Columnist Ralph Siraco: Trio will attempt to play survival game

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Feb. 24, 2003 | 8:54 a.m.

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

As we wrap up the second month of 2003, the road to the Kentucky Derby takes a breather before several pivotal stepping stones next month that are certain to produce racing's version of March Madness.

The Triple Crown trail has been so demanding in recent years that many who make the spring Classics are shelved by the year-end Classic at the Breeders' Cup.

So, it is refreshing to see three horses who made the Kentucky Derby of their sophomore year still racing -- and winning.

They are a trio of Derby survivors who have climbed to the early "head of the class" in this year's handicap ranks.

It serves as fodder for a year-end doozie with stars -- er, survivors -- yet to be determined from this year's spring Classics.

Gulfstream Park staged the first Grade I race for the older division Saturday. The Donn Handicap attracted many horses who were ambitiously trying to break into the limelight. What the 11-horse field lacked in depth was offset by the appearance of Harlan's Holiday.

You may remember good old Harlan as the failed favorite in last year's Kentucky Derby. Harlan's Holiday checked in seventh behind War Emblem in the Run for the Roses and didn't fare any better in the other two Triple Crown races.

Although Harlan changed barns from trainer Kenny McPeek to Todd Pletcher after the Triple Crown, he didn't hit the board while running ninth to Volponi in the Breeders' Cup Classic last fall.

Vacation and maturity did him good. After a comeback allowance victory in early February, Harlan's Holiday returned to beat his Donn foes with ease.

Jockey John Velazquez rode with confidence and vision as he guided Harlan to a decisive win in the 1 1/8-mile $500,000 race.

Pending the volatile situation in the Middle East, Harlan's connections are entertaining a Dubai World Cup assault in late March. That schedule, however, would certainly put Harlan's Holiday on a summer sabbatical for another go at the Breeders' Cup Classic in the fall.

This Saturday, Santa Anita will present the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap.

This granddaddy of handicap races has long been one of the most prestigious races on the calendar for the division. It has also gained the reputation for being one of the hardest races to win.

This year, two of the headliners in the 1 1/4-mile Big Cap are a pair of Triple Crown alums.

Congaree posted one of the most brilliant Derby efforts in defeat when he finished third -- beaten by a lip for second -- to Monarchos in 2001. Although Congaree bounced back with a summer victory in the Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park that season, his outstanding Derby performance took its toll for the year.

Like Harlan's Holiday, Medaglia d'Oro hails from last year's Triple Crown competition. He finished third to War Emblem in the Derby, off the board to the Derby winner in the Preakness Stakes and runner-up -- while finally beating War Emblem -- in the Belmont Stakes.

Solid victories at Saratoga capped by a Travers win sent Medaglia d'Oro to the Breeders' Cup as the favorite. He finished a solid runner-up to Volponi.

Now Congaree and Medaglia d'Oro come into the Santa Anita Handicap on top of their game.

Congaree is coming off a sterling victory in the San Antonio Handicap at Santa Anita on Feb. 2, while Medaglia d'Oro is off a smashing win in the Strub Stakes over the Arcadia oval on Feb. 1.

Trainer Bob Baffert of Congaree and Bobby Frankel with Medaglia d'Oro entertained trips to Dubai for the World Cup as well. Each conditioner hoping that the other one might opt for the "other" race. -- the Santa Anita Handicap.

Again, with the uncertainty in the region of the United Arab Emirates, a Dubai trip seemed risky especially with the Santa Anita Handicap right in their own back yard.

So, Congaree and Medaglia d'Oro will have their first clash of the season Saturday at the "Great Race Place."

Although a solid supporting cast may line up to challenge the top two, a match race for the trophy is anticipated.

This scheduling leaves the nation's top jock with a decision he would have rather waited to make. Jerry Bailey has ridden both Congaree and Medaglia d'Oro in their recent victories.

And as long as the pair didn't cross paths, Bailey could have enjoyed the best of both horses. But Bailey has accepted the assignment on Medaglia d'Oro for the Big Cap.

Good news for Frankel translates into a decision for Baffert. The silver-haired conditioner has narrowed the Congaree replacement jockey pool to Victor Espinoza or David Flores.

Flores has won many races for Baffert, while Espinoza was his Derby and Preakness pilot on War Emblem last year.

As is his character, Baffert will wait until the Wednesday entry deadline for the Santa Anita Handicap to reveal his selection.

While this year's glamour group sort themselves out on the road to the Triple Crown, three survivors of that classic series will be waiting down the road at the Breeders' Cup -- if they survive this year's handicap division, that is.