Columnist Ralph Siraco: Derby seeking Vindication (replacement)

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 10, 2003 | 9:03 a.m.

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

Wanted: Kentucky Derby future book favorite. Must be three years old, male preferably, but stout talented filly will do, and healthy. Must be bred to get a classic distance, and healthy. Must be nominated to the Triple Crown, and must be healthy. Must be durable, and, oh, did we mention, must be healthy?

The position of Kentucky Derby favorite became open on Wednesday after tests on pro tem leader Vindication disclosed an injury on the two-year-old champion's suspensory in the left foreleg.

Trainer Bob Baffert said the Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner suffered a bruised foot during training in late January. And, concerns began to heighten after Vindication had missed several days at the track after a sparkling workout.

Speculation about the colt's health and his quest for the Kentucky Derby ended on Thursday morning when Baffert announced that the strapping son of 1977 Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year Seattle Slew would not be competing in this year's Triple Crown events.

Baffert, who has won America's most famous horse race three of the past six years, said an ultrasound test revealed the spot on the suspensory and now they must wait two months before another ultrasound can be performed to determine how long it will take for Mother Nature to mend whatever damage there is.

With this injury, yet another two-year-old champion has bit the dust before a sophomore run at the Triple Crown. In fact, the Eclipse Award Juvenile winner stretches the Sports Illustrated-type jinx for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile-Kentucky Derby double into a 19-year bust.

No Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner has come back to win the Kentucky Derby since the Breeders' inception in 1984. And, the demanding double from 2-year-old of the year to the winners circle in Louisville stretches back to 1978, when Spectacular Bid was crowned juvenile champion, then came back to capture the Derby the next year. His trainer Bud Delp said then that Spectacular Bid was the "best horse to ever look through a bridle."

Maybe he was right.

Since Spectacular Bid's victory in 1979, there have been a dozen juvenile champions who have made the Derby starting gate, with Easy Goer in 1989 and Forty Niner in 1988 coming the closest to victory with a pair of runner-up efforts. Only two others managed to finish in the money.

The 1984 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Chief's Crown in 1985 and Timber Country in 1995 were third in their Derbies. The remaining eight of Rockhill Native (fifth 1980), Capote (eased in 1987), Fly So Free (fifth 1991), Arazi (eighth 1992), Horse of the Year Favorite Trick (eighth 1998), Answer Lively (10th 1999), Anees (13th 2000) and Johannesburg (eighth 2002) never came close to their juvenile championship form in the following Derby.

With Vindication's vacancy this year, another dozen didn't even make the show on the first Saturday in May. They were Lord Avie in 1981, Deputy Minister in 1982, Roving Boy in 1983, Devil's Bag in 1984, Tasso in 1986, Rhythm in 1990, Gilded Time in 1993, Dehere in 1994, Maria's Mon in 1996, Boston Harbor in 1997 and Macho Uno in 2001.

Padua Stable general manager Nadia Sanan, the daughter of owners Satish and Anne Sanan, said the family was hopeful for Vindication's return to the races. She indicated that with the swelling still lingering it was difficult to get a clear picture to the extent of the injury.

Baffert was optimistic for an autumn comeback. "We're hoping to work out a fall campaign." he said.

Although Baffert reminded that the timing of this setback was terrible, he indicated that the Midsummer Derby of the Travers at Saratoga with the fall Breeders' Cup Classic might be salvaged.

Baffert is still pointing for another back-to-back Kentucky Derby feat -- having won the Derby in 1997 with Silver Charm and the following year with Real Quiet -- after he plucked War Emblem late in the spring to win the Derby last year. His Derby hopes now sit on the flanks of Santa Catalina Stakes winner Domestic Dispute and San Vicente Stakes winner Kafwain, who finished second to stablemate Vindication in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last fall.

Although the 2003 Kentucky Derby future book betting has been open for months in Las Vegas at Coast Casinos and Bally's/Paris race books, the first of three national Kentucky Derby future book offerings by Churchill Downs comes this weekend.

For those holding Las Vegas tickets on pre-Derby favorite Vindication that are now no more than souvenirs, the pari-mutuel pool has come too late. But, not to soon to find another Derby future book favorite.