing favorite that Baffert has saddled for the Foster in the last five years. He also missed with Silver Charm in 1998 and Dubai World Cup winner Captain Steve last year.

As for Street Cry, his agenda may include a Del Mar visit for the Aug. 25 Pacific Classic or a fall classic tune-up at Belmont Park before his main objective in the Breeders' Cup Classic.

At Hollywood Park, the $500,000 Californian Stakes featured the return of Santa Anita Handicap winner Milwaukee Brew. Although the 1 1/8-mile Grade II event drew another field of eight at the left coast, there were seven others looking to forge a future to Breeders' Cup.

Jockey Kent Desormeaux seems to fit the Bobby Frankel trainee well, and, although the trainer indicated the Brew's ultimate summer goal is the Hollywood Gold Cup on July 14, this prep was a nice piece of change.

Midway through the homestretch, it appeared Milwaukee Brew had a chance at the minor awards. But, as the duel in deep stretch between Bosque Redondo and Momentum started to lose its momentum, Desormeaux swung Milwaukee Brew to clear sailing in the middle of the track and nailed the duo in the shadow of the finish line.

Next stop for the Brew is the Gold Cup and that may buy the ticket to the big show in Chicago.

Both Hollywood Park and Churchill Downs featured multiple stakes races on their Saturday cards.

In the $300,000 Fleur De Lis at Churchill, Spain outran a solid field of mares at 1 1/8 miles. The 3 1/4 length victory was her third over the track, adding to the 2000 Breeders' Cup Distaff and the Louisville Handicap. In winning the latter on May 3, she became the all-time career earnings leader of her division, passing the great Serena's Song. She now has over $3.5 million banked and earned her latest paycheck while in foal.

Last month Spain was successfully bred to the stallion Storm Cat. When asked whether there is any possibility of running Spain in the Breeders' Cup Distaff again this year, trainer D. Wayne Lukas did not rule it out.

The $350,000 Charles Whittingham Handicap featured candidates for the Breeders' Cup Turf. The 1 1/4-mile turf feature was part of the Governor's Festival at Hollywood Park. Frankel saddled a pair for the race that included the favorite Skipping. But, it was the "hidden entry" of Denon that captured the Grade I event.

Under a perfect ride by jockey Garrett Gomez, Denon vaulted into Breeders' Cup consideration. However, he will have to prove he is no "horse-for-course" horse. He also won the Hollywood Derby over the same carpet in November for his only other U.S. victory.

None of the impressive victories, however, equaled the bombshell that started the weekend of racing.

On Friday, rumors were rampant at Hollywood Park that jockey Chris McCarron was retiring from the saddle. Just before the Friday evening card began, McCarron had notified track officials that he wanted to hold a Saturday press conference to make it official. By first post time on Saturday, McCarron had confirmed the rumors.

The man who has won more money riding thoroughbred race horses than anyone in the history of the sport will hang up his tack with a final ride in Sunday's Swaps Stakes on his Kentucky Derby partner Came Home.

Next week, the McCarron farewell.